Volunteer Coordinator

Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator

Department: Vermont Chapter

Location: Montpelier, Vermont. This position requires an ability to travel. 

Reports To: Chapter Director

Supervises: NA

Context:  At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 700 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: Organizes and implements a volunteer development program and supports administrative tasks for the organization. The Volunteer Coordinator contributes to the strength and success of the Chapter by developing and maintaining a strong volunteer program to support the various campaigns and teams within the Chapter and by performing duties to support the day-to-day operations of the Vermont Chapter. The Vermont Chapter is the statewide branch of the Sierra Club, made up of nearly 10,000 members and supporters across the state, working to stop the worst impacts of climate change and protect our land, water, air, and forested landscape.

• Volunteer Recruitment: Work with staff and Chapter leaders to identify the volunteer needs of the various campaigns and teams, and create and manage volunteer outreach and promotion to fill those needs. Identify and recruit potential volunteers and activists, match volunteers to their areas of interest, and increase volunteer and activist participation within the Chapter structure. 
• Volunteer Coordination: Engage in all aspects of the volunteer experience from recruitment, interviewing, placement, and onboarding to project assignment, work plan development, and oversight. Support volunteers to accomplish their goals, coach volunteers on skills, and coordinate activities to assure advancement of the Sierra Club's priorities. Foster a healthy volunteering culture. Coordinate and plan volunteer activities, events, and mobilization tactics supporting the Sierra Club's priorities. 
• Leadership Development: In coordination with the Director, leadership development includes facilitating, training, and coaching leaders and supporting governance processes and functions. Identify and support opportunities for volunteer growth and advancement up the Ladder of Engagement. Create and maintain volunteer support materials and volunteer program tracking tools. 
• Data Management: Maintain good data practices, tracking volunteers, teams, roles, and contact information, as well as other core metrics. Engage in data management, donation processing, report creation, and oversee donor and volunteer recognition programs. 
• Administrative Support: Perform daily administrative duties and oversee in-office volunteers. 
• Respond to inquiries concerning membership, outings, events, and environmental issues from the general public, members, and volunteers. Research and respond to inquiries, follow up, and ensure adequate communication. Provide good public relations and customer service for the Sierra Club. Assist with mail processing, ordering supplies, maintaining office equipment, and other duties as assigned. 
• Assist with Chapter communications: including but not limited to newsletters, emails, blogs, donor updates, new member welcome emails, social media, community calendars, and more.

• Ability to strategically prioritize a high volume of work with efficiency and attention to detail. 
• Ability to adapt to changing plans and priorities in a fast-paced work environment. 
• Excellent people skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with volunteers, members, donors, staff, partners, and the public. 
• Ability to work comfortably and collaboratively in a small team. 
• Ability to work across lines of differences to create a pleasant, professional and inclusive atmosphere in the office, at events and via other forms of communication. 
• Volunteer coordination or other experience that exhibits the ability to engage and guide others and to communicate effectively. 
• Team-oriented mindset, but with the ability to work independently.
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, a can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

• Extensive knowledge and experience with Facebook and Instagram, with an understanding of what makes a post successful on each platform. 
• Track record of recruiting and developing volunteer leaders, along with a progression of leadership. Skilled at building trusting, mutually accountable relationships with a diversity of volunteer leaders. Skilled at placing volunteers with roles that match their expertise and passions.
• A passion for environmental issues 
• Experience managing a successful volunteer program 
• Demonstrated leadership experience working within a team structure. Able to create rapport, inspire trust, and create mutual responsibility with team members. Open to feedback and the ability to earn new skills. 
• Project management and facilitation skills
• Ability to facilitate others to buy into projects and timelines. 

To Apply

The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, size, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minoritized groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.