Volunteer Placement Advisor

**Position Summary**

Reporting to the Development & Volunteer Engagement Lead, this role is integral to recruiting, coordinating, and supporting skilled volunteers who serve aboard hospital ships operating in low-resource settings in Africa. Your contribution will be both valued and impactful.

Working collaboratively with colleagues, you help mobilize Canadians through targeted recruitment strategies and organizational improvements to fill positions in maritime and related trades, operations, IT, and management. The role focuses on creating a welcoming environment and aligning volunteers with Mercy Ships’ mission to provide free surgical care and capacity-building initiatives.

Key responsibilities include contributing to and implementing effective recruitment plans, supporting screening and staffing processes for English
- and French-speaking applicants, and collaborating with Mercy Ships Canada staff and international partners in a cross-functional, cross-cultural communication environment.

Representing the organization to external audiences is a central aspect of this position. Each Advisor manages a portfolio of roles or occupational families—primarily in maritime, trade, and technical sectors—based on volunteer placement priorities. Professional agility, enthusiasm, and a growth mindset are essential, as priorities may shift according to Mercy Ships International’s organizational needs and its ongoing healthcare and development work in underserved regions.

**What You Will Do**
- Cross-functional and Cross-cultural Teamwork_
- Work closely with the Development and Volunteer Engagement Lead and other volunteer placement advisors, coordinators, and organizational leaders to align volunteer crew program efforts within broader organizational goals.
- Proactively participate in team meetings and initiatives to address challenges, brainstorm solutions, and pilot new initiatives while demonstrating a strong commitment to shared outcomes.
- Collaborate with the Mercy Ships International team members, including the recruitment community of practice; share best practices and networks.
- Stay abreast of volunteer human resource recruiting and relevant industry advancements by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and/or joining professional organizations, understanding the trends and issues pertinent to the industry, volunteerism, etc.
- Volunteer Recruitment & Sourcing_
- Contribute to and help implement strategies to recruit diverse professionals— maritime and trade professionals, information technology professionals, administrative, and management staff—who are prepared to serve in alignment with the charity's mission and values.
- Establish, build, and collaborate with professional networks, businesses, churches, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, professional organizations, and others to raise awareness and attract talent.
- Build and nurture relationships with volunteers, sharing opportunities and inspiring a sense of purpose, while embracing volunteers of all backgrounds who support the charity's ethos.
- Collaborate with global teams and partner organizations to align recruitment with operational needs.
- Proactively prepare for, attend, and promptly follow up on meetings with Mercy Ships International colleagues to discuss direction and volunteer crew needs.
- Determine the need and develop requests or creative content for new recruiting materials and campaigns (videos, brochures, banners, etc.).
- Organizing, participating in, and promoting webinars and other recruitment functions and activities.
- Provide input and advice on the effectiveness of volunteer recruiting channels and budgets.
- Volunteer Screening & Selection_
- Conduct initial follow-up contact and informational interviews to understand each volunteer’s motivation, strengths, and availability.
- Collaborate with Mercy Ships International resource managers and leaders to deeply understand the organization’s programs and identify present and future volunteer needs.
- Provide feedback to Mercy Ships International on volunteer questions related to role descriptions for volunteer positions, outlining specific tasks, time commitments, and required skills.
- Supporting the matching and placement of volunteers with positions based on their skills, experience, and availability.
- Onboarding & Deployment_
- Support the pre-deployment orientation, including faith-oriented values (especially for longer-term volunteers), cultural sensitivity, and operational readiness.
- Help provide or direct volunteers to the right colleagues to address questions about logistics, such as visas, medical clearances, travel plans, and orientations.
- Complete the Mercy Ships Canada processes necessary to facilitate role changes or transitions when volunteers seek new challenges or require adjustments.
- Mercy Ships Canada Volunteer Crew Staffing and Administrative Services_
- Co