Volunteer Coordinator, Chicago

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for a full-time Volunteer Coordinator (VC) position based in Chicago. In collaboration with Site Manager, the VC role executes the recruitment, screening, and training for Child Advocate volunteers. This position ensures that all necessary processes, events, and programs are effective in yielding, supporting, and retaining bicultural and bilingual volunteers in Chicago. In addition, the Volunteer Coordinator actively engages with the National Volunteer Program Manager and VCs across the organization, supporting the implementation of a national Young Center volunteer strategy.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. The Young Center’s Child Advocate Program (CAP) serves as the federally-appointed bests interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Through CAP’s state initiative, we also serve and are appointed by the Superior Courts of New Jersey as independent Child Advocates to children released from federal custody into the New Jersey community. Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Young Center’s Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children’s rights and best interests in all decisions. The Technical Assistance Program, the Young Center’s newest program, offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops annual recruitment, outreach, training, and engagement strategies for a cohort of Child Advocate volunteers per calendar year.
• Develops and maintains relationships with relevant community partners and recruiting sources in the Chicago community.
• Serves as the site contact for the National Volunteer Program Manager (NVPM) and inquiries regarding Young Center volunteer recruitment in Chicago.
• Hosts and represents the Young Center at community recruitment events and presentations (virtual and in-person).
• Conducts screening calls for prospective volunteers to follow up on applications, determine Spanish proficiency and gauge fit for the volunteer Child Advocate role.
• Tracks new applications for prospective volunteers.
• Develops calendar, content, and materials for 2-3 annual Child Advocate volunteer trainings.
• Considers budget as part of process to plan volunteer trainings and is responsible for maintaining receipts and appropriate documentation of all expenditures.
• Implements training plan and acts as project manager to ensure all logistics are delegated and completed on time and within budget.
• Makes recommendations to Child Advocate Supervisors about matching volunteers to children.
• Coordinates local and national education and appreciation events for volunteers.
• Enters, maintains, and tracks data on volunteer applications, recruitment, and engagement.
• Ensures that all volunteers prior to case assignments have completed and updated clearances on file.
• Actively participates in regular cohort meetings with Volunteer Coordinators across the Young Center.
• Supports the organizational strategy to recruit, train and grow volunteer Child Advocates, led by the NVPM.
• Designs and publishes a volunteer Child Advocate newsletter 2-4 times per year.
• Serves as a Child Advocate for at least one child to learn about the role of the Child Advocate.
• Provides administrative and clerical support to site, as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• At least two years of post-high school experiences that may include a combination of employment, community organizing, internships, student leadership and/ or volunteer experience.
• Experience leading the coordination of medium to large scale projects to successful completion.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Comfortable with public speaking and able to engage with a variety of audiences that include colleagues, community partners and volunteers.
• Highly collaborative and willing to work creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Organized, detail oriented and able to work independently on tasks and deliverables.
• Resourceful and takes a proactive and creative approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to collect and analyze volunteer data.
• Commitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback and engaging in productive conversations.
• Commitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles.
• Ability to communicate with cultural humility, compassion, and empathy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms.
• Bilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/other languages spoken by the population we serve.
• High School Diploma required.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a car.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Lived, volunteer, or professional experience with immigration, child welfare and issues affecting migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children.
• Experience managing volunteers.
• Demonstrated understanding of anti-oppression frameworks.
• Experience or familiarity with Salesforce database.
• College degree.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include regular attendance, keyboarding, sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day), driving. Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS

All employees must be fully vaccinated prior to first day of employment except where prohibited by state law.

APPLICATION DETAILS

The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

$25.17/HR to $27.90 is the standard new hire range for this position ($27.69-$30.69 for those residing in the Los Angeles and DC metropolitan areas; $28.96-$32.08 for those residing in the NYC metropolitan area). Actual wage will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center’s total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, and three references. Only complete applications will be considered.

To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit www.TheYoungCenter.org.