Overview: Habitat for Humanity Chicago (Habitat Chicago), a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a nonprofit neighborhood investment partner that champions healthy neighborhoods by investing in resident priorities, supporting homeownership, and building quality homes. We believe in a world where everyone has a decent place to live and work towards this vision together with residents in our three focus neighborhoods of West Pullman, Greater Grand Crossing, and Austin.
Position Summary: The volunteer programs manager provides leadership to the organization by managing the direction and tone of its volunteer programs and by overseeing the timely execution of that vision. They support the success of all programs at Habitat Chicago (including the ReStore) by assessing volunteer needs, recruiting and filling volunteer roles, and by training our team members to effectively embrace and utilize volunteers. The manager ensures that all volunteer needs at our organization are met and that volunteers are invited into and embraced by our mission.
Who Should Apply: You are someone who believes in the critical importance of volunteers and has the outstanding communication, project management, and teamwork skills to effectively engage their presence in a growing mission.
Key Responsibility: Strategic Direction (35%)
Raise the profile of Habitat Chicago volunteer opportunities by setting an organization-wide tone and direction for embracing and professionally managing volunteers.
Develop and implement clear program objectives and expectations for all volunteer-related programs
Work across teams to solicit needs, ideas, on-the-ground experiences and buy-in to the purpose and value of volunteers
Research, explore, and introduce best practices (e.g. volunteer management, HR, psychology, project management, etc.) that will continue to drive the advancement, sophistication, and impact of the organization’s volunteer engagement and integration
Train staff members and supervisory volunteers in progressive volunteer management philosophy and tactics
Evaluate, monitor, and reinforce trainings for ongoing program development
Evaluate and monitor volunteer data toward the health and stability of our programs through intentional program design, with special attention to the retention of long-term volunteers
Key Responsibility: Programs Management (35%)
Manage successful execution and creative growth of the organization’s volunteer programs with support from the Volunteer Programs Coordinator(s).
Construction/Affordable Homeownership Program: Oversee calendar and consistent volunteer communications; maintain absolute program integrity by monitoring and enforcing hour tracking, volunteer capacity, waivers/emergency information, age restrictions, and by coordinating closely with the construction team to guarantee site safety precautions
Volunteer Crew Leader Program: With input from the construction team, enhance the training, monitoring and stewardship procedures for growing and specializing the organization’s volunteer skilled leader pool
Service Members Program: Serve as Host Site Manager for AmeriCorps and other long-term volunteer programs; assist with the recruitment of members, facilitate training/onboarding plan, support service member supervisors and comply with all reporting requirements
Committees Program: Oversee committee support procedures to ensure the success of the organization’s committees; train and support staff and volunteer committee chairs
ReStore Chicago Volunteer Programs: Manage the ReStore Chicago volunteer coordinator and help to set direction and vision for all ReStore Chicago volunteer programs, including light-duty placements, community service volunteers, internships, recurring volunteers, etc.
Other Programs: Identify, prioritize and execute the formalization of additional programs to help meet organization needs (e.g. Winter Warriors, Collegiate Challenges, internships, community service, office volunteers, Campus Chapters, Habitat Hosts etc.)
All program support: Organize activities not limited to: appreciation activities and events, home dedications, community events, card writing, communication features etc.
Key Responsibility: Recruitment and Outreach (20%)
Proactively ensure that all organization programs, events and work areas are adequately supported with volunteers.
Working across teams, develop outreach and engagement strategies for fulfilling volunteer staffing needs in all areas of the organization (e.g. corporate partnerships, neighborhood engagement teams), aligning goals, messaging and opportunities
Represent Habitat Chicago, its mission, and its opportunities to the community through presentations as needed; ensure consistent delivery of volunteer orientations; organize necessary outreach activities
Manage timely and professional responses to web, phone and in-person inquiries
Key Responsibility: Leadership and Teamwork (10%)
Contribute to organizational health through enthusiastic collaboration, leadership and personal integrity
Maintain a “team first” outlook, supporting the success of the team and the mission of Habitat Chicago in attitude, ideas, and actions; lead by example and with active, creative input for growing and improving the organization.
