Job Details
Level
Experienced
Job Location
Central – Rutland, MA
Position Type
Full Time
Education Level
4 Year Degree
Salary Range
$50,000.00 – $54,640.00 Salary
Job Category
Nonprofit – Social Services
Description
Title/Position:
Playspace Program Volunteer Coordinator
Location:
Hybrid: remote and Central and Western, MA, with periodic travel to Roxbury, MA
Reports to:
Playspace Programs Director
Supervises:
Playspace volunteers
Status, FLSA Class:
Full Time Exempt
Date Written:
August 2023
Horizons for Homeless Children is a local non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of young homeless children in Massachusetts and helping their families succeed by providing high-quality early education, opportunities for play, and comprehensive family support services. To support our mission, we also advocate on behalf of young children, train educators and human services providers, and provide research on the impact of early education on homeless children.
The Playspace Program is based on the belief that play is essential for child development. Our Playspace Program ensures that children living in over 50 homeless shelters in Massachusetts have the opportunity for developmentally appropriate play. We build age-appropriate, child-friendly, and educational Playspaces in shelters and stock them with books, developmental toys, and art supplies. Playspaces are staffed by more than 500 trained volunteers, called Playspace Activity Leaders (PALs), who commit two hours weekly for at least six months. In addition to facilitating the play that is crucial for children’s development, PALs enable parents to participate in activities such as parenting groups, budgeting classes or job searches.
Summary of Position:
This is a new role to meet the increasing need for support in our communities and is grant-funded for 2 years.
The Playspace Program Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for providing ongoing support to their regions by managing the logistics of running a network of volunteers, including ensuring accurate and up-to-date records are maintained on our database. The Coordinator is also responsible for assisting with the recruitment, training, and screening of volunteers. The coordinator completes the maintenance and restocking of the Playspaces where volunteers are placed and works with the Director to assure that the Playspaces are developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed places to play. The coordinator supports volunteers by sharing knowledge of how to work with young children who have experienced the trauma of being homeless, by responding to all volunteer and shelter correspondence promptly, and by proactively ensuring that assigned volunteer shifts are running effectively. This is a full-time position working remotely, in shelters, and a minimum of two times monthly at Horizons headquarters in Boston MA.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Volunteer Management: Facilitate the daily management of Playspace shifts at shelter-based programs in the Central and Western MA communities. Respond to volunteer inquires with in two business days, acting as the first point of contact for all inquiries and screening of all volunteer candidates.
- Volunteer Placement Process: Manage the process to place all trained volunteers in shelter shifts that reflect the needs of the shelters as well as the volunteers’ location preferences and availability. Follow up with both volunteers and shelters upon placement to ensure proper match. Utilize database system to maintain volunteer records.
- Volunteer Support: Respond to all active volunteer communication within two business days. Address and follow-up with any volunteer-related concerns or, when needed, involve Program Director. Track monthly and contact volunteers who have not signed into their shifts. Support volunteers through sharing information on trauma informed and developmentally appropriate activities for young children.
- Volunteer Retention: Assist with volunteer retention efforts. Attend shelter meetings and volunteers shifts when appropriate. Strengthen relationships with volunteers through regular communication and appreciation efforts to help foster volunteer retention. Assist with volunteer training, volunteer events, activities, and workshops.
- Playspace Quality Efforts: Ensures that all Playspaces are optimally equipped, meet design standards, and are operational; conducts regular organization and restocking of Playspace, assists with the installation and opening of new Playspace
Starting salary range, compensation, and benefits
$50,000 – $54,640 is the starting salary range for our Coordinator level roles with a 4% premium uplift for Bilingual English/Spanish. Your starting salary will fall within that range depending on your competencies, experience, and skillset.
Your total compensation package includes the following benefits:
- Health coverage options designed to be as comprehensive and affordable for you as possible, with Horizons covering between 70-75% of premiums (a value that ranges from an additional $8,000 – 20,000 per year based on your enrollment choices).
- While you have a choice between an HMO and PPO plan for medical coverage, most employees pay $76 for individual, $147 for 2-person, or $288 for family coverage per bi weekly paycheck and never pay more than $300 for individual or $600 for 2-person/family toward deductibles.
- Paid leave coverage is offered through Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical Leave. Horizons covers both medical and family contributions at 60% (100% for employees who earn less than $50,000 annually) with up to 26 weeks of paid leave available based on eligibility and approval.
- Horizons’ additionally offers 1 week for paid parental leave for welcoming a child into your family through birth, foster, or adoption, that often covers the waiting period for PFML to begin.
- Visit The Benefits of Working at Horizons for more details on the rest of our benefits package
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
We recognize the value of looking within to ensure our policies, practices, and culture are aligned with Horizons’ vision. Creating a more equitable world has always been at the center of Horizons’ mission, but in the last several years we’ve recommitted to the role Horizons plays in rectifying some of the problems we see and wish to address. Visit our DEI page to learn more about what that looks like at Horizons.
- For more information about Horizons, please visit www.horizonschildren.org
Qualifications
Education & experience
- BA degree required
- Experience managing a volunteer network.
- Data entry experience
- Knowledge of children ages 0-6
- Bilingual in Spanish/Haitian Creole or Portuguese a plus
- Experience working with at-risk populations a plus
- Experience working with children experiencing homelessness a plus
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Excellent communication and high-level organizational skills
- Excellent telephone skills
- Able to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to work flexible hours which will include 2 weekday evenings
- Knowledge of current Windows operating system (Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel)
- Valid driver’s license and reliable car required.
- Available to work in Boston one day a month
Horizons for Homeless Children is committed to diversity and is an AA/EEO employer.