About this Volunteer Manager role at Ppgreatplains
The Volunteer Manager is a highly collaborative member of the External Affairs team, responsible for building, managing, and growing volunteer and patient advocacy programs across Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) service region. This role serves as a critical bridge between Health Services, Public Affairs, Communications, Development, Human Resources, and ensures volunteers and advocates are effectively recruited, trained, engaged, and deployed in support of organizational priorities.
The Volunteer Manager leads all aspects of the affiliate's Patient Advocacy Program, including Health Center Advocacy, Patient Allies, Healthy Neighborhood Canvassing, and Storytelling/Speakers' Bureau initiatives, while overseeing volunteers across the region. The position partners closely with Public Affairs staff to recruit, train, and mobilize advocates for legislative, electoral, and community engagement efforts, and serves as a resource for organizers and staff on volunteer engagement best practices.
Success in this role requires a strong commitment to teamwork, relationship-building, and cross-department collaboration. The Volunteer Manager must effectively balance the needs of multiple stakeholders, foster positive working relationships both internally and externally, and contribute to a culture of shared ownership, accountability, and mission-driven service.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Volunteer Leadership
- Build and maintain strong working relationships across departments, serving as a collaborative partner and resource to staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
- Promote a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and shared accountability in all volunteer and advocacy programs.
- Collaborate with various teams within External Affairs on community outreach activities, including representing PPGP at health fairs, fundraising and community events.
- Onboard volunteers and clinical students across the affiliate to meet the various needs of PPGP’s health centers and departments.
- Assess volunteer training needs within the organization, develop training programs using best practices from partner organizations with successful programs, including development/ updating of training materials.
- Lead, support and supervise volunteers as needed, fostering a positive experience in a professional and safe environment.
- Supervise the Volunteer Coordinator, providing guidance around Patient Storyteller Program and opportunities for professional development.
- Develop and manage a volunteer recognition program to aid with volunteer retention.
- Coordinate outreach efforts and encourage community partnerships.
- Leverage the volunteer database to maximize recruitment, engagement, and retention.
- Train PPGP staff as needed in on-site volunteer management.
- Serve as a resource in volunteer management issues and conflict resolution.
- Partner with HR in the completion of administrative tasks to support PPGP’s volunteer programs; including but not limited to ensuring completion of paperwork, updating volunteer policies and procedures; maintaining an accurate record of the volunteer database; and completion of training protocols.
- Oversee a volunteer department budget and steward funds judiciously for optimal outcomes.
- Travel within PPGP’s region to facilitate training and work with volunteers and staff.
- Serve as a strategic partner to the Public Affairs team by developing and executing patient advocacy engagement plans that support state-based legislative, electoral, and public education campaigns.
- Direct and oversee Patient Advocacy Programs (PAP) in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
- Recruit and train volunteers for Patient Advocacy Programs, conduct follow-up with new patient advocates and engage in campaigns through advocacy actions and storytelling.
- Manage Health Center Advocacy and Patient Ally programs in participating health centers and act as a liaison between the health center staff and Public Affairs team.
- Work in partnership with PPFA on best practices around patient advocacy initiatives.
- Develop or adjust PPFA PAP materials to be state specific, coordinating printing and distribution of these materials.
- Work with health center staff across the region to determine patient advocacy volunteer needs; develop and implement site specific initiatives to meet unique needs.
- Coordinate with Organizers and coalition partners to elevate the work of Patient Advocacy.
- Serve as primary administrator of volunteer database, tracking all volunteer activities and ensuring timely entry of all volunteer engagements and stories collected for use by PPGP.
Patient Advocacy Program
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education and Experience
Preferred Education and Experience.
- Previous demonstration of understanding and mastering new concepts to develop new programs that support the organization’s mission.
- Program or project management experience.
- Experience with volunteer databases and volunteer apps.
- Understanding of advocacy, public policy issues, and state legislative processes.