Volunteer Coordinator

Chabot Space & Science Center is a non-profit science center and observatory dedicated to inspiring and educating learners of all ages about the Universe and planet Earth. Chabot’s mission is to spark and engage curiosity, deepen access and inclusion within science education, and provide opportunity for pathways into careers in the sciences.

Situated on a beautiful 13-acre campus nestled in the redwoods of Oakland’s regional parks, Chabot Space & Science Center includes immersive exhibits, hands-on learning activities, science festivals, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and is home to the official NASA Ames Visitor Center. Chabot’s research-level astronomical observatory, featuring three large scale telescopes, is the largest observatory complex free for regular public viewing in the Western United States.

At Chabot, we:

• Conduct ourselves with honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior, maintaining the trust and confidence of our community.
• Foster a culture of connectedness and collaboration and value the diverse perspectives, ideas, and skills of our staff, volunteers, and external partners, recognizing that collective efforts drive positive change.
• Encourage creativity and innovation, embracing new ideas, and approaches that advance our mission and optimize our impact, and promote ongoing professional development, fostering a culture of learning, growth, and continuous improvement, where individuals are empowered to reach their full potential and contribute their unique strengths.
• Treat individuals with dignity and respect, appreciating their unique backgrounds and experiences. Fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.
• Actively seek partnership and collaboration, recognizing that working together with others strengthens our ability to make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
• Measure our success by the positive impact we make in our community, always seeking ways to address emerging needs, adapt to changing circumstances, and make meaningful and lasting change.
• We believe that everyone deserves a career they love. We strive to build a diverse team that reflects the people we serve; this is made possible through our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, equity, and connectedness.

 

Volunteer Coordinator Job Summary:

The Center is seeking a motivated and organized Full-Time Volunteer Coordinator. This role is vital to supporting our mission of inspiring curiosity and a love for science in our community and beyond. The Volunteer Coordinator will reinvigorate the program by recruiting, training, and coordinating a team of enthusiastic adult volunteers who play a key role in enhancing the visitor experience, supporting programs, and contributing to the overall success of the Center. The position schedule is Wednesday-Sunday with occasional evening hours. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week. This position is eligible for benefits.

 

Duties/Responsibilities:

Volunteer Recruitment: Develop and implement strategies to recruit a diverse and representative pool of volunteers, including students, retirees, and community members.

Training and Orientation: Organize and conduct orientation and training sessions to familiarize volunteers with CSSC’s mission, programs, and policies and to grow expertise.

Scheduling and Coordination: Create and maintain volunteer schedules for daily operations, events, and programs, ensuring adequate coverage for all needs. Help to trouble shoot database issues and develop reports as needed.

Support and Supervision: Act as the primary point of contact for volunteers, providing guidance and resources, and addressing any concerns.

Recognition and Retention: Develop initiatives to recognize volunteer contributions and foster a positive and inclusive environment that encourages long-term engagement.

Administrative Duties: Maintain accurate volunteer records including applications, attendance, and performance evaluations, using volunteer management software.

Collaboration: Work closely with staff across departments to identify volunteer needs and ensure alignment with the Center’s goals.

On-site point for volunteers: Act as the primary point of contact for volunteers, e.g., checking them in, getting them started, and assisting when needed on the floor. This may periodically occur during the evenings or at off-cite events.

Advocate for the Center: The Volunteer Coordinator is a positive, solution-oriented person who champions the Center, its staff, and its mission in line with leadership, by sharing the values and principles of a positive and collaborative culture.

Visionary for Change: Re-building the program in ways that meet the changing needs of the Center and disperses shared responsibilities into individual departments. Able to work with volunteers and staff to create new systems and processes that allow for engagement and collaboration.

 

Required Skills/Abilities:

Skills:

• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.
• Spanish Fluency (Preferred)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with volunteer-management software (preferred).
• Ability to work collaboratively and adapt to changing needs.

Personal Attributes:

• Passion for science education and community engagement.
• Proactive, team-oriented attitude with attention to detail.
• Outgoing personality and ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work with a solution-oriented mindset and overcome challenges with creative strategies.
• Excels in a fast-paced environment and can prioritize multiple tasks.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required; relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in volunteer management, human resources, or related field.
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations would be a plus.

Work Environment:

Must be committed to working in a diverse workforce with dignity and respect, appreciating unique backgrounds and experiences, and fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements listed below are characteristic of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds.
• Ability to work indoors in environmentally controlled conditions, or outdoors in seasonal temperatures.
• Ability to work in a sometimes loud and active environments for an extended period.
• Ability to work in crowded environments.

 

CHABOT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Chabot is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our employees are people with differing strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for bringing science to the full range of our community – sparking excitement about a universe of possibilities beyond our planet. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. All our employees’ points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility

 

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 – $28.50 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person