Since most jobs in public interest positions are at non profit corporations and/or organizations, a lot of the work at these organizations is performed by a volunteer workforce, as you can imagine. As a result, there is a call for volunteer coordinators to manage and direct the work performed by these volunteer workers.
These volunteers may be working phone banks, performing clerical work, or may even be found at organizations pursuing public interest legal internships, helping to provide legal services. Whatever the duties of the volunteers, there is a need for volunteer coordinators to act essentially as project managers, ensuring that their workload is effectively delegated and completed within an acceptable timeframe.
The requirements asked of those pursuing jobs in public interest organizations as volunteer coordinators are much the same as those which would be required of a manager or project manager at a for profit business. Leadership abilities are incredibly important to a volunteer coordinator, since their work consists largely of leading a team of volunteers. Communication skills and generally being a “people person” is another huge plus to those interested in a position as volunteer coordinator.
The affinities with management positions do not end here. A volunteer is also typically in charge of volunteer recruitment at the public interest organization where they are employed, so the same skill set which goes into interviewing and hiring employees is very useful in the role of volunteer coordinator.
One of the difficulties often faced by not for profit organizations is attracting, recruiting and retaining talented volunteers and keeping them focused and motivated to perform the duties asked of them. We all know how difficult it can be to motivate people to stay focused on the task in hand when there is no profit motive involved – this is a large part of the duties of a volunteer coordinator and the reason that this position requires such a high level of leadership, communication, and motivational skills. A volunteer coordinator must be free handed with praise to keep their volunteer team on the ball at times.
The level of job satisfaction reported by volunteer coordinators tends to be very high. This is typical of those engaged in jobs in public interest organizations. As stated above, there is a lot of personal satisfaction to be gained by doing a job where you can be assured that you are working for the betterment of your community and your world. Many of those working as volunteer coordinators and other public interest centered positions report that they would not trade their jobs for anything. For those who are civic minded and capable leaders, these jobs can provide a perfect fit.
A position as volunteer coordinator can also provide an opportunity to learn – often about the fundraising process (there are industry specific practices used for non-profit fundraising, including standard software like Raiser’s Edge). There is also the chance to learn more about the field in which the non-profit organization which employs you has chosen as their focus. While a background in the area which concerns the non-profit organization is helpful, it is not a necessity for getting a position as a volunteer coordinator.
The process of getting a volunteer coordinator job varies from public interest organization to public interest organization. One possible path is to get involved with the organization in an unpaid capacity (which is not to say that there are no volunteer coordinators who are themselves volunteers) as a volunteer or through public interest legal internships. This puts you in a prime position to put yourself forward as a candidate for a volunteer coordinator position once one becomes available; you are already a known quantity to the administrators and directors of the organization, making you a likely candidate for this position.
Another way is to be hired at the level of volunteer coordinator. This can be a position for a recent graduate who shows the necessary skill set and displays a strong interest in public service and the issues which the public interest group is concerned. Alternately, this is a position you can find yourself well suited for after a career which relates to the concern of the public interest group in question. A position as volunteer coordinator can be perfect for you if you are someone interested in leaving the world in general and your community in particular a better place than you found it.
