Government House is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator, a role that will be a pivotal liaison between our volunteers and the Government House Director of Operations.

Apply on this opportunity on Indeed by March 25, 2021. Read more for details on the position:

Background

The Friends of Government House Gardens Society (“Friends”) was formed in 1992 with a mission to undertake restoration and grounds maintenance in support of the 36-acre Government House estate. In cooperation with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and the landscaping contractor, the Friends restore and protect the Garry Oak Woodlands and maintain over 18 acres of picturesque gardens. Originally a small group of garden volunteers, today the Society has a membership of almost five hundred, the majority of whom work year-round, lovingly tending to the gardens on the estate. A smaller group of Friends volunteer their time:

• in the seasonal Tea Room or Costume Museum
• offering interior and exterior tours
• providing information about the office and estate to the travelling public
• carefully stewarding archives
• designing floral arrangement for events
• providing coat check for events

Work environment: outdoors, office environment, nonstandard workplaces

Schedule: up to 4 days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays mandatory), may include occasional evenings and weekends

Salary: $25/hour

Physical Requirements: Continuous standing / walking on various surfaces including grass and gravel; occasional crouching, kneeling, and lifting objects (up to 50lbs); occasional climbing stairs, ladders, or step ladders; occasional pushing / pulling carts, tables, or chairs; occasional lifting / carrying of tables and chairs (average weight range 25 – 50 lbs)

The volunteer coordinator plays a pivotal liaison role between Government House and the dedicated volunteers and reports to the Director of Operations. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• directly manage volunteers and provide guidance, support, and resources to those who supervise volunteers
• review and update policies and procedures which guide the volunteer program
• assist with volunteer event planning

The Government House Volunteer Coordinator must have:

• experience working with and managing volunteers
• excellent written and verbal communication skills and be comfortable addressing large groups
• excellent organizational skills
• strong computer skills, ideally in Microsoft products Excel, Access and Word
• ability to delegate tasks to others
• have good follow-through skills
• supervisory and/or leadership experience
• post-secondary education

As the Volunteer Coordinator at Government House you will:

• be the primary on-site contact for volunteers from March-October, responsible for supporting volunteer activity
• work collaboratively with the Friends’ Board of Directors to identify and meet volunteer needs
• ensure that volunteers work in a safe, healthy, and supportive environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations

• develop and implement effective strategies to recruit effective volunteers with appropriate skills
• promote the volunteer program
• develop and implement an intake, screening, and interview protocol for potential volunteers
• develop volunteer schedules
• develop volunteer job descriptions
• update Friends of Government House Gardens Society website
• use Microsoft Excel to organize and track volunteer training
• coordinate volunteer orientation and training sessions

Volunteer Recognition

• identify appropriate ways to recognize volunteers
• organize volunteer appreciation events
• source volunteer appreciation gifts

Administration

• create reports for the Director of Operations as required including regular status up-dates and a year-end report
• administer and monitor expenditures for the volunteer program against the approved budget
• attend monthly Garden Management and Volunteer Board meetings
• manage volunteer emergency response activities

Personal characteristics

The Volunteer Coordinator must demonstrate competence in most or all of the following:

Behave ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and business practices, and ensure that their own behaviour and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of The Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Build relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve organizational goals

Communicate effectively: Speak, listen, and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.

Creativity/innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the volunteer program organization and to create new opportunities for recruitment.

Foster teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.

Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.

Make decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency, and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.

Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information, and activities.

Solve Problems: Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem.

Start date: April 21, 2021

End date: October 15, 2021, with possibility of extension

To apply please send your resume and cover letter outlining how your skills and experience will benefit Government House and the Friends of Government House Gardens Society to:

Thandi Williams, Director of Operations

Applications will be accepted until March 25, 2021 and will be reviewed as they arrive. We thank you for your interest, but only those invited for an interview will be contacted.

Contract length: 6 months

Part-time hours: 20 per week

Application deadline: 2021-03-25

Expected start date: 2021-04-15

Job Types: Part-time, Contract

Salary: $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends

Work remotely:

• No

COVID-19 precaution(s):

• Social distancing guidelines in place
• Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place