Volunteer Engagement Coordinator – South LA (Region 2)

School on Wheels is a nonprofit organization made up of hundreds of volunteers, who give their time, talents, and support to the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness. Founded in 1993, the mission of School on Wheels is the enhancement of educational opportunities for children without a home, from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Our goal is to shrink the gaps in the education of these children and provide them with the highest quality education possible.

Since 1993 we have:

  • Provided mentoring and tutoring for more than 50,000 students – each one with a story, past, and future.
  • We reach six counties in Southern California covering some 2,500 square miles.
  • We partner with 400+ sites across our region. Those sites include shelters, school districts, and after-school programs.
  • Each year we provide some 5,000 students with the school supplies they need.

Summary:

As the Volunteer Support Coordinator, you will be responsible for recruiting, managing, and supporting volunteers who work to change the lives of the students experiencing homelessness that they tutor.


The Volunteer Engagement Coordinator oversees the following geographic areas: South LA | Compton | Lynwood | Watts | Gardena | Torrance. The Volunteer Engagement Coordinator drives organizational growth by strengthening and increasing engagement with the volunteer program. Reporting to the Associate Manager and working with the Student Support Coordinator, a successful Volunteer Engagement Coordinator will consistently meet or exceed School On Wheels’ strategic enrollment and engagement goals and strongly advocate for our programs. This hybrid position allows the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator to work from home but will spend a lot of time out in the community working directly with volunteers and community members.

What you’ll do:

  • Support and train volunteers, ensuring they have the tools to tutor their students.
  • Conduct outreach and recruit new volunteers while targeting specific needs.
  • Conduct follow-up advanced volunteer training by working with experienced volunteers.
  • Focus on volunteer retention and appreciation – to acknowledge their impact on students.
  • Communicate with volunteers with a focus on personal connections and responsiveness to needs.
  • Attend regular group meetings with volunteers to provide a sense of community and to share ideas.
  • Work with the student coordinator to reach every homeless family who needs our services.
  • Work as a team with the Student Support Coordinator to find appropriate matches for volunteers and students
  • Establish a Volunteer Council to provide feedback to improve the volunteer experience.
  • Marketing and expansion of scholarships.
  • Highlight star volunteers and students share success stories.
  • Database reporting, updating, and tracking of current volunteers and students, as well as alumni.

What we are looking for:

  • 1-3 years experience managing volunteers with experience working in the South Los Angeles community strongly preferred.
  • Must be comfortable with outreach in various capacities, including working in homeless shelters and surrounding areas.
  • Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills are a must. You are able to connect with people at all levels – volunteers, shelter staff and management, homeless families, and students of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Empathy for and an understanding of homeless families and the homeless population.
  • Must be highly organized and efficient in time management skills; this is a fast-paced position with competing priorities.
  • Ability to perform in a team environment while working independently.
  • Excellent computer skills are required; experience with SalesForce and Google Suite is a plus.
  • Ability to represent SOW in the highest manner and exemplify SOW’s values, integrity, and ethics.
  • Drive and ambition; ready to make a difference each and every day.
  • Local travel is required: a valid California driver’s license, auto insurance, and the use of a personal vehicle.
  • Lifting of material donations, including backpacks, school supplies, etc., is required periodically.

Benefits and Opportunities you’ll receive:

  • Hourly rate – $20 to $22.12 DOE
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurances, 403b plan
  • Paid vacation and holidays, plus a day off for your birthday
  • Flexibility – flexible working environment and telecommuting. Enough freedom to spread your wings while still holding you accountable.
  • Autonomy – this position will provide you with a lot of autonomy as you will be required to take charge of projects and complete tasks with minimal supervision.
  • Professional Development – we believe in investing in our team and giving you the tools to succeed. Ongoing coaching, training, growth opportunities, and a yearly professional development stipend are provided.
  • Skill variety – you will have the opportunity to work on various tasks to develop your skills in many areas.
  • Mobility – room for vertical and horizontal mobility within the organization.
  • Consistent and fair leadership – we’ll share information, set clear goals, show you respect, and treat everyone fairly.
  • Culture – you will be a part of a passionate, mission-driven team where your ideas and feedback will be listened to and encouraged. You will have opportunities to be a part of team-based projects that will bring change to the organization.

At School on Wheels, we believe that working together with a team of diverse backgrounds and voices will enable us to fulfill our mission of improving students’ lives through education. To join this dedicated team, submit your cover letter and resume for consideration to employment@schoolonwheels.org