Senior Manager, Volunteer Engagement

United Way Of Metropolitan Chicago•Chicago, IL

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Volunteer Engagement is responsible for advancing United Way's workplace engagement strategy by leading all volunteer engagement initiatives and serving as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of key corporate accounts. This individual will execute integrated corporate engagement and fundraising strategies including volunteerism, workplace campaigns, and donor stewardship while overseeing the planning and execution of all volunteer projects and cultivating strong relationships with corporate and nonprofit partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required, along with 3-5 years of relevant experience in project management and/or volunteer coordination, event planning and/or comparable role.
Proven experience in managing volunteer programs, event planning, or related roles.
Highly organized, meticulous attention to detail, ability to multi-task, prioritize, delegate, and execute concurrent projects and day-to-day tasks within a fast-paced environment from inception to conclusion.
Possess an entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to work well independently and collaborate within a team.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a customer service mindset and a track record of building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Strong presentation skills to various key stakeholders internally and externally.
Strong management, leadership, team building, problem solving, critical thinking, and judgment skills.
Knowledge of Chicago corporate, nonprofit, and philanthropic communities a plus.
Access to a personal car and the ability to attend corporate events and meetings, volunteer activations, site visits, and in-person meetings is required.
Experience with volunteer engagement platforms and tools is a plus.
Salesforce experience a plus.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
Occasional evening and weekend work hours may be required to accommodate events and volunteer activities.
Ability to stand for long periods of time and independently complete event set up that may require moving up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Chicago corporate, nonprofit, and philanthropic communities
Experience with volunteer engagement platforms and tools
Salesforce experience

Responsibilities

Develop and support volunteer programs that engage donors and volunteers, offering both in-person and virtual experiences such as Days of Caring, Kit Packings, Lunch & Learns, Skilled-Based projects, and Donation Drives.
Oversee the day-to-day management of all volunteer projects with corporate partners, ensuring timely and effective execution, with support from the Volunteer Coordinator and/or Corporate Relations Coordinator.
Manage and grow a portfolio of principal and strategic corporate partnerships, where volunteer engagement is central to the corporate partnership, and drive successful workplace campaigns through relationship management, overall campaign strategy, and donor stewardship.
Provide direct supervision, coaching, and professional development to the Volunteer Coordinator, ensuring high-quality volunteer engagement, effective program execution, and achievement of departmental goals.
Partner with Community Strategy and Programs teams to engage with community organizations to assess their volunteer and resource needs and explore how United Way can support them.
Evaluate and refine volunteer resource management processes to ensure effective tracking and recognition of volunteer activities.
Manage and optimize a digital volunteer platform, including approving nonprofit partner opportunities, creating internal opportunities, and providing training to nonprofit partners.
Oversee the Speakers Bureau program, including recruiting and training agency speakers and managing corporate team requests for speaker bookings.
In partnership with the Senior Director of Workplace Giving, develop and oversee logistics for internal and external training sessions for volunteers, including creating training materials for volunteers.
Collaborate with Development and Community Strategy colleagues on Pro Bono volunteer recruitment and engagement, and serve as a project liaison for the Bridge Builders Advisory Committee.
Co-manage the planning and execution of major fundraising, visibility, and volunteer events in partnership with the Events Manager, including the annual Stronger Neighborhoods Awards Luncheon, April Food Day, 9/11 Day of Service, and Uniting for the Holidays, ensuring seamless execution and meaningful community impact.