VOLUNTEER MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR

Volunteer Mentorship Coordinator

This position is located in the East Region

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position

The Tennessee Department of Correction operates and oversees 14 adult prisons across the state, housing some 21,000 offenders. In the community, TDOC supervises 79,000 offenders on probation, parole, or community corrections. The department operates 44 probation/parole offices in 13 districts across the state. The mission of the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is to operate safe and secure prisons and provide effective community supervision in order to enhance public safety.

The role requires regular travel to the TDOC prison facilities within a defined region (no overnight stay required) and daily interaction with both incarcerated individuals and external community members. Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings or weekends as required by the prisons visitation schedule. Comfortable working within a secure correctional facility with adherence to all security protocols. Reporting to the director of Religious and Volunteer Services, the Volunteer Mentor Coordinator will serve as the liaison between the Governors Faith Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI) Mentors and the TDOC facility staff and inmate Mentees, who have expressed a desire to be matched with a Mentor, and will play a vital role in supporting the reentry and rehabilitation process for incarcerated individuals by facilitating meaningful mentorship connections. This role involves training and coordinating mentors from community-based (CBO) and faith-based (FBO) organizations, while also assisting with recruiting mentees from within the prison (TDOC) population. The coordinator will manage the logistics of mentorship visits and communications, ensuring compliance with prison policies and procedures and will also be responsible for ensuring the Volunteer initiatives (faith-based and other group events) are being properly managed and tracked.

Key Responsibilities:

Mentor Engagement & Volunteer Support:

• Provide ongoing support and communication with Mentors and Mentees to foster long-term engagement and program success.
• Guide and train the Mentors, set expectations for what success looks like
• Liaison/conduit between Mentors and Prison staff Collaborate with Reentry Specialists to fill any gaps Mentor uncovers
• Facilitate Mentor group meetings to share best practices and increase engagement
• Provide support to the volunteer coordinators and Chaplains

Mentee Recruitment:

• Work with facility staff to identify anyone releasing within 24 months or less.
• Conduct outreach to the identified individuals, explain the benefits of having a Mentor and encourage participation.
• Interview potential mentees to understand their goals, needs, and challenges to facilitate better mentor-mentee matches.
• Conduct Mentor-Mentee Meet-ups and creating the ideal pairings.

Logistical Coordination:

• Coordinate visitation schedules, ensuring compliance with policies and available time slots for mentorship meetings.
• Organize mentor-mentee pairings based on shared interests, goals, and compatibility.
• Maintain accurate records of mentor-mentee interactions, track progress, and provide updates to Director of Religious & Volunteer Services, GFBCI staff and other relevant stakeholders.
• Serve as the point of contact for Mentors and Prison staff, ensuring the program adheres to institutional rules and regulations regarding visitation, communication, and security.

Program Evaluation and Reporting:

• Monitor the effectiveness of mentorship pairings and gather feedback from both mentors and mentees to assess the program's impact.
• Provide regular updates and monthly reports to the Director of Religious & Volunteer Services and Volunteer Mentorship Initiative Director (VMI) including success stories, challenges, and recommendations for program improvement. Identify and address any issues or conflicts that arise between mentors and mentees.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience in volunteer management, mentorship programs, or community outreach (preferably within criminal justice or reentry services).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse groups and build relationships.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals and those reentering society.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail, especially regarding scheduling, matching, and compliance with institutional regulations.
• Ability to work within a prison environment, adhering to all security protocols and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Flexibility and problem-solving skills to navigate logistical challenges within the prison system.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience working in a correctional setting or with justice-impacted populations.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care, mentorship best practices, and reentry challenges.
• Background in social work, counseling, criminal justice, or a related field.
• Valid Tennessee Drivers License is required.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.