People and Culture Manager (Volunteer)

About Surmount

At Surmount, we envision a future where every person, regardless of their circumstances, has the tools and support needed to make positive choices, overcome challenges, and build a life of purpose and fulfillment. We connect New Yorkers with essential resources and programs that empower them to overcome challenges, build resilience, and uplift their communities.

Position Overview

The People and Culture Manager will lead efforts to build a strong, healthy, and aligned volunteer culture at Surmount. This role focuses on driving our volunteer lifecycle—leading recruitment, onboarding, and training efforts—while shaping an environment where volunteers feel valued, supported, and clear on expectations.

If you are passionate about people operations, community building, and helping an organization grow from the inside out, this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Volunteer Recruitment: Manage the sourcing pipeline, coordinate applications, and conduct interviews to align new volunteers with Surmount's mission.
• Onboarding & Orientation: Lead the welcoming process, run orientation sessions, and ensure new team members transition smoothly into their roles.
• Training & Development: Coordinate role-based training programs and track completion to ensure all volunteers feel confident and prepared.
• Culture & Engagement: Set, reinforce, and champion organizational norms that promote respect, clear communication, and collective ownership.
• Leadership Support: Partner with team leaders to share recruitment plans, address staffing needs, and flag volunteer engagement risks early.

Qualifications

• People-First Mindset: Strong empathy, interpersonal skills, and a genuine interest in supporting others' growth.
• Highly Organized: Able to reliably track people processes, maintain volunteer records, and manage workflows.
• Clear Communicator: Comfortable sharing expectations, leading presentations, and collaborating across different teams.
• Sound Judgment: Knows how to handle sensitive volunteer feedback and when to escalate concerns to leadership.
• Experience: Prior experience or strong interest in Human Resources, volunteer management, recruiting, or nonprofit operations is highly preferred.

Time Commitment

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week (flexible, remote-friendly schedule).

Benefits

• Leadership Experience: Gain hands-on experience designing and executing HR, recruitment, and culture initiatives.
• Skill Development: Sharpen your organizational management, strategic planning, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strategic Impact: Play a direct, foundational role in shaping the growth and internal culture of our organization.
• Community Connection: Connect with a passionate network of volunteers dedicated to making a tangible local impact.