The Volunteer Engagement Associate is a new role at Minds Matter Cleveland that will be primarily responsible for designing, organizing, and implementing the programs and strategies for volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention. This role will build strong partnerships both inside and outside of Minds Matter Cleveland to recruit, place, and retain a diverse and energized group of dedicated volunteers. Working with leadership across the organization, the Volunteer Engagement Associate will work to expand the volunteer pipeline and ensure that vital operations are appropriately staffed to meet our mission and goals.
The Volunteer Engagement Associate reports to the Program Director. This highly collaborative position works with stakeholders throughout the organization, including all Minds Matter Cleveland staff members, the volunteer corps, and corporate and community partners. This position is a unique opportunity to work with a small team making a large impact in the nonprofit sector.
Core Responsibilities
Volunteer Recruitment
- Oversee the volunteer recruitment process, including writing communications, drafting social media posts, creating and managing online postings, and managing all materials and tools
- Conduct volunteer vetting interviews and assess suitability of potential volunteers in collaboration with the Program Director
- Nurture relationships with corporate and community partnerships throughout the year to understand how our collaboration can support our recruitment efforts
- Plan and facilitate mentor recruitment info sessions, both in-person and virtually, throughout recruitment season
- In collaboration with the Executive Director and other team members, identify new marketing opportunities and support efforts to broaden MMC’s presence in the greater Cleveland volunteer community
- In collaboration with other team members, work with corporate partners to organize and deliver corporate volunteer Service Days
- Maintain all data tracking measures to ensure the team has an accurate sense of progress throughout the volunteer recruitment cycle
Volunteer Training & Onboarding
- In partnership with the Program Director and Program Associate, organize and facilitate training sessions for all volunteers that prepare them to volunteer with Minds Matter Cleveland and to work with our students
- Ensure that 100% of volunteers are in compliance with mandatory prerequisites, including undergoing a background check and completing training related to their role
- Support off-cycle onboarding for mentors who join in the middle of a program year
- Maintain and distribute a volunteer handbook that is consistently updated with current policies and best practices
Volunteer Engagement & Culture
- Create a sense of community & belonging among MMC volunteers, helping to integrate all volunteers into the MMC culture
- Identify and encourage future organizational leaders; nurture and maintain relationships with volunteers and target audiences during recruitment season
- Find ways to make volunteers feel appreciated and a valued part of the Minds Matter Cleveland community (e.g., organizing volunteer appreciation events, sending birthday messages)
- Create opportunities for volunteers to network and socialize with each other
Essential Qualities
- Passionate about Minds Matter Cleveland’s mission
- Organized, with close attention to detail and consistent follow-through
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Collaborative, open to feedback and new ideas
- Committed to pursuing ongoing personal and professional development related to diversity, belonging, equity, and inclusion
- Self-starter, ready to take initiative
- Confident public speaker
- Comfortable speaking to a range of audiences of various sizes
- Ability to work with ethnically, culturally, and socially diverse volunteers, students, staff, and other stakeholders
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Minimum 4 years of experience in education, nonprofit, volunteer management, or community engagement preferred
- Strong track record of success in recruiting volunteers, developing volunteer programs, and building community partnerships, as well as managing related data and metrics
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Google Docs (Docs, Sheets, Slides) & Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Previous experience with CRM databases, such as Salesforce, preferred
- Must be available to work occasional evenings and some Saturdays during the school year (with comp time provided)
Work Environment
Minds Matter Cleveland operates in a blended work environment - core aspects of the role require a physical presence in-office or on-site, however, other aspects of our work may be accomplished remotely. The hybrid weekday work schedule and environment will be determined in consultation with the Executive Director to best meet the needs of the organization and the team, with each team member working in-person, on-site at least two days each week.
Minds Matter Cleveland is an equal-opportunity employer deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage individuals of all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as all gender and sexual identities, to apply for this position.