Volunteer Coordinator

OUR EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

Community Action Partnership has an exciting opportunity for

Volunteer Coordinator

Under the direction of the Food Bank Volunteer Manager, the Volunteer Coordinator will coordinate the Giving Farm volunteer program, a collaborative student farm site in Westminster. The Volunteer Coordinator will ensure that volunteers have a rewarding and productive experience while representing CAP OC with the partnership with Westminster High School. Note that the primary work site is at the farm at Westminster High School. As needed and scheduled, the Volunteer Coordinator may also assist with other volunteer-related activities within the Food Bank Department at the main warehouse site in Garden Grove.

WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH IN THIS ROLE

The Volunteer Coordinator provides onsite daily oversight of the Giving Farm volunteers, including recruiting, onboarding, training, communicating expectations and ensuring a safe environment. Additionally, this position also trains OC Food Bank staff for onsite Giving Farm back-up to ensure coverage when the Volunteer Coordinator is out sick or on vacation. This role will recruit volunteers to satisfy the total number of volunteers needed. The Volunteer Coordinator may collaborate with the CAP OC Development Department regarding the schedule of corporate volunteer teams. The Volunteer Coordinator will use the CAP OC Volunteer Hub software platform for the management and recruitment of volunteers. The Volunteer Coordinator will collaborate with the Westminster High School Farm Manager and VIP Coordinator to maximize student engagement for all farm-related volunteer activities.

This position works onsite five (5) days per week, including two (2) Saturdays per month. When working on a Saturday, a weekday is taken off. A remote or hybrid schedule is not offered.

The rate for this position is $23.00 - $25.00 per hour.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

VOLUNTEER-RELATED:

• Schedules, coordinates, supervises, and ensures an appropriate number of volunteers are scheduled to complete Giving Farm needs relative to planting, harvesting, weeding, general maintenance and pickup schedule.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for volunteer needs at The Giving Farm by working with the Westminster High School Giving Farm Manager, the school VIP Coordinator, and the CAP OC Development Department (on any corporate volunteer groups they have referred) to ensure all volunteers have an EPIC experience.
• Greets, trains, and overseas the work of volunteers at the Giving Farm; when not possible to be at The Giving Farm, informs the Volunteer Manager to ensure proper coverage.
• Proactively seeks opportunities to speak to community groups (i.e., corporations, schools, faith communities, service clubs and organizations) regarding volunteer opportunities at The Giving Farm and CAP OC Food Bank.
• Recruits volunteers and responds timely to emails and phone calls regarding volunteer opportunities; takes the lead on any corporate volunteer groups the Development Department refers to the farm.
• Utilizes the CAP OC Volunteer Handbook and other volunteer materials as training tools.
• Ensures all volunteers have the necessary onboarding and training to successfully meet targets and do so in a safe environment.
• Plans, coordinates, and oversees large scale volunteer events.
• Updates and coordinates an online volunteer registration system on the CAP OC Volunteer software platform.
• Tracks and reports service hours of all Giving Farm and OC Food Bank volunteers and produce harvested and donated to the Food Bank or sold.
• Ensures customer service is maintained in a manner reflective of the spirit of the Agency’s Mission, Vision, and Community Action Promise.
• Prioritizes providing Westminster High School students the first right to volunteer at The Giving Farm.
• Other duties as assigned.

COORDINATOR-RELATED:

• Schedules, prepares agendas, and leads regular meetings with The Giving Farm partners.
• Coordinates the long term and short-term volunteers at The Giving Farm as well as assigned interns, and any AmeriCorps or Vista Fellows, that might be assigned to the Giving Farm.
• Interviews and retains assigned fellows and staff.
• Advises and recommends necessary changes or modifications to current work procedures to ensure the safety and efficient work of all volunteers.
• Ensures assigned volunteers are following all CAP OC and Westminster High School policies, procedures, and guidelines, including all safety standards and procedures.
• Reports any issues with volunteers to the Volunteer Manager by end of day of the incident.
• Represents The Giving Farm on the CAP OC Risk Assessment Committee to report safety incidents and needs.
• Meets any and all grant commitments associated with The Giving Farm; provides reports and writes narratives to assist with the support of pre and post grant submissions.
• Other duties as assigned.

WAREHOUSE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (IF WORKING AT THE FOOD BANK):

• Contributes to the safe handling of food by volunteers by ensuring health standards are met, food stored properly.
• Provides training in warehouse and food storage procedures to volunteers, including safe work practices and ensuring federal, state, and local regulations of safe food storage are in compliance on a consistent basis.
• Performs hands-on duties of forklift, pallet jack and/or other light equipment as needed to support staff.
• Provides hands-on training in the safe and proper use of lifting methods and other warehouse matters.

• Other related duties as assigned.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE HAS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN

• Coordinating, supervising, and motivating diverse groups of volunteers, to work collaboratively together to meet participant/client needs and agency goals.
• Strong interpersonal, public speaking, and customer service skills.
• Being a leader and the face of a large organization to outside partners and volunteer groups.
• Techniques related to volunteer recruitment, supervision, and recognition.
• Strong time management skills, working effectively within demanding time constraints.
• Problem solving/analysis in order to resolve short-term problems and anticipate possible long-term problems.
• Effective communication and training skills, and an ability to work with a diverse set of individuals and groups of varying background, age, and ability to complete projects as part of a team.
• Understanding, applying and complying with health and safety regulations of an operating farm.
• Managing inventory, running reports, and ensuring accuracy of information input.
• Safe operation of heavy equipment such as forklifts and electric pallet jacks, other warehouse procedures such as Cal OSHA compliance, safe lifting methods, prevention of work-related injury and/or illness.

IDEAL CANDIDATE MUST BE

• Customer Service focused: Establishes rapport with fellows, staff, volunteers, volunteer resources, and participants from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ethically focused: Understands ethical behavior and business practices and ensures own behavior and the behavior of others are consistent with these standards and in alignment with the values of the organization.
• Inclusive: Works cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• A Strong Leader: Positively influences others to achieve results that are in the best interest of CAP OC.
• Creative/Innovative: Develops new and unique ways to improve the standing of the department and looks for new opportunities.
• Collaborative: Works collaboratively in a team environment both internally and externally with the capability to negotiate success outcomes for all parties; represents CAP OC needs well with the high school.
• A Strong Planner/Organizer: Consistently demonstrates planning, organizational, execution and delivery skills for projects, events, and reports to be delivered on time, within budget and achieving intended results.
• Work focused: Is detailed oriented while working accurately and efficiently on a consistent basis without assistance. May require working weekends, evenings, and holidays when/if needed to meet goals and/or grant demands. Workdays and hours of work are subject to change.
• Mathematical: Writes, composes, and completes mathematical calculations correctly and in a timely manner. Composes and compiles numbers, statistical data, and obtains other information for forms, reports, and presentations.

• Computer literate: Competently uses the Internet, Web based databases, inventory systems (Primarius experience preferred), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams), and other applications via a desktop and/or laptop computer, PC Tablet and/or Notebook, or I-Pad. Competently uses a printer, copier, Smart cell phone and/or other electronic devices.