With support from the programs director and in collaboration with the full team, develop a long-term-strategic plan with specific long-term and annual goals with measurable benchmarks
Suggest and assist in staffing decisions for healthy and impactful growth of the volunteer programs team
Meet and endorse organization standards for record keeping and information sharing.
Contribute to organization events, helping as necessary with set up/take down, management, networking, various tasks, etc.
Engage with all members of team, program participants, and core volunteers.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Outstanding relationship-building skills and the ability to respond quickly and compassionately to volunteers, community contacts, donors, program participants, and others
Personable, customer-oriented; positively and productively works with others
Experience and enthusiasm for coaching and promoting others’ success
Strong understanding of volunteer management and motivation
Track record of successfully designing, executing and managing complex projects
Self-motivated, detail oriented, highly-organized with excellent time management and impeccable follow-through skills
Ability to work well under pressure and with changing priorities
Self-motivated and able to work independently
Commitment to problem solving, continuous improvement, curiosity and personal development
Discretion with confidential materials; sound judgement for balancing organization values with external opportunities
High level of computer literacy, including but not limited to Microsoft Office and database software (Salesforce or similar database CRM experience is a plus)
Understanding and enthusiasm for Habitat for Humanity philosophy and willingness to advocate its mission
Personal volunteer experience
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Experience managing term-of-service programs or participating in a term-of-service programs preferred
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in human resource management or a related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
4+ years of people management, program coordination, and project management experience required.
2+ years of previous work experience managing volunteers is required.
Successful Habitat team members share the following characteristics:
Trust: You invest in your fellow team members, and you do what you say you will do. You thrive on constructive feedback and have a high level of integrity.
Commitment: You have a “go above and beyond” attitude; nobody here works just for a paycheck.
Engagement: You embrace bringing people to the Habitat mission.
Innovation: You are a creative problem solver that works across teams.
Curiosity: You express curiosity and reserve judgment.
Achievement: You love results and hate excuses. You will help Habitat Chicago grow to be a leading organization.
Position Details
Reports To: Programs Director
Supervises: This position currently supervises two full-time roles whose responsibilities align with this job description (ReStore Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer Programs Coordinator).
Hours: Full-time. Office hours are 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday, with some flexibility. Weekend and evening work are required, depending on program and event needs. Adjusting schedules as needed to balance hours is encouraged.
Environment: This role is primarily based in our main office but spends at least one day per week on site at the ReStore and at our build site locations frequently.
The Habitat Chicago office is located at 1100 W Cermak Rd. in Chicago. It is accessible by car or by public transit. This position will have a desk, laptop computer, and phone line in an open office environment.
Habitat Chicago ReStore is located at 6040 N. Pulaski Rd. in Chicago. It is accessible by car or by public transit. This position will have a shared desk and phone line in an office.
Our active construction sites are currently located in the Chicago neighborhoods of West Pullman and Greater Grand Crossing. The sites often have rough and uneven terrain. Work may be done indoors or outdoors in all types of weather.
Conditions: Must be able to lift 25 pounds and work at a computer for long periods of time and speak on the phone.
Compensation: Salaried; ranging from $60,000 to $65,000, depending on experience, 30+ vacation/sick/personal days per year. 90% employer paid health insurance; access to dental, life, and 401k (3% company match) plans.
FLSA Status: This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It does not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.
Training: The position will begin with an onboarding period to become familiar with the organization’s work and policies; they will be trained on the specifics of the role through a combination of in-person, online and written trainings and will be expected to take the initiative to review materials as needed and seek understanding of new developments in order to perform their responsibilities.
To Apply: Please submit compelling cover letter and resume to careers@habitatchicago.orgwith “Volunteer Programs Manager – Your Name” in the subject line by 5/5/2023. Successful applicants will be contacted for interviews.
Habitat for Humanity Chicago values a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.
Habitat for Humanity Chicago is an equal opportunity employer. This organization does not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability status, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Flexible work from home options available.