Volunteer Coordinator
4 days ago
Dorchester
Job Description About Mass Audubon Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change. With the help of our 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries. Explore, find inspiration, and take action at massaudubon.org. About This Position Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center is a beautiful urban 67-acre wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood, with a nature center, community gardens and two miles of trails. More than 15,000 adults, families, children, volunteers, and partners visit the nature center annually, walking the trails, utilizing the community event space, and taking part in educational programs such as nature preschool, camp, and public programs. Mass Audubon is seeking a part-time Volunteer Coordinator to help grow volunteerism at the sanctuary. The Volunteer Coordinator works closely with the Operations Manager daily on developing volunteer projects that are essential to the mission of Mass Audubon and the success of this community nature center. Routine volunteer projects include trail maintenance, landscaping, gardening, invasive plant removal, and habitat restoration. This person will also help develop and lead training that welcomes and orients new volunteers and supports the professional development of existing individual volunteers. Visitors, program participants, neighbors, community partners, and volunteers utilize the site every day and throughout the year. Maintaining cooperative relationships is an essential part of this role. The Volunteer Coordinator ensures that Mass Audubon and its sanctuaries are inclusive and welcoming, providing more people with access to connect with the joys of nature. Application Instructions Please submit a resume and cover letter with your ADP application. Responsibilities • Recruit, screen, and interview interested volunteers and match them with appropriate projects determined by the management team, • Collaborate with regional staff to support their volunteer needs in all departments, including the development of volunteer job descriptions and project needs for individuals and groups, • Onboard new volunteers: field inquiries, onboard into the volunteer portal, disseminate training materials, provide volunteer name tags, and ensure that volunteer materials are stocked, • Lead group and individual volunteers in property-wide clean-ups, trail maintenance, and invasive plant removal; assist the property team as needed in supporting group volunteers, • Coordinate with businesses, community groups, and others interested in volunteering, including managing outreach, communication, and potential donations, • Maintain data on volunteers, including schedules, hours, years of service, and general information, utilizing Mass Audubon’s volunteer management system, • Support volunteer recognition efforts, • Coordinate communication and community building for the region’s volunteers, • Evaluate volunteer progress and satisfaction with their experiences, • Participate in courses, workshops, and other events for professional development within and outside Mass Audubon Must Haves • Experience working and spending time outdoors, • Ability to work with a diverse range of people while exhibiting cultural competency and inclusion, • Ability to work independently, • Excellent organizational ability while multitasking, • Experience leading groups outdoors, • Experience teaching, leading group walks, and tours, • Experience identifying native and invasive plant species, • Familiarity with the biology and ecology of New England upland habitats and wetland habitats, • Experience removing invasive or nuisance plant species, • Experience in gardening, planting, and maintaining landscaped areas Work Schedule This position starts in January 2026 and ends in June 2026. The schedule of 16 hours per week is flexible, with scheduled times Tuesday through Saturday between 8:00am-4:00pm. Other Requirements Employees must successfully complete a CORI and SORI Background Check and a Motor Vehicle Record (if applicable) is required. Mass Audubon’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Mass Audubon embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are dedicated to forming a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Mass Audubon’s mission is to “protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife” by building a strong coalition of employees, volunteers, and community members. We recognize that the environmental movement and field of conservation have been affected by societal systems that have limited opportunity and access for many people. As a result, Mass Audubon is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. We are engaged in an ongoing process of organizational assessment and change, designed to remove barriers and create a workplace where all forms of diversity are recognized and valued. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Mass Audubon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. Mass Audubon prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.