Volunteer Manager (VM)

DEFTEC Corporation•New London, CT

2d•$48,000 - $63,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Volunteer Manager is responsible for building and sustaining the museum's volunteer program, ensuring that volunteers are well prepared, appropriately placed, and valued as part of the broader museum community. In this role, you will recruit volunteers for Government-approved positions such as gallery docents, museum ambassadors, educational assistants, and administrative support; interview candidates and collect or submit required vetting information in accordance with Government procedures (with final access and suitability determinations remaining with the Government); and lead orientations covering the museum's history, mission, visitor services, and emergency safety protocols. You will match volunteers' skills and interests with operational needs, manage shift calendars to ensure strong coverage during peak hours and events, and maintain accurate databases of volunteer hours and contributions. You will also serve as the voice of the volunteers, integrating them into the wider staff culture, organizing annual appreciation events, luncheons, and milestone awards, and producing newsletters, web updates, and notifications that keep the volunteer network informed. The ideal candidate holds a bachelor's degree in human resources, social sciences, communications, or museum studies, and has two to four years of experience in volunteer management, community outreach, or program coordination, preferably in a non-profit or cultural setting. A Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential is highly desired, along with knowledge of recruitment strategies for diverse demographics from students to retirees, training design for non-experts, volunteer database management, and the legal distinctions between volunteer and employee labor regulations. Comfort with public speaking, diplomatic conflict resolution, tailoring communication across generations, and designing non-monetary recognition and incentives to drive retention are strongly preferred. The selected candidate must obtain and clear a Tier 1/NACI background clearance at hire.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in human resources, Social Sciences, Communications, or Museum Studies.
A Tier 1/NACI Background Clearance will be obtained by the candidate at hire and must successfully complete and clear the process.
2 to 4 years in volunteer management, community outreach, or program coordination (preferably in a non-profit/cultural setting).
Recruitment Strategies: Sourcing diverse volunteer demographics, from students to retirees.
Training & Pedagogy: Developing educational modules that train non-experts to interact with the public or assist with collections.
Database Management: Proficiency in volunteer management tracking databases.
Labor Regulations: Clear understanding of legal distinctions between volunteer and employee labor laws

Nice To Haves

Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) is highly desired.
Public Speaking: Comfort delivering presentations, leading large orientations, and representing the museum externally.
Empathy & Conflict Resolution: Diplomatic interpersonal skills to manage diverse personalities and handle performance issues within a volunteer pool.
Communication Style: Tailoring communication approaches across generational groups.
Recognition Design: Creating non-monetary incentives and appreciation events to drive volunteer retention.

Responsibilities

Recruit volunteers for Government-approved roles such as gallery docents, museum ambassadors, educational assistants, and administrative support.
Interview candidates and collect or submit required volunteer-vetting information in accordance with Government procedures.
Train volunteers in the museum's history, mission, visitor services, and emergency safety protocols.
Match volunteer skills and interests with museum operational needs.
Manage volunteer shift calendars to ensure proper coverage during peak hours and events.
Maintain accurate databases of volunteer hours and contributions.
Act as the voice of the volunteers, integrating them into the broader staff culture.
Organize annual volunteer appreciation events, luncheons, and milestone awards.
Produce regular newsletters, web updates, and notifications keeping the volunteer network informed.