Summary
Description
Join Us in Making a Difference!
Are you passionate about bringing people together for a shared cause?
Do you thrive on building relationships, creating meaningful volunteer experiences, and inspiring community action?
About Us
For over 30 years, Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids (BB4CK) has been dedicated to ensuring every child in our city has access to the food they need to thrive. Together with our BB4CK community— volunteers, parents, school staff, and donors— we connect kids to nutritious meals through school lunches and summer camps and by supporting families with grocery cards. We are committed to providing low-barrier, dignified access to food, ensuring every child feels cared for and supported by their community.
Our vision: A future where communities ensure no kids go hungry.
Our mission: Connect and inspire people to take meaningful action to feed and care for kids.
Position Overview
The Volunteer Engagement Specialist is pivotal in building and sustaining a strong and dynamic volunteer community that supports the Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids (BB4CK) program. This position is responsible for developing and leading the overall volunteer strategy, ensuring alignment with in-school programming and organizational needs.
As the primary liaison between BB4CK and its volunteers, this role oversees recruitment, training, and ongoing engagement efforts to ensure an impactful and rewarding volunteer experience. By fostering strong relationships and promoting a culture of community service, the Volunteer Engagement Specialist directly contributes to our mission of delivering nutritious meals to kids across Calgary.
This role also offers the opportunity to contribute to leadership at BB4CK. In addition to leading the volunteer strategy, this position provides direct leadership to the Group Volunteer Engagement Coordinator and helps shape the organization's culture and ways of working.
Key Responsibilities of the Volunteer Engagement Specialist:
Whole Organization
- Take ownership of your personal and professional health and well-being to ensure you can effectively perform in this role.
- Actively support and contribute to BB4CK's vision and mission.
- Complete assigned tasks efficiently while upholding BB4CK's values and culture.
- Perform additional duties as needed to support the success of the team.
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead a small team while also leading volunteer engagement organization-wide.
- Provide coaching and support to team members.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and mission-driven work environment that reflects BB4CK's values of trust, people, and action.
Volunteer Recruitment & Onboarding
- Develop and implement innovative recruitment strategies to attract dedicated volunteers passionate about child nutrition and community service.
- Organize comprehensive orientation sessions to introduce new volunteers to the program’s mission, operational procedures, and safety standards.
- Maintain accurate volunteer records and track engagement, including hours contributed and participation metrics.
Volunteer Engagement & Relationship Building
- Cultivate a supportive and inclusive volunteer community aligned to the BB4CK values by prioritizing relationship & trust building.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for volunteer inquiries, ensuring prompt, courteous, and effective communication.
- Engage the volunteer community through regular updates, recognition initiatives, and ongoing engagement activities.
- Implement strategies to enhance volunteer retention and overall satisfaction.
Program Coordination & Support
- Support the execution of the brown bagging initiative by ensuring volunteers are well-prepared and aligned with program goals.
- Collaborate closely with the K-12 Programming team and the rest of BB4CK, as applicable, to schedule volunteer shifts and coordinate on-site and off-site activities for volunteers.
- Assist in creating and delivering training materials and workshops to enhance volunteer performance and program understanding.
Data Management & Reporting
- Track key volunteer metrics—including participation rates, hours contributed, and overall program impact—and maintain detailed records.
- Prepare regular reports to inform strategic planning and continuous program improvement.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Community Outreach
- Partner with internal teams and external community organizations to promote volunteer initiatives and expand program reach.
- Participate in community outreach events and public relations activities to enhance program visibility.
- Contribute to the continuous refinement of volunteer engagement practices and program delivery.
Education and Experience:
- Post-secondary education in nonprofit management, community development, human resources, or a related field is preferred; equivalent work experience will also be considered.
- A minimum of 2 years experience in volunteer management, community engagement, or a related role is an asset.
- Experience working with community organizations, schools, or child nutrition initiatives is an asset.
Other Knowledge and Skills:
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
- Excellent organizational and project management abilities, managing multiple tasks efficiently.
- Proficiency in data management, reporting tools, and standard office software.
- Demonstrated passion for community service and a commitment to child nutrition advocacy.
Kitchen Support
- All employees of BB4CK are expected to offer their support in our kitchen spaces, as needed, while managing their own capacity and schedules throughout the course of their employment.
This Opportunity Might Be for You If You:
- Enjoy building connections, collaborating, and creating a welcoming environment.
- Are comfortable adapting to change and learning new skills or tools.
- Thrive working both independently and as part of a team.
- Value flexibility and appreciate a hybrid work environment.
What We Offer
BB4CK offers a competitive total compensation approach to support our people's physical, psychological, cultural, and financial well-being. Base salary is calculated at the 50th percentile of market value, with additional benefits equivalent to over $18,000.
How to Apply
If this opportunity aligns with your experience and inspires you, please submit your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting your interest and qualifications.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Need accommodation?
If you need alternate accommodations to submit your resume and cover letter, don't hesitate to contact the People and Culture Team Lead, Margaret, at 403.264.7979. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and this position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.
We thank all applicants for their interest and time; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
