Volunteer Coordinator (Leader), IS-1001-11

Job Description

Job Description

Description

OPEN DATE: May 28,2026                   

CLOSING DATE:  June 30,2026 

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Indefinite   

SCHEDULE: Full-Time

DUTY LOCATION: Washington, DC 

Position sensitivity and risk:
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Who May Apply:
Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). 

 

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW

The position is located in the Smithsonian Institution's Office of Visitor Services. The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research complex, consisting currently of 19 museums, galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities. The Office of Visitor Services (OVS) is the principal office at the Smithsonian responsible for understanding, designing and improving all stages of a visitor's journey, from planning, to visit and post-visit experiences. The Office enables the Smithsonian's mission through its activities as the primary point of contact for Smithsonian visitors. In addition, OVS provides internal services to Smithsonian staff who serve visitors, including over 6,000 volunteers.

The incumbent's primary responsibility is to assist the Deputy Director in planning and implementation of all elements of OVS Volunteer Management services and programs in accordance with defined procedures and policies. The incumbent leads the entire volunteer management team in carrying out day-to-day oversight of the Castle volunteer programs and Smithsonian Volunteer Information Specialist program. In addition to this, the incumbent serves as a professional resource for volunteers and volunteer supervisors across the institution on recruiting, hiring, and retaining volunteers in all visitor-facing areas of the Smithsonian as well as on the effective use of the pan-institutional volunteer management database.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leader 

Responsible for overseeing the daily oversight of the Castle volunteer programs and central volunteer management services provided internally to Smithsonian staff and volunteers. Provide leadership to the volunteer management team and ensure that the Deputy Director is kept fully informed of day-to-day developments with the volunteer management programs and central services. Leads the volunteer management team in strategizing the steps that the team has to take toward the attainment of goals defined by the Director and/or Deputy Director. Provide constant guidance and support to the team, following up on everyone's progress. As needed, mentor those that are struggling and having issue with tasks and motivating every team member to perform to their utmost.

Recruitment & Retention
Determines the volunteer staffing needs of visitor facing areas across the Smithsonian; develops an annual volunteer retention plan and recruitment strategy to determine staffing needs and assess skill requirements. Identifies factors that influence recruitment and retention, positively or negatively, and reports factors that will increase volunteer retention. Coordinates and evaluates activities relating on a variety of volunteer matters including pending volunteer actions including new position descriptions, appraisals, and training. Advises supervisors of volunteers on various procedural and policy issues; establishes, collects, evaluates, and reports on a wide range of metrics and data, including rates of volunteer placement, attrition, retention, satisfaction and advancement across the Smithsonian.

Advances volunteer hiring, ensuring that the Smithsonian has suitable access to talent to ensure mission success. Researchers and recommends new sources for active and passive candidate recruiting. Identifies creative methods to attract talent; builds networks, including hiring managers, colleges and universities, social and professional networking sites, and other online sites. Works with managers to identify what skills or attributes retainable volunteers possess in order to hire and retain future volunteers. Provides training and guidance to volunteers in mapping out how they can attain their volunteer service goals and enrich understanding and literacy of the Smithsonian.

Database Management
Coordinate the effective use of the Smithsonian's pan-institutional volunteer management database; serves as the liaison between the software developer, OCIO and users, seeking suggestions for improvements on functionality. Receive, triage, and resolves inquiries from various OVS client stakeholders, including staff and volunteers. Orchestrates the Smithsonian's annual volunteer appreciation and acknowledgement efforts.
Performs studies, special projects, additional representational assignments and other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

 
May be required to work one of more holidays a year.


QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience: To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from an accredited four-year college or university and/ or 3-5 years of related experience ; or and equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience required for this position is as follows:

• Skill in identifying, analyzing and developing courses of action and recommendations for resolving problems.
• Skill in interpersonal skills and the ability to interact and motivate with a variety of people in structured and unstructured situations using a variety of techniques and approaches.
• Skill in oral communication sufficient to present and coordinate with affected organizations, and implement new support program processes/procedures.
• Skill in written communication sufficient for the development of presentations and reports to gather data, determine scope.
• Ability to lead motivate and inspire in order to supervise the daily visitor services program operations as the lead coordinator.
• Technical experience

 

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

 

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery."

 
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.  

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

 

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact View email address on ziprecruiter.com.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures. 

 

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer . To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: