Volunteer Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator  

Reports to: Director of Visitor Services  

Department: Visitor Services  

Position Status: Full-Time, exempt  

Salary: $50,000 - $60,000  

Position Description:  

The Esplanade Association (EA) is honored to be a premier location for volunteerism in the Boston area, hosting more than 1,000 volunteers annually to build community in and care for the Charles River Esplanade. EA is seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to oversee a comprehensive individual and group volunteer program, and to effectively steward both in-kind and revenue-generating volunteer participation. Working closely with the Visitor Services and Horticulture departments, this position will organize, market, and staff volunteer activities year-round. In addition to care for the park and its visitors, the Volunteer Coordinator will maintain and maximize relationships built around volunteer activities to encourage further support for the park.  

Responsibilities:  

Volunteer Program (90%)  

Volunteer Ambassador Program for Individuals—  

• Shepherd a robust network of Volunteer Ambassadors in daily volunteer roles, including the application process, training, and regular learning and social opportunities that reinforce a high-quality volunteer community. 
• Support daily volunteer work at the Charlesbank Campus info desk as well as at programs and events. 
• Ensure volunteer participation meets our standards. Address individual volunteer performance as needed. 
• Send regular Volunteer Ambassador updates and maintain Volunteer Ambassador relationships. 
• Generate and communicate about a regular Volunteer Ambassador schedule using an online platform.  
• Assess and improve the Volunteer Ambassador program and volunteer appreciation strategies. 
• Develop a recruitment plan for individual volunteers. Conduct outreach, promote opportunities, and increase access to application(s).  

Group Volunteer Program—  

• Actively oversee group volunteer events, on average 2 per week, in multiple spaces throughout the park. 
• Organize and communicate the accurate scheduling of group volunteer events including date and time, project(s) to be completed, and group size. 
• Lead major community park service events, including EA’s annual joint-organizational Annual Charles River Cleanup as part of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Park Serve Day in observance of Earth Day. 
• Maintain and update the database of corporate and non-profit group volunteer contacts. Regularly share contacts with department head and Development team to cultivate deeper relationships.   
• Collaborate across departments to determine and select the best group projects based on seasonal park needs. 
• Maintain an inventory of volunteer tools, equipment, and safety supplies that are ready for each group. 
• Promote the benefits of further participation/support of EA programs and projects. 

Accounting—  

• With direction from the department head, create and maintain the annual volunteer program budget, including giving input on revenue goals and expense limits. 
• Benchmark corporate group rates annually and consistently hone strategies to grow revenue. 
• Manage invoicing and secure owed or past-due donation payments.  

Marketing and Reporting—  

• With the support of Marketing staff, draft compelling marketing materials and maintain volunteer webpages to drive participation in the volunteer programs, with special emphasis on the annual launch of activities. 
• Research prospective corporate volunteer groups for online outreach. 
• Photograph groups and calculate volunteer impacts. Enhance acknowledgements for contributions if possible. 
• Translate annual volunteer data into useful metrics to communicate program impact year-over-year. 

Visitor Services Support (10%)  

• Actively support superior visitor experience in all aspects of work including frequent conversations, wayfinding help, and inquiry response in the park and at the Charlesbank Campus info desk. Provide support to volunteers as they accomplish these tasks. 
• Work closely with other staff to develop a familiarity with programs and events that occur on Charlesbank Campus and in the park. 
• Provide secondary support to other members of the Visitor Services team, especially as it relates to volunteer duties and public outreach.  
• Advance creative ideas and pilot new initiatives for volunteer support. 
• Support periodic EA-focused fundraising events and activities.  
• Perform other duties as directed or as needed. 

Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, social work, human resources, education, or related degree. Additional experience may be substituted for degree requirement. 
• 1-2 years experience in volunteer and/or visitor services, or equivalent public-facing capacity to perform such responsibilities. 
• Demonstrated ability (or clearly demonstrated capacity) to effectively work with volunteers. 
• Must possess a valid Massachusetts driver’s license that is in good standing at time of appointment and for duration of employment. 
• Must be able to work outside in all types of weather and bend, stoop, reach, lift, and carry up to 50 lbs. as necessary to carry out duties. 
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and follow-through. 
• Experience handling and prioritizing a variety of responsibilities simultaneously. 
• Commitment to always interact with diverse arrays of colleagues and park users courteously and professionally. 
• Fluency with Microsoft office suite and related programs. 
• Multilingual fluency is a plus. 
• Passion for parks, recreation, and open space is strongly encouraged!  

Logistics:  

• Work hours are on average 40 hours per week, currently Monday through Friday 9a-5pm with infrequent, predetermined weekend commitments. When the Esplanade Smith Family Pavilion and Charlesbank Campus opens, work hours will be on average 40 hours per week Tuesday – Saturday 8a-4p. Work hours/days might vary periodically based on volunteer program needs. Prepare for significant variance around the exciting time period of the grand opening, which may require changes for additional evening, weekend, or early morning hours. 
• Must be available to support some volunteer work on periodic nights, weekends, and some holidays. 
• Work will require being in both indoor and outdoor settings across seasons. 
• Applicants are subject to Criminal Offender Record Information (C.O.R.I) check, however, we believe in rehabilitation and will provide any applicant the opportunity to address past work and life experiences. 

Compensation:  

• EA offers a competitive salary for the Boston non-profit and parks sector. Performance and compensation are reviewed regularly, and management provides all employees with transparent benchmarks and paths for professional development and promotion within the organization. The annual salary range for this position will be $50,000-60,000, commensurate with prior experience and demonstrated skills.  

Benefits:  

• 15 vacation, 12 sick & 2 personal days per year (after 2 years of service, vacation days increase to 17) 
• 11 holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, and Presidents’ Day off and the 6 remaining (Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and Veterans’ Day) as floating holidays depending on the holiday worked.  
• Health and dental insurance, 80% of monthly premium paid by EA 
• Health savings account with $2,000 EA contribution for those enrolled in EA health plan 
• 403(b) retirement plan 
• Commuter benefits, pre-tax deduction up to $300/month 
• Paid professional development opportunities 

Application Process:  

• Please submit your resume and cover letter 
• Demonstrate the quality of your written communications and strong case-making by responding to this question in your cover letter: Why is stewardship of public parks a great platform for volunteerism?  
• No phone calls, please.  

The Esplanade Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer and greatly encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Diversity of opinions, experiences, and backgrounds is a key and valued component of our work to promote a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive experience on the Esplanade through an organization that is itself diverse and inclusive.  

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to non-profit administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest and what you hope to bring to this role.