Volunteer & Community Coordinator

Make-A-Wish believes that a wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a lifethreatening medical condition. This one belief guides us in everything we do. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids and families we serve.

Make-A-Wish Connecticut is part of the nation’s largest and most well-established wish granting organization, with chapters and volunteers throughout the U.S. and abroad. The work of MakeA-Wish is accomplished by a volunteer governing board of directors, a paid staff of dedicated employees, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

Our local staff is dedicated to creating life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are committed to maintaining the Foundation’s vision of reaching every eligible child and making his or her one true wish come true.

The Volunteer & Community Coordinator/Manager is responsible for providing professional staffsupport to the Make-A-Wish Connecticut volunteers (wish granters and event volunteers) and
wish families. This may include recruiting, managing, coordinating, and engaging volunteers and wish families that are involved in Foundation activities.

The ideal candidate will understand the significance and need for volunteers within the Foundation and the various capacities in which they support our mission. She/he will possess excellent customer service, relationship-building and organizational skills, experience in executing comprehensive programs, and knowledge of donor databases (SalesForce preferred). Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential. A strong work ethic combined with honesty and integrity is an absolute requirement, as is a dedication to the mission of MakeA-Wish. A collaborative style will result in a strong inter-departmental and Chapter structure, ensuring success for all. The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys a strong team environment and working with children and families.

• Contribute to development and implementation of strategic plan for volunteers that is aligned with organizational goals.
• Manage recruitment, onboarding and training of volunteers as needed, striving to ensure adequate diversity, quantity and quality to meet chapter needs.
• Develop and implement ongoing communication with and training of wish granters.
• Engagement of community or corporate organizations to provide volunteer services as needed.
• Collaborate across the organization to provide and coordinate volunteer and intern support and foster positive relationships between volunteers, staff and wish families.
• Maintain all policies and procedures related to volunteers, wish granting and interning according to National standards and guidelines established by Make-A-Wish Connecticut.
• Represent Make-A-Wish at events of all types including mandatory attendance at internal events (Wish Night, Walk for Wishes, Gala) and larger external events (Miles for Smiles, Sunflowers for Wishes, Wishes on Wheels).
• May help to train and mentor interns to assist the program team.

As with all members of the Make-A-Wish Connecticut staff, the Volunteer & Community Coordinator must believe in the mission and vision of Make-A-Wish. He or she must model integrity, work to inspire colleagues and contacts, and strive to build a solid base of loyal volunteers. In addition, the Volunteer & Community Coordinator should possess the following:

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience managing volunteers preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate complex tasks within established deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Inspiring, positive personality and comfort speaking and engaging with internal and external audiences.
• Collaborative work ethic with strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Flexibility to work outside standard work hours as needed.

Additional preferred skills and abilities

• Fluent Spanish-speaking a plus

Salary range: $50,000-$60,000

We respect and ensure equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, perceived disability and other legally protected characteristics.

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