The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking a Volunteer Engagement Specialist to support the coordination, recruitment, and retention of volunteers for community science and wildlife education programs. This role involves ensuring volunteers have a positive experience, coordinating onboarding, and supporting outreach efforts.
Responsibilities
- Coordinating volunteer onboarding and scheduling through the department’s volunteer management system
- Responding to volunteer inquiries
- Assisting with recruitment and outreach efforts
- Supporting event planning and facilitation
- Helping track and report volunteer participation for grant reporting purposes
- Providing occasional on-the-ground support at events and classrooms
- Maintaining clear, timely, and welcoming communication with volunteers and partners
Skills
- A bachelor's degree in business, communications, education, sociology, or a closely related field, OR one year of related professional experience coordinating, supporting, or engaging volunteers or program participants (e.g., volunteer coordination, event support, community outreach, nonprofit or public sector programs)
- Project management skills sufficient to organize and implement projects, ensure timely completion of deliverables, manage competing interests for time, and maintain attention to detail
- Knowledge of volunteer coordination, recruitment, onboarding, and retention practices sufficient to support volunteers across multiple projects
- Customer service skills sufficient to respond to volunteer and public inquiries in a timely, professional, and supportive manner via email, phone, and in person
- Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, and members of the public from diverse backgrounds
- Ability to write clear, concise, audience-appropriate communications, including volunteer instructions and surveys, outreach content, and project summaries and reports
- Public speaking and facilitation skills sufficient to develop and deliver public presentations, host public events, and support trainings
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (including Word, Excel, and Outlook) sufficient to track volunteer data, maintain databases, and produce reports and outreach materials
- Two years of related professional experience coordinating, supporting, or engaging volunteers or program participants (e.g., volunteer coordination, event support, community outreach, nonprofit or public sector programs)
- Experience using volunteer management software (such as Better Impact or similar systems) to onboard volunteers, schedule opportunities, and track hours
- Coursework or experience related to wildlife, ecology, conservation, natural resources, environmental education, or participatory/community science
- Experience supporting or leading events, trainings, recognition activities, or educational programs, including coordination with partners or volunteers
- Ability to engage diverse communities in public programming
Benefits
- Paid vacation and sick leave
- 12 paid holidays each year
- Low-cost medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug plans
- Fertility care, including IVF
- Diabetes care
- Dental and orthodontic care for adults and children
- 6 weeks paid leave for parents of newborn or newly adopted children
- Pension plan that provides income when you retire (after working at least three years)
- Employer paid life insurance to provide support for your family in the event of death
- Short-term and long-term disability insurance that can provide income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury
- Tax-free expense accounts for health, dental, and dependent care
- Resources that provide support and promote physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being
- Training, classes, and professional development
- Tuition reimbursement
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid website at studentaid.gov)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for work/life support
- A voluntary confidential program that helps employees and their families with life challenges that may impact overall health, personal well-being, or job performance
- Common sources of stress can be addressed through the EAP: mental health, relationship challenges (personal and work), grief and loss, finances, and legal issues
- Daily Living/Convenience Services: Chore services, home repair, trip planning, child/elder care
Company Overview
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is a government agency that offers natural resource management and environmental protection. It was founded in 1975, and is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is https://www.dnr.state.mn.us.
Apply Now