Location of Service: Bridge Refugee Services – 4420 Whittle Springs Rd Ste A, Knoxville, TN 37917
About Bridge Refugee Services:
Bridge Refugee Services, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating in Knoxville that is committed to providing opportunities for low-income refugees to rebuild their lives, so that they become productive and contributing members of the community.
Position Summary:
- Be “a face” of the organization through outreach efforts
- Communicate volunteer needs to both volunteers and prospective volunteers
- Expand volunteer recruitment initiatives
- Recruit and train teams of individuals to fortify our volunteer base among our most common volunteer needs, including independently-operating Home Set-Up Teams
- Review current recruitment plan and efforts; develop recommendations for strengthening and streamlining current recruitment initiatives
- Create new and attractive outreach materials to use at events to engage with prospective volunteers and community partners; recruit volunteers to support outreach efforts
- Assist with creating ongoing partnerships with community organizations for in-kind donations
- Explore how the organization can continue to improve volunteer and community assistance team retention
- Expand volunteer appreciation and engagement efforts through multiple means – events, communications, or other methods
- Review and streamline existing in-kind donation process; assist with coordinating and recording in-kind donations
- Update existing informational and educational materials for volunteers and the general public. Help create additional training in various volunteer opportunities to improve volunteer support.
- Build new relationships with community partners to boost our signal to volunteers and donors
- Find creative ways to engage volunteers with individual skills, expertise, professional experience, and interests and deploy them to the service of our clients
- Help educate, encourage, and promote volunteer self-reporting of volunteer hours and mileage
The member(s) in this position will have the opportunity to gain the following skills/credentials:
- Manage a large roster of volunteers.
- Improve communication skills in regard to media, print medium, emails, email blasts, telephone, and in-person communication.
- Education on the inner workings of a non-profit.
- Learn the process of refugee resettlement on the national and local level.
- Opportunity to help plan and support large community events like our Volunteer Appreciation Event and World Refugee Day.
- Learn and educate volunteers on the differences between the refugees’ culture and the volunteers’ host culture, including understanding cultural differences, bridging culture, and setting boundaries.
- Opportunity to take the initiative to build and improve upon volunteer programs.
- Opportunities to train volunteers on how to support refugee resettlement.
- Learn to use volunteer management software (Galaxy Digital) and graphic design software (Canva).
- Learn how to manage in-kind donations.
- Opportunities for personal development in volunteer management and refugee resettlement by way of recommended webinars and training.
Site Preferences/Qualifications:
- Must have access to and be able to drive a personal vehicle
- Must work well with others, both inside and outside of the organization
- Must be dependable
- Will be assigned a laptop computer for the purpose of email communication, Zoom meetings, and volunteer & donation management.
- Must be able to work as a team and also independently as needed.
Equal Opportunity Statement: AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, generic information, military service, or reprisal.