Program Coordinator

Prison Book Program (Prison Book Program)

Supporting the freedom to read since 1972

Job Description

Prison Book Program supports people in prison by providing them with free, high-quality books and reading materials that match their specific needs and interests. We do this through a highly engaging volunteer experience that connects people inside and outside the American prison system. In 2023, Prison Book Program sent over 63,000 books to 18,172 people housed at over 1,000 correctional facilities in all 50 states.

We are seeking to hire a dynamic professional to join our small staff, with a desired start date of August 19th. Salary range $44,000-$50,000, plus benefits including 401k, paid vacation and holidays, and a stipend to defray the cost of health insurance. Prison Book Program is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. People of color, LGBT individuals, formerly incarcerated people and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Program Coordinator

The person occupying this position will work a mix of fixed/in-person hours, including 2 evenings/week and Saturday afternoons, at our program location in Quincy Center, and remote/flex hours from home. The Program Coordinator will report to PBP’s Executive Director. 

Major duties:

1.      Volunteer and session management
Manage schedule of volunteer sessions
Manage sign-up, sign-in and attendance reporting
Serve as lead facilitator of four weekly volunteer sessions by tasking and training volunteers or delegating this to an appropriate person
Maintain positive relationships and atmosphere with and among volunteers
Support PBP’s fulfillment process by ensuring a competent and effective volunteer base at each step and keeping steps in sync
2.      Volunteer development
Cultivate and distribute leadership among seasoned volunteers, including but not limited to team captain roles
Match groups and volunteers with appropriate and enriching projects and tasks
Think creatively about how to enrich, diversify and support the volunteer experience
3.      Inventory management
Monitor book inventory and lead book acquisition efforts
Support and coordinate book drives undertaken by outside groups
Keep program supplies stocked
Keep program and storage spaces neat and organized 
4.      Program support
Process incoming emails from several organizational accounts
Make updates to website as needed
Oversee/organize/batch book request mail
Analyze and report on volunteer statistics annually
5.      Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications:
  1. Experience successfully managing large and diverse groups of people
  2. Experience managing multiple processes at once
  3. Highly organized and systems oriented
  4. Experience managing multiple communication platforms (email, phone, social media) and providing clear and timely responses to a variety of inquiries
  5. Experience swiftly solving large and small problems so that they do not stagnate or grow larger
  6. Experience working independently, or with remote and/or light supervision
  7. Proficiency with or ability to quickly learn how to use the technology platforms used at PBP (Salesforce, Office 365, all Google applications, Zoom, Wordpress, Jotform)
  8. Friendly, outgoing personality and a commitment to creating an inclusive, welcoming, accessible volunteer environment
  9. Ability to frequently lift and move objects weighing up to 40 pounds, walk up and down stairs frequently, and be on your feet and moving for 3-4 hours straight
  10. Possession of a valid driver’s license, access to a personal vehicle, and willingness to use it for work-related tasks
  11. Flexibility and good humor in the face of the challenges that arise from working in the basement of a 195 year old historic building

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.