Volunteer Coordinator

**Job Description: Volunteer Coordinator**

Shelter Nova Scotia, located in Halifax, is a non-profit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of professionals and operated by skilled employees. We believe in a community where everyone has a safe and affordable home.

**Summary**:Reporting to theDirector of Marketing and Community Engagement, the Volunteer Coordinator is responsible to develop a structured and reliable volunteer program, including sustainable food services/solutions across the organization. The Volunteer Coordinator will have an exceptional understanding of the policies and procedures of Shelter Nova Scotia to model behavior that is in line with the mission, vision, and values of the organization.

**Responsibilities**

**Program Development & Service Delivery**
- Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programs, services, policies, and procedures for volunteers.
- Review volunteer policies and procedures on an annual basis; make recommendations.
- possess a strong understanding of issues regarding food insecurity in populations which are homeless and vulnerable
- be responsible for the Adopt a Meal program, including soliciting, scheduling, and implementing meals
- Coordinate with third party individuals or organizations who are developing their own fundraising initiatives or volunteer opportunities related to Shelter Nova Scotia.
- Contribute to the planning and development of new programs as required.
- work with partners and food donors utilizing and streamlining safe food guidelines
- Ensure Shelter Nova Scotia’s mission, vision and values are modeled
- Ensure the program specific Operating Policies and Procedures are adhered to
- ability to work in a leadership capacity with volunteers and community members
- ability to address difficult interpersonal situations in a respectful manner
- ability to work with diverse communities using a strengths-based approach, showing sensitivity to those who experience poverty/discrimination
- Experience with large group food preparation and kitchen management viewed as an asset
- Experience with budgeting, food sourcing, and working with suppliers including local farmers viewed as an asset
- Commitment to social justice and working towards improving food systems and poverty issues
- Experience with Raiser’s Edge or other CRM databases considered an asset.

**In Kind Donation Management**
- assist in sorting through donated personal care items, blankets, towels, dishes, and other donated item. To organize, inventory and determine what will be kept, what might be used in another facility and, what will be recycled

**Action Planning**
- Ensure volunteers are well oriented to the position, and clear direction and timely and specific feedback
- responsible for the development of specific job training programs that ensure volunteers receive consistent training for each individual position.
- Responsible for building a sense of teamwork and cooperation with volunteers and employees

**Admin**
- Provide input into the annual budget process
- Make fiscally and programmatically responsible decisions
- Maintain confidential file system for volunteer/donor information

**Other**
- Complete forty hours of professional development annually by attending workshops, seminars, webinars, reading books and journals, completing projects, watching movies, developing and/or providing new training modules, giving public, and/or presentations, etc.; provide a 500-word reflection on each activity.
- With the Central Support Team, identify ways for effective cost savings across the organization.
- Attend community meetings as a Shelter Nova Scotia representative
- Perform other related duties as assigned

**Working Conditions**

**Hazards**
- Exposure to hazardous material (e.g., body fluids) sharps (e.g. needles) chemicals and noxious agents (e.g. infectious material)
- Hazards associated with working in physical contact with residents with possible exposure to body fluids, infections, and communicable diseases.
- Residents may exhibit unpredictable or volatile behaviors due to mental health and addictions issues (diagnosed or undiagnosed)

**Mental, Visual and Physical Demand**
- Working with resident group often leads to ambiguous situations that are stressful for the employees, management, and residents. Issues encountered are not easily unraveled, and solutions are at times difficult to address and achieve
- High stress environment, requiring sensitivity and confidentiality, and significant degree of visual and mental acuity
- Challenging, fast pace and constantly changing environment, with multiple interruptions and competing demands

**Occupational Health and Safety**
- Be knowledgeable of the Nova Scotia OH&S Act and regulations and abide by same
- Comply with the employee responsibilities as outlined in the Internal Responsibility System for OH&S and cooperating with occupational health and safety initiatives.
- Be responsible for following safe work