Volunteer Coordinator
Location: Alexandria, VA
The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for the management and activities of an established volunteer network of over 200 individual volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator oversees the delivery and coordination of a vast array of services and programs to the inmate population at the William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center. These programs allow for inmate access to religious worship, substance abuse counseling, job training, and many other programs aimed at improving the inmate’s probability of a successful reentry into society following their incarceration. Additionally, the Volunteer Coordinator, under general supervision of the Office’s Programs Manager, coordinates, supports, and plans volunteer programs and activities such as event logistics, creation of various informational literature, and the recruitment of volunteers to further enhance the Office’s established network.
What You Should Bring
The ideal candidate for the position of Volunteer Coordinator should possess excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills; strong organizational and problem-solving skills; a creative mindset; the ability to handle multiple task simultaneously, and demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Creates, develops, and implements volunteer recruitment campaigns, including the production of written informational and educational materials that communicate pertinent volunteer services program objectives;
- Creates, updates, and conducts training for Detention Center volunteers on various topics, including Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), bloodborne pathogen response, emergency procedures, suicide prevention, inmate manipulation, and facility rules/regulations;
- Monitors and submits volunteer hours into a City volunteer database and jail management system (JMS); maintain daily volunteer log of facility access;
- Keeps volunteers abreast of facility rules and regulations, safety concerns, and situational awareness necessary to safely facilitate programs;
- Conducts facility tours and orientations;
- Prepares monthly statistical report monitoring volunteer hours, number of active volunteers, the average number of program participants, and classroom hours
- Supervises and schedules interns;
- Analyzes program trends to help stay up to date on the latest programs;
- Creates housing availability rosters to ensure space is available for volunteers to facilitate classes;
- Maintains rosters of community resources to use during the annual reentry fair;
- Interviews and recommends volunteers, giving special attention to the recruitment of volunteers that represent the diversity of the community at large;
- Completes initial and semi-annual background investigations on volunteers; conducts reference and criminal history checks on prospective volunteers; refers to security staff for fingerprinting; works closely with Virginia State Police to ensure the fingerprinting process is conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations governed by Virginia State Police and FBI policies;
- Monitors volunteer behavior, observes classes, and appropriate inmate-volunteer relationships;
- Responds to inmate request for program access and services;
- Attends Office-wide staff meetings, conferences, volunteer training, and workshops;
- Creates and maintains inmate program rosters in the Office’s jail management system; scheduling and management of inmates to include monitoring keep separate mandates and appropriately rotating program access to all inmates.;
- Coordinates the logistics necessary to plan and execute various types of programs and volunteer events including receiving donations;
- Assists with monthly motivational programming; records videos, takes pictures, coordinates the setup, and all other duties related to the success of motivational programs; assists the chaplain with recruiting various faith-based organizations and helps to maintain contact with leaders of those organizations;
- Locates and procures a vast volunteer base that are trained to facilitate programs and services related to substance abuse, mental health, reentry, life skills, religious services, education, and employment;
- Manages, trains, schedules, and supervises volunteer activity and access to the facility;
- Acts as volunteer first person of contact for issues that arise related to facility access, scheduling, and program proposals;
- Maintain master volunteer access list;
- Disseminate volunteer access;
- Assist with program evaluation and recommend changes as needed;
- Interact with the inmate population and introduce the new volunteers and associated programs;
- Craft informational materials and communication advising the inmate population of new program opportunities;
- Maintain confidential records and files on all volunteers;
- Maintain accreditation statistics and documentation;
- Plans annual volunteer luncheon, to include contacting vendors, securing the location, securing entertainment, and ordering special gifts for volunteers;
- Develops and implements programs of recognition for volunteers.