Senior Manager Volunteer Services - Full-time

Requisition Details:

Employment Status: Regular, Full-time (1.0 FTE)

Program Name: Corporate Services

Number of Hours Bi-Weekly: 75

Work Schedule: Days

On-Call: No

Existing Vacancy: Yes - we're currently hiring candidates for an existing vacancy in this position.

Nova Scotia wage range available upon request.

Job Summary:

The Senior Manager, Volunteer Services provides enterprise leadership for volunteer services across VON. The role is accountable for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of volunteer strategy, governance, standards, reporting, risk management, and organizational supports that strengthen volunteer engagement across the organization.

As VON's subject matter expert for volunteer engagement, the Senior Manager supports leaders of volunteers through the development of policies, frameworks, tools, resources, learning opportunities, and transformation initiatives that advance VON's people strategy and strategic priorities. The role does not directly manage volunteers or local volunteer operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Volunteer Services Governance

• Leads the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of VON's Volunteer Engagement Strategy.
• Serves as VON's enterprise subject matter expert and advocate for volunteer engagement.
• Establishes governance structures, accountability frameworks, organizational standards, and policies that support effective volunteer engagement across VON.
• Provides strategic advice and recommendations to senior leaders regarding volunteer-related opportunities, risks, priorities, and emerging trends.
• Provides oversight and input into the Volunteer Services budget, supporting effective resource allocation. 
• Promotes alignment with VON's Strategic Plan, people strategy, and leading practices in volunteer engagement. 

Volunteer Strategy, Standards and Organizational Support

• Develops, implements, and evaluates enterprise frameworks, resources, tools, and supports that strengthen volunteer recruitment, onboarding, engagement, recognition, retention, and wellbeing. 
• Establishes common volunteer standards, role frameworks, and learning pathways while supporting local flexibility and community needs.
• Supports and enables leaders of volunteers through consultation, coaching, education, communities of practice, implementation planning, change support, and practical tools that facilitate successful adoption of volunteer programs, processes, and organizational standards. 
• Partners with operational leaders to plan, implement, and evaluate enterprise volunteer initiatives, providing practical support, guidance, and problem-solving to support successful rollout, adoption, and continuous improvement. 
• Promotes consistency across VON while balancing organizational priorities with local operational needs and community-based volunteer engagement practices. 

Governance, Risk Management & Compliance

• Establishes and maintains volunteer policies, standards, procedures, and compliance frameworks. 
• Leads enterprise approaches to volunteer screening, risk management, issue resolution, and quality assurance.
• Ensures volunteer engagement practices align with legislation, accreditation requirements, organizational policies, and recognized best practices.
• Partners with operational leaders to identify, monitor, and mitigate volunteer-related risks.

Technology & Transformation

• Leads the identification, prioritization, implementation, and evaluation of volunteer-related technology and process improvements.
• Partners with operational, Human Resources, Digital, and Technology teams to ensure volunteer requirements are reflected in future-state solutions.
• Supports change management, training, adoption, and continuous improvement related to volunteer service processes and systems. 

Analytics, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Leads the collection, analysis, and reporting of volunteer engagement data. 
• Establishes enterprise metrics, performance indicators, reporting frameworks, and dashboards that support organizational decision-making.
• Monitors progress against strategic objectives and provides insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Measures and communicates volunteer participation, contributions, impact, and organizational value to support continuous improvement and strategic planning. 

Common Leadership Responsibilities:

• Promotes the strategy of VON and its role as an integrated community care provider to all stakeholders and staff.
• Prioritizes and ensures alignment of emerging opportunities in the community with the VON strategic plan.
• Provides leadership in navigating the requirements and complexities of unionized and non-unionized environments.
• Coaches, advises, motivates, and provides leadership to staff; creates a positive workplace.
• Promotes the Lean team management approach to ensure a common paradigm of management and discipline of management practices.
• Ensures there are mechanisms for all staff to come together to hear organizational news and to provide feedback on what is working and what is not working.
• Ensures all Districts have a plan to complete performance development and learning plans with all staff.
• Promotes common approaches to orientation, learning, motivating, recognizing and supporting staff when achieving organizational goals; such as meeting or exceeding KPIs, meeting or exceeding milestones.
• Provides leadership and commitment to building client and family engagement and following accreditation Canada Standards.
• Provides leadership in the promotion of a safe and healthy workplace ensuring workplace conduct and activities are in accordance with the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, that KPIs related to safety are regularly reviewed by management, that appropriate investigations occur when needed, and plans to address issues are created and acted upon.
• Compliant with the VON Safety Management System, including all Safe Work Practices and Procedures. 
• Promotes work/life balance fostering professional excellence and personal fulfilment and health.
• Promotes the use of technology-based systems for the capture, transformation and distribution of knowledge.
• Abides by all confidentiality and protection of personal information policies, regulations and practices and ensures appropriate safeguards are in place in the Region. 

External and Internal Relationships:

• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with senior leadership, operational leaders, and cross-functional partners, acting as a trusted advisor and implementation partner in the development, rollout, and continuous improvement of volunteer programs, services, and organizational initiatives.  
• Cultivates strategic partnerships with external stakeholders across the volunteer, healthcare, community, education, corporate, and not-for-profit sectors to support innovation, collaboration, and organizational priorities.

Education, Designations and Experience:

• Post-secondary education in Human Resources Management, Non-Profit Management, Business Administration, Community Development, Health Administration, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA), or completion of a recognized Certificate or Postgraduate Certificate in Volunteer Management, Volunteer Engagement, Nonprofit Leadership, or a related field is required. 
• Minimum seven (7) years of progressive leadership experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in volunteer engagement, community development, organizational development, human resources, healthcare operations, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing policies, governance frameworks, standards, and organizational programs.
• Experience implementing and leading enterprise-wide initiatives and change management activities.
• Experience with volunteer management, learning management, CRM, or workforce technologies.
• Experience in healthcare, community care, or the not-for-profit sector preferred.
• Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA), CHRP/CHRL, or equivalent designation considered an asset.

Skill Requirements:   

• Strong strategic thinking and organizational planning skills. 
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to influence and partner with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Experience utilizing data and metrics to drive recommendations and organizational improvements.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, coaching, and presentation skills.
• Strong project management and change leadership capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and evaluate enterprise initiatives.
• Ability to balance organizational consistency with operational flexibility.
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.

Other

• Current satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
• Vulnerable Sector Check may be required.
• Ability to travel occasionally across VON locations.
• French language skills considered an asset in designated areas.

Working conditions and physical demands: This role requires a detail-oriented approach in a dynamic environment, with physical activity including lifting, carrying (using proper techniques), bending, reaching, kneeling, and other movements that emphasize good body mechanics. Individuals in the role are required to walk, sit, stand, and climb stairs throughout the day, with some tasks requiring fine hand movements.