Volunteer Manager

Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President of Development and External Relations, the Volunteer Manager (VM) is responsible for building, activating, and stewarding a high-quality volunteer force that advances RISE’s mission across all programs. This role is a part of the External Relations team and plays a critical role in expanding RISE’s community engagement strategy.

The Volunteer Manager (VM) is responsible for both recruiting and activating volunteers, which includes strategically placing, preparing, deploying, and meaningfully engaging them over time. This vital role requires a balance of strong relational instincts and rigorous operational discipline. The VM works closely with internal partners to manage recruitment for specific programs and events, plan for long-term volunteer infrastructure, ensure integration across all programs, and strategize for the organization's future growth.

This position requires a dependable, detail-oriented, and strategic professional who demonstrates strong follow-through, clear boundaries, and the ability to execute consistently in dynamic environments, and someone who is deeply committed to RISE’s mission to break generational cycles of incarceration.

About RISE

RISE is the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, family programming, and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways, and lower recidivism. The mission of RISE is to break generational cycles of incarceration.

RISE has received a “Best Places to Work in Omaha” award from Baird Holm and the Greater Omaha Chamber. RISE is a recipient of the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands Catalyst Award, honoring non-profits that inspire action, advance excellence and innovation, and drive transformation while making a meaningful impact. In 2025, RISE received the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU of Nebraska.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long-term volunteer engagement strategy in partnership with the VP of Development & External Relations, marketing team and program leadership, building scalable infrastructure to support all RISE programs (In-Prison, Family, RBA, and emerging initiatives).
• Recruit, activate, and steward volunteers across all programs by building strong pipelines through public speaking, 1:1 outreach, civic and faith partnerships, and corporate engagement, including development and oversight of a group volunteering model that mobilizes corporate and community groups into meaningful volunteer experiences.
• Track recruitment sources, conversion rates, and volunteer engagement data to evaluate effectiveness, optimize outreach strategies, and provide regular reporting to leadership on key volunteer metrics.
• Oversee all volunteer logistics and compliance requirements for the In-Prison Program in partnership with Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS), dedicating significant focus (approximately 30–45% of the role) to managing volunteer clearance processes, renewals, documentation, deadlines, policy updates, and ensuring 100% compliance with facility requirements.
• Serve as the primary liaison with NDCS for volunteer access, proactively managing approval timelines, maintaining meticulous clearance records, and building strong working relationships with facility contacts and central office staff.
• Design and implement a comprehensive volunteer onboarding and training infrastructure, including orientation on RISE’s mission and programs, trauma-informed practices, dignity and respect, confidentiality and boundaries, and correctional facility expectations.
• Create ongoing development opportunities for volunteers and ensure all volunteers understand and embody RISE’s values and standards of professionalism.
• Partner closely with program leadership to assess volunteer needs, design meaningful roles, and ensure volunteer engagement strengthens program outcomes and integrates effectively across all RISE programs and initiatives.
• Assess prospective volunteers for alignment with RISE’s mission, values, culture, and program needs; exercise sound judgment in placement decisions and communicate clearly and professionally when a volunteer is not the right fit.
• Execute consistent pre-event preparation and post-event follow-up communication to ensure strong volunteer experiences, clear expectations, and long-term retention.
• Develop and implement structured volunteer stewardship initiatives, including appreciation breakfasts and milestone recognition (years of service, hours contributed).
• Personally enter, maintain, and ensure accuracy of all volunteer data within RISE’s CRM and project management systems, including contact information, training completion, clearance status, participation history, and volunteer hours.
• Generate reports on volunteer engagement, impact, and trends; analyze data to identify growth opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Set and manage the annual volunteer budget and continuously refine systems and processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and overall program effectiveness.
• Serve as the on-site volunteer lead during in-prison and community-based events, with regular travel across Nebraska, including early mornings, occasional evenings, weekends, and travel to facilities up to two hours away.
• Perform other duties as agreed upon.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• 3+ years of experience in volunteer management, community engagement, nonprofit operations, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build and execute strategy while managing day-to-day operational details.
• Strong recruitment and relationship-building skills, with experience activating individuals or groups into meaningful engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with public speaking and external representation.
• Proven ability to assess fit, exercise sound judgment, and have direct, respectful, and sometimes difficult conversations.
• High level of dependability, follow-through, and personal accountability.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Experience maintaining accurate records in CRM/database systems and tracking workflows in project management platforms (e.g., Monday.com).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Demonstrated ability to set and maintain clear, compassionate professional boundaries.
• High integrity and alignment with RISE’s mission and values.

Other

• Frequent travel across Nebraska, including correctional facilities up to two hours away.
• Regular early morning travel to facilities.
• Occasional evening and weekend programming.
• Ability to work inside locked facilities without access to phone, email, or internet for extended periods.
• Must have reliable access to a vehicle, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• RISE is a background-friendly employer and seeks to employ those who have lived experience within the system we serve; background checks may be run on final candidates as a compliance measure.