Volunteer Coordinator

Bushwise•Paterson, NJ

23d•Onsite

About The Position

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for the recruitment, coordination, support, and day-to-day management of volunteers within a remote wilderness lodge environment. This role plays a critical part in ensuring volunteers are well-integrated, supported, productive, and aligned with operational, conservation, and guest experience standards.

Requirements

Previous experience coordinating volunteers, students, or staff in a lodge, camp, or field-based environment
Strong organisational and people-management skills
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, remote setting
High levels of professionalism, empathy, and resilience

Nice To Haves

Experience working in wilderness, conservation, or ecotourism environments
Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills
Administrative competence, including record keeping and scheduling
Cultural awareness and the ability to manage diverse groups of people
Passion for conservation, education, and responsible tourism

Responsibilities

Coordinate the arrival, orientation, scheduling, and departure of volunteers
Act as the primary point of contact for volunteers throughout their placement
Ensure volunteers clearly understand their roles, responsibilities, and camp standards
Manage volunteer rosters, duty schedules, and time-off planning
Facilitate volunteer inductions, briefings, and ongoing support
Monitor volunteer performance, conduct, and wellbeing
Address concerns, conflicts, or disciplinary matters in a professional and timely manner
Escalate serious issues to lodge management when required
Allocate volunteers to support guiding, conservation, maintenance, hospitality, or research functions as required
Work closely with guiding and lodge teams to ensure volunteer support is aligned with daily operational needs
Assist with general camp administration, logistics, and coordination
Ensure volunteers comply with safety protocols, reserve rules, and standard operating procedures
Maintain accurate records including volunteer details, schedules, inductions, and incident reporting
Support adherence to conservation principles and responsible tourism practices
Maintain clear communication between volunteers, lodge teams, and management
Provide regular feedback and reporting on volunteer activities, issues, and contributions
Contribute to the continuous improvement of the volunteer programme