Coordinator of Volunteers

Coordinator of Volunteers

Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) is looking for a dynamic Coordinator of Volunteers to lead, manage, and expand the museum’s volunteer program. As a living history museum, OSV brings 19th-century rural New England to life, relying on the passion and dedication of its volunteers. Volunteers at OSV take on diverse roles—from donning historical attire as “Interpreters,” assisting behind the scenes, supporting the collections and library, to greeting and engaging visitors.

As an educational institution, OSV values lifelong learners and is committed to recruiting, training, mentoring, and cultivating volunteers who share that passion. The Volunteer Coordinator will play a key role in fostering this community, collaborating with a wide range of individuals and museum departments to support all facets of the museum’s operations. This position falls within the Interpretation division and requires the Volunteer Coordinator to wear historical clothing and participate as a frontline educator/interpreter, from time to time, on an agreed-upon schedule with their supervisor.

Old Sturbridge Village, the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s. Step inside more than 40 original buildings, and explore homes, meetinghouses, a district school, country store, bank, working farm, three water-powered mills, and trade shops – all situated on more than 200 scenic acres. Talk with authentically costumed historians and see heritage breed farm animals. Discover the endless ways to immerse yourself in the Village. Old Sturbridge Village, a museum and learning resource of New England life, invites each visitor to find meaning, pleasure, relevance, and inspiration through the exploration of history.

Old Sturbridge Village is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. We are passionate about developing and maintaining an inclusive, equitable, and accessible working and learning environment for all visitors, staff, and OSV community members. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to different ways of understanding and engaging the world around us.

Working within the Interpretation team, this role will work closely with the leadership of the various areas of focus – Programs & Events, Households, Horticulture, Agriculture, Trades, and Civic and Public Buildings.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the Village’s Volunteer and Junior Intern Programs, including day-to-day management of volunteers and Junior Interns
• Coordinate and communicate effectively with 100 volunteers and 40 junior intern families regarding program and organizational needs
• Working collaboratively with directors, coordinators, managers, and others leaders to meet the museum's goals for programs, events, and support
• Collaborate with other museum leaders to provide orientation, training and mentorship for Volunteers and Junior Interns for skills & knowledge within the museum
• Develop and manage an annual budget for all costs associated with the operation of the Volunteer & Junior Intern Program
• Closely work with the Interpretation Leadership to provide support in a directed way
• Support the museum holiday program needs, Halloween and Christmas programs heavily rely on Volunteer support, both behind the scenes and frontline
• Assist in the collaboration with Coggeshall Farm Museum and the growth and improvements to their volunteer program
• Serve as an active ambassador and advocate for OSV both within the museum and externally
• Day-to-day responsibilities include planning, assigning, and directing work, while also observing and assessing the effectiveness of programs and staff
• Year-to-year responsibilities include recruiting, training, and mentoring staff.
• Plan, organize, lead, and/or participate in events and work with OSV’s Advancement Department to promote programs
• Successfully balance face-to-face communication with use of technology in order to ensure clarity of communication with colleagues
• Understand, identify and appropriately respond to the multiple learning styles of a diverse audience that includes students, families, and other life-long learners; actively engage these audiences using a range of techniques including hands-on participation, tours, demonstrations, lectures, and others.
• Preserve the historic buildings, gardens, landscapes, artifacts, and reproductions in OSV and CFM by caring for them properly.
• Ensure the safety, security, and cleanliness of work areas; Safeguard visitors and staff by being alert to foreseeable health and safety hazards.
• Understand and observe all OSV policies and federal, state, and local laws.
• Work evening programs such as but not limited to Halloween and Christmas programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager.

Skills & Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Strong communication skills and experience working a diverse pool of people.
• Ability to establish own work plan and priorities, using established procedures to assure timely completion of assigned work in conformance with departmental policies and practices; problems lacking clear precedent are reviewed with the supervisor prior to taking action.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, and hear, and occasionally to be outside for periods of time. The employee is regularly required to use hands to handle, feel, and perform detailed work; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform essential functions.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, manage, and motivate a diverse workforce.
• Be honest, and reliable, and demonstrate a passionate commitment to the public program/education field.
• Attention to detail, organization, quality of guest experience, and customer service.
• Have the ability to communicate ideas and information clearly both verbally and in written format.
• Strive to build and maintain productive and respectful relationships with all team members and guests.
• Must be a team player and flexible to assist in other divisions when the need arises.
• Effective problem solver – anticipating, preventing, and managing issues as they arise.
• Must be an effective listener and be able to understand and clarify concerns and issues.
• Must be able to work varied shifts and hours including weekends, nights, early mornings, and holidays
• Must have an active Driver’s License.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse groups.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Individuals in this position are subject to a Criminal Conviction Record check upon hire and every other year thereafter.

Old Sturbridge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Old Sturbridge Village to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or membership in the uniformed services.

Applicants who wish to apply should submit their resume and cover letter to Human Resources at jobs@osv.org

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $21.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21