Volunteer Coordinator

Description

Jumpstart, a preschool enrichment and literacy program, trains and supports college students to serve as part-time tutors. Jumpstart tutors work one-to-one with young children to build skills crucial to school success. This past year, Jumpstart engaged more than 2,100 tutors in 57 communities across the United States.

About the Position

The volunteer coordinator recruits, assists in training, and manages volunteers for various Jumpstart service projects that address specific program and community needs. The volunteers recruited by the volunteer coordinator should reflect a balance of college students, local community service organizations, and others who can participate in a range of volunteer service projects. Basic volunteer service project categories include one-day, short-term, and long-term service projects

Volunteer coordinators serve part-time, and a minimum of 300 hours during the school year. 

Volunteer Coordinator Responsibilities

Volunteer Recruitment and Training

• Recruit required number of volunteers (varies by site)
• Recruit volunteers to commit to one-day, short-term, and long-term volunteer projects Present Jumpstart to campus and local community organizations, student groups, faculty, and staff to obtain volunteers, and collaborate on service events
• Facilitate and support training of all volunteers. Site staff will work with the volunteer coordinator to make sure that all volunteer trainings meet Jumpstart quality standards

Planning and Implementation

• Identify program partner volunteer projects through needs assessment and ongoing communication with partner early childhood centers
• Implementation of events and support volunteers for service days held at partner early childhood centers (i.e., PP service events, Big Heroes Big Readers, Messy Morning, etc.)
• Research relevant community organizations to coordinate additional volunteer opportunities for Corps members (i.e., Columbia Public Schools, Head Start, Downtown Optimists, Adopt-a-Spot, etc.)
• Work with site staff and Corps members to plan annual volunteer appreciation event
• Share promising practices across Jumpstart network (i.e, participation on monthly VC conference call)

Volunteer Management and Tracking

• Work with Jumpstart site staff to manage volunteers from Jumpstart’s corporate partners
• Establish and regularly update volunteer engagement plan and list of events
• Communicate regularly with volunteers through check-in phone calls, e-mails, and personal appreciations for their efforts
• Document and log volunteer hours in volunteer tracking system and report hours to Jumpstart regional office

Evaluation of Volunteer Activities

• Collect and manage feedback from all parties involved in volunteer activities, including volunteers, partnering early childhood center staff, and community members through written reports, testimonials, and verbal comments
• Share feedback with site staff to acknowledge strengths, successes and to make improvements for future volunteer activities (i.e., plus/delta tool)

Marketing, Promotion, Solicitation of In-Kind Resources

• Actively seek media coverage for service events
• Research and seek potential sources of in-kind support

Volunteer Coordinator Associate

• Recruit and train student VCA to assist with volunteer engagement goals and activities
• Provide ongoing support to VCA

Qualifications and Experience

Dedication to volunteerism and coordinating volunteer activities

• Experience in leadership role
• Experience recruiting, training, managing, and supporting groups of people to address community needs through service projects
• Ability to build relationships and work with volunteers, Corps members, and community members
• Track record of planning and implementing events
• Desire to learn about Jumpstart practices, including early childhood best practices

Communication

• Strong language and communication skills (written and oral)
• Ability to give presentations to large groups
• Desire to share the Jumpstart mission with the community

Commitment to service

• Community service experience
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to fulfill a yearlong community service commitment
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others

Professionalism

• Ability to work well independently and on a team
• Maturity and good judgment in relating to Jumpstart peers, partners, and families
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds
• Availability, dependability, and willingness to be flexible
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems and think strategically
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude toward helping others

Compensation and Benefits

• Full tuition waiver for fall, winter, and summer
• Potential to earn Work-Study award during term of service
• $1,000 AmeriCorps education award after completion of service term
• Extensive training in the field of early childhood education (optional)
• Professional training and support to implement volunteer activities and events
• Unique opportunity to join a national network of individuals serving young children
• Invaluable opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young children

Requirements

15-20 hours/week for 2 semesters, including, but not limited to:

• Weekly meeting with SM
• Weekly meetings with team leaders and site staff
• Weekly meetings with VCA
• Office Hours
• Community/Campus Activities
• Jumpstart trainings and service events
• Periodic AmeriCorps trainings and service events

For more information or to apply on-line, visit www.jstart.org

Curators of the University of Missouri. DCMA and other Copyright information. All rights reserved. An equal opportunity/ADA institution.

MU Career Center, 201 Student Success Center, 909 Lowry Mall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-6060
Phone: (573) 882-6801 | Fax: (573) 882-5440 | Email: career@missouri.edu