MCBG Volunteer Coordinator

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates a nationally recognized public garden known for its beauty, significant plant collections, and coastal bluffs. The Gardens has grown into the leading attraction on the Mendocino Coast through the collaborative effort of our passionate and dedicated staff, volunteers, and board. Our work environment is built on teamwork and making certain our guests have an inspiring experience. The Gardens is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and guests.

The Volunteer Coordinator position is multifaceted with an emphasis on the success of the Gardens’ daily function and our volunteer program. To be successful in this role, you should have excellent people skills. The Volunteer Coordinator maintains exemplary communications and relationships with our indispensable volunteers and donors. The position also requires excellent organizational skills along with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. The position has a set weekday schedule, aside from our two major annual events and a handful of evening events, which often require support from all administrative staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Volunteer Coordination

• Serve as principal staff person responsible for recruitment, assignment, and communication with approximately 150 active MCBG Volunteers
• Provide orientation for new volunteers and keep long-time volunteers up to date with general training on the Gardens, our history, policies, and procedures
• Secure volunteers for guided tours, garden work, mailings, store, nursery, events, and other activities that require volunteer support
• Consistently recognize and award volunteers for their involvement in the success of the Gardens via e-newsletters, cards, gatherings, or other
• Track volunteer hours and provide earned memberships and other benefits monthly
• Attend and assist with the annual docent training and continuing education programs
• Maintain supplies and other educational materials for our Docent and Sprouts Programs
• Attend monthly Friends of the Gardens (FOG) meetings to present volunteer opportunities

Administrative Coordination

• Assist with answering general inquiries via phone and email, and help greet guests who enter the admin office
• Serve as the main contact for group visits and schedule all group visits and school tours
• Communicate regularly with Guest Services staff and maintain a weekly calendar, keeping them up to date on group visits, guided tours, events, workshops, and other such occasions
• Assist with special projects, such as Annual Appeal, Board Ballots, and other
• Provide administrative support for the office functions and programs as needed

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Exceptional people skills and a talent for building positive working relationships across a wide range of personalities.
• Strong computer skills, specifically MS Office Suite; Google Workspace, and Adobe Acrobat a plus
• Proficiency with office technology and equipment, including computers and printers
• Experience using and maintaining databases, membership, or donor database work is a plus
• Strong written (copywriting and editing), verbal communication, and organizational skills
• Non-profit experience and experience working with volunteers is a plus
• Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus
• Able to prioritize, multitask, and work comfortably in a dynamic, fast-moving setting with frequent interruptions.
• Must be able to maintain the confidentiality of MCBG information

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit a cover letter along with a resume to the MCBG Outreach Manager, Sarah DeAngelo at administration@gardenbythesea.org.

ABOUT THE MENDOCINO COAST BOTANICAL GARDENS:

The Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (MCBG) is a nonprofit botanical garden with a unique mixture of manicured gardens and wild habitat located along the Pacific Ocean. Our mission is to engage and enrich lives by displaying and conserving plants in harmony with our Northern California coastal ecosystems and to preserve public access to the coast. Each year, around 100,000 people experience the wonder of nature in all its seasons at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. This botanical escape is a place for guests to be inspired and experience the simple joy of a natural setting.