Director of Outreach and Volunteer Services

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence

Harrisonburg, VA

Open Position:

Director of Outreach and Volunteer Services

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent communication skills, a knowledge base in victim advocacy and services, and experience in volunteer coordination and community outreach and engagement to assist our organization in building capacity, furthering our mission and deepening our impact in the community.

About our organization:

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has served the City of Harrisonburg and County of Rockingham for over 45 years. We provide crisis, advocacy, rapid rehousing, and shelter services to survivors of intimate partner and relationship violence and their children. First Step welcomes and respects all survivors, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, age, gender, disability, national origin, religion, language(s) spoken, language proficiency, citizenship status, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. We are committed to providing free and confidential services to survivors of intimate partner or relationship violence who have experienced economic, physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and/or verbal abuse.

Our mission:

• Empowering survivors to break the cycle of violence and abuse in their lives.

Our vision:

• The vision of First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is a community free of abuse.

Responsibilities:

First Step’s Director of Outreach and Volunteer Services will 1) manage and facilitate community education, engagement, and outreach efforts 2) be responsible for volunteer management and recruitment and 3) provide supervision of outreach staff and volunteers. The Director of Outreach and Volunteer Services will serve as key liaison to our community and stakeholders. Duties include, but are not limited to:

Community Engagement, Education, and Outreach

• • Increase community awareness about First Step
  • Develop and execute an annual outreach and education plan
  • Attend community meetings and events as needed
  • Coordinate the Domestic Violence Task Force
  • Provide community awareness and education to public and First Step stakeholders through presentations, educational activities, tabling events, and distribution of information
  • Assist in digital outreach activities
  • Assist with planning and facilitating special events
  • Provide supervision of outreach staff and volunteers

Volunteer Management

• • Recruit, train, retain, and supervise volunteers (individuals and groups)
  • Plan and facilitate volunteer meetings and trainings
  • Provide timely communications with volunteers and other community supporters
  • Track and maintain volunteer records, volunteer hours and events through online database
  • Identify and create opportunities to recognize and award volunteers for their services

Community Partnership Management and Leadership

• • Assist with developing and maintaining ongoing relationships with community partners
  • Serve as a First Step representative to community partners and stakeholders.
  • Attend designated community stakeholder meetings
  • Assist with First Step Staff and Board training activities
  • Assist in reporting to and communicating with funders and community donors.

Hours:

• • Full-time salaried position (40 hours a week)
  • Weekend and evening hours required

Salary and Benefits:

• • Annual Salary: $48,000.00
  • Health Insurance after 60 days of employment, 50% of employee premium paid
  • SIMPLE IRA Plan with up to 3% match
  • Employee Assistance Program

Reports to:

• • Executive Director

Qualifications:

• • Educational background in Social Work or a human service-related field, non-profit management, and/or communications
  • 3 years of experience working in victim advocacy field as well as experience working with community outreach, volunteer services, vulnerable populations, immigrant/refugee communities, and/or Latino/Latinx communities.
  • Proven experience managing, recruiting and/or training volunteers
  • Ability to work some evenings and weekends
  • Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or similar business software suites and Outlook.

Skills:

• • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
  • Adept at public speaking and delivering group presentations
  • Time management and flexibility with job duties
  • Organized and a self-starter
  • Works well in a team setting, as well as independently
  • Can organize and manage individuals and groups
  • Community and volunteer service mentality
  • Creative attitude

Apply by:

• • Please apply by July 23, 2026

To Apply:

• • Please submit a cover letter, resume, and three
  • professional references in one document to: candyphillips@firststepva.com

Candy Phillips, Executive Director

(Please no phone calls)

First Step: A Response to Domestic Violence is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug free workplace. We welcome applications for candidates from diverse backgrounds. Although it is not a requirement for this role, candidates who are bilingual/multilingual are encouraged to apply.

• • Annual Salary: $48,000.00
  • Health Insurance after 60 days of employment, 50% of employee premium paid
  • SIMPLE IRA Plan with up to 3% match
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Paid Time Off