Volunteer Program Coordinator

Position Overview 

The Program team builds a culture of volunteerism and civic engagement in Chicago. The team is responsible for volunteer engagement and capacity building models that diversify service opportunities, advance civic action in our city, and help volunteers find, champion and lead on causes about which they care. The team is a catalyst for change by promoting diverse civic action opportunities and equipping organizations and corporations, small and large, and civic leaders, young and old, to build a more vibrant and equitable Chicago.  

Through the Program teams, Chicago Cares: 

• Diversifies civic action in partnership with organizations that provide pathways to deeper engagement in service, philanthropy, voice, vote and collective action.  
• Develops leadership across the corporate, non-profit, and civic landscape and cultivates volunteers for civic leadership.  
• Strengthens the non-profit and corporate sectors’ strategic use of volunteers through capacity building engagements, consulting, and employee engagement opportunities.  
• Connects volunteers, across lines of difference, to community-led and collective impact change efforts. 
• Builds empathy and a deeper understanding of the assets and challenges of Chicago’s neighborhoods.  
• Cultivates and inspires volunteers to serve in new and different ways. 

The Volunteer Program Coordinator will be responsible for providing logistical, administrative, and event assistance support to the Programs team to ensure quality programs and strong execution of volunteer engagement models. They also provide necessary warehouse and inventory management ensuring strong infrastructure support for execution of volunteer engagement models.  

Essential Duties & Responsibilities  

• Volunteer Project Support: Supply Procurement, Packing, Delivery and Management 
• Ordering, receiving, shopping for necessary supplies  
• Packing, organizing, prepping and delivering supplies for volunteer engagement models 
• Supporting project managers and coordinators in staging supplies and preparing project sites for volunteer events. 
• Organizing, inventorying and delivering kits and items produced at volunteer engagement models to their respective community partners  
• Preparing and managing paperwork and printed materials for projects 
• Volunteer Project Support: Day of Event Support 
• Staffing volunteer engagement models, providing leadership, volunteer engagement, education and task support.  
• Providing project preparation and project close-out support, including prep day support and execution, site set-up and deliveries, and site clean-up and after event deliveries  
• Lead small groups of volunteers to complete assigned tasks at one-day events and/or public-facing programs. 
• Volunteer Project Support: Warehouse Maintenance 
• Cleaning, organizing, inventorying, and managing supplies, equipment and materials at the warehouse(s). 
• Packing, unpacking, and sorting supplies, equipment and materials pre- and post-project.  
• Maintaining and communicating inventory 
• Volunteer Project Support: Administration 
• Collecting, entering, and communicating data for projects, including attendance logs for volunteers, evaluative data, expenses and survey results. 
• Utilize data management systems to review, edit, and post volunteer projects. 
• Conduct community partner meetings.  
• Other administrative and project support, as needed. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements 

• Commitment to working outside traditional work hours and schedules 
• Access to reliable transportation  
• Ability to work collaboratively with our staff, corporate partners, community partners, and volunteers 
• Comfort and experience with administrative tasks like data input, email communications, phone communications, supply ordering and inventory, etc.  
• Strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills 
• Comfort taking initiative to ensure strong volunteer experiences and quality of all program efforts 
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and engage in physical labor associated with loading, unloading and moving project supplies 
• Ability to drive a cargo van or box truck to make project supply deliveries 
• Ability to adjust to various physical and environmental conditions as the position may require outdoor work, lifting/moving large items, and/or long periods of time spent inside of a warehouse. 
• Previous volunteer management or event planning experience a plus 

Additional Information: The ideal candidate will be able to work an average of 40 hours a week (typically between the hours of 9AM to 9PM) with evening and weekend assignments. The work schedule is directly related to business demand: therefore, week to week assignments vary. This position includes travel within Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. It is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in developing skills in event planning, community development, program planning, non-profit management, volunteer management, and corporate relations.  

Salary and Benefits 

This is a full-time, exempt position with a starting salary of $50,000 - $53,000 per year determined by candidates’ skills and experience.  

Benefits include: 

• Flexible work schedule. 
• Hybrid work environment – Currently, all staff must be in the office two days a week.   
• Group medical (PPO or HMO) for the employee (90% coverage) and dependents. 
• Group dental available for employee and dependents. 
• Vision coverage for the employee (100% covered by CCI). 
• Group life insurance and LSTD insurance for the employee (100% covered by CCI). 
• Access to 401(k) retirement plan after three months with a 4% employer match.  
• Generous paid time off, wellness days and holiday pay. 
• Paid parental leave. 
• All staff, paid, wellness days where office is closed.  
• Access to sabbatical leave after three years of service.  

Position Location 

This offer is contingent on the successful completion of the pre-employment process and compliance with Chicago Cares Residency Policy, which states: employees are expected to establish and maintain residency in the Chicago Metropolitan Region and maintain residency throughout their employment with Chicago Cares. The six-county Chicago Metropolitan Region includes the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.