Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement

Friends of the Blue Hills

Job Description

Would you like to build an active constituency who will advocate for the Blue Hills? Do you want to grow volunteer programs that engage hundreds of people in preserving and protecting one of the largest parks in eastern Massachusetts? The Friends of the Blue Hills seeks a candidate to fill the newly created position of Director of Volunteer Engagement. The Director of Volunteer Engagement will support and increase volunteer engagement through advocacy and hands-on and virtual programs that help care for the trails and forests. The successful candidate will increase our understanding of what the park needs through citizen-based research initiatives, and create a vocal constituency of volunteer leaders to advocate for the park.

The Friends of the Blue Hills is a 1,000-member non-profit organization devoted to preserving and protecting the Blue Hills Reservation’s natural beauty, diverse natural habitats, and many recreational opportunities. To accomplish this we: advocate for actions that will enhance the Reservation and serve as a watchdog of activities that might adversely affect it; guide enthusiasts in exploring the nearby remoteness of the Blue Hills Reservation through educational, historical, and nature hikes; encourage involvement in the protection and preservation of the Reservation by all users; work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to maintain the quality of the Reservation and provide public input for its management.

Core Responsibilities

The Director of Volunteer Engagement will report to the Executive Director. Because the Friends of the Blue Hills does not have a central office, the Director of Volunteer Engagement will work remotely. The Director of Volunteer Engagement will build a base of volunteers and engaged members who will advocate for the park, lead hikes and programs, as well as engage in stewardship activities, such as trail maintenance. The Volunteer Director will continually build the organization’s capacity by recruiting new volunteers and cultivating future leaders.

Job Duties

Build core committees: Through one-on-ones and networking, identify future leaders and other volunteers for Friends of the Blue Hills’ key strategic efforts. The Director of Volunteer Engagement will be developing a ladder of engagement for volunteers, in part, by building new committees, such as Advocacy and Programming, and supporting existing committees, like Trails and Membership.

  • Develop campaigns: Work with volunteer leaders and community members to work on identified threats to the Blue Hills, build relationships and develop a campaign to address these issues.
  • Volunteer training and engagement: Increase the capacity and engagement of volunteers.
  • Coalition building: Develop and work with coalitions of the traditional environmental community, volunteer activists, and unlikely allies to build public support to influence decision-makers.
  • Event management and coordination: Recruit and cultivate volunteers and leaders to organize programs, such as trail maintenance, family programs, and the Annual Celebration.
  • Communications: Work as a team with Board and staff to increase the organization’s media presence and name recognition through events, news releases, campaign materials, and online organizing. Responsible for managing social media platforms.
Qualifications and desired attributes

  • Community organizing experience
  • Experience recruiting and managing volunteers
  • Interest in the Blue Hills, coalition building, or land protection
  • Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
  • Enthusiasm to take on a variety of projects as they arise
  • Self-motivated and self-starter
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to hike trails in the Blue Hills
  • Willingness to work some evenings and occasional weekends, to accommodate volunteers’ schedules
  • A people person
  • Access to a car is necessary

Job type: Full-time position with flexible hours. Some evening and weekend hours required.

Salary: $50,000 - $55,000

The Friends of the Blue Hills is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged. We are open to the possibility that a great candidate for this job may not precisely meet all of the above criteria; if you believe you’re the right person for this job and can persuasively make that case, we encourage you to apply.