Director of Volunteer Program and Engagement

Open Arms of Minnesota Job Description:

Director of Volunteer Program and Engagement

Organizational Summary:

Open Arms of Minnesota (OAM) is a nonprofit that prepares and delivers healthy, nutritious food to people living with life-threatening illnesses. Our mission: by providing food as medicine, we nourish our clients and build community. In our two state-of-the-art kitchens, OAM staff members and more than 6,500 volunteers create meals specifically designed for our clients' nutritional needs. We use fresh and, whenever possible, organic ingredients, including produce from our own 5 Open Farms urban garden locations. Volunteers deliver meals throughout the Twin Cities metro area to approximately 3,687 clients, caregivers, and dependents annually, providing nourishment and hope for families dealing with life-threatening illnesses. In addition, families in need throughout Minnesota receive meals shipped to them weekly. There are no fees for any of Open Arms' services. Open Arms is a volunteer-driven organization and is culturally unique in our high commitment to an excellent volunteer experience.

To learn more, visit

Open Date: December 15th, 2025

Closing Date: Until filled

Position Overview: This full-time salaried position contributes to the fulfillment of Open Arms' mission by leading both the day-to-day operations and strategic development of Open Arms' exceptional Volunteer Program. The Director of Volunteer Program and Engagement will manage and oversee a very unique, highly relational and operations-critical volunteer program. Working in close collaboration with the Sr. Leadership Team, the Director will be a key relationship builder with volunteers and will shape an experience that is welcoming, mission-centered, and inclusive. The person in this role will collaborate closely with the Development Team and will lead strategic initiatives to expand and enhance volunteer engagement, community partnerships, and the program's alignment with organizational needs. The Director also serves as a visible and engaged presence across Open Arms' sites, cultivating meaningful relationships with volunteers, staff, and community partners.

As with all OAM staff positions, this position is responsible for helping ensure all stakeholders, especially volunteers and interns, have an exemplary experience during all interactions with Open Arms, and is expected to consistently maintain a high level of customer service to all guests, clients and fellow team members.

Our ideal candidate is:

• A relationship builder, with an authentic desire to build transformative relationships with volunteers, supporters and other stakeholders of Open Arms.
• A mission-driven leader with experience managing large, high-volume volunteer programs (1,000+ annually) in a nonprofit or service-based environment.
• A believer in radical hospitality, who is comfortable setting and expecting the highest standard of customer service, creating a one-of-a-kind, transformational volunteer experience.
• A relational and compassionate team builder who brings a people and mission first mindset to leadership, creating a team and environment that builds strong relationships with volunteers, staff, and external partners to create shared ownership and trust in the mission.
• A non-profit leader, with understanding and comfort in philanthropy, who understands how volunteer engagement works hand in glove with development.
• A systems-thinker and strategic planner who can lead both long-term volunteer engagement strategies and daily program operations across multiple sites.
• A skilled supervisor with experience managing and coaching staff, supporting team development, and driving a culture of learning and accountability.
• A data-informed decision-maker with the ability to track participation trends, measure program impact, and implement improvements based on feedback and outcomes.
• A confident communicator who can represent Open Arms with warmth in diverse settings, from volunteer orientations to public events.
• Someone with high cultural competence, with experience fostering belonging across identities and communities, and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A flexible and solutions-oriented leader who stays calm under pressure, proactively addresses challenges, and brings clarity and creativity to complex problems.
• A resilient and adaptable team member who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings positivity and focus to high-demand situations.

Success in This Role Looks Like:

• Delivering a seamless, welcoming, and high-impact volunteer experience that reflects Open Arms' values of community, compassion, and hospitality.
• Establishing Open Arms as a volunteer program model known for excellence, accessibility, and transformational community connections.
• Ensuring daily operational needs are consistently met across all volunteer-supported functions while maintaining high satisfaction and retention among volunteers.
• Creating a team culture of care, accountability, and innovation that empowers staff and fosters collaboration across departments.
• Building strong partnerships with schools, corporations, and community organizations that expand recruitment pipelines and deepen engagement.
• Using metrics, surveys, and qualitative insights to evaluate program effectiveness and guide continuous improvement.

Requirements:

• 6+ years of experience successfully leading the volunteer engagement strategy and operations for programs engaging 1,000+ volunteers annually.
• 7+ years' experience in volunteer program management.
• 3+ years of experience directly supervising multiple staff members.
• Demonstrated experience advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within volunteer programs or organizational culture preferred.
• Experience creating and executing volunteer trainings and appreciation programs.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Experience with volunteer databases.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate teams, drive change, and foster a positive work culture.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze data, identify trends, and develop data-driven solutions.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Strong customer service skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Solutions-oriented approach.
• Strong creative problem-solving skills.
• Great organizational skills and ability to adapt quickly to the changing needs of the organization.
• Ability to work successfully both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to create and contribute to a positive team environment.
• Confident communication, writing, public speaking and human relation skills and a personal presence that garners respect from volunteers and the public at large.
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion.
• Excellent communication skills and outstanding human relations skills to ensure success working with a diverse base of volunteers, staff and clients.
• Excellent presentation skills, with demonstrated success at external and internal presentations.
• Ability and flexibility to work at two different physical campuses – one in Minneapolis and one in St. Paul.
• Flexible availability to work on site during hours of operation, including evenings and weekends.
• Reliable transportation and active Minnesota driver's license unrestricted for work-related driving.
• Ability to work under pressure and maintain a positive attitude in stressful situations and during busy periods.
• Sensitivity and commitment to diversity and able to work respectfully with wide array of co-workers and members of the community.
• A passion for the mission and values of Open Arms.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to operate standard office equipment (such as telephone, computer, printer and copy machine), set up tabletop displays and speak at events.
• Able to sit for long periods of time and/or work on feet for long periods of time.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Able to stand, sit, walk, bend, stoop and twist. Requires full range of motion, manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Able to drive vehicle.

To access the full job description, please click here: Director of Volunteer Program and Engagement November

Reports to: Chief People Officer

Location: Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN

Pay Rate Range: $75,000 to $85,000 annually

To Apply:

Please send a resume and cover letter to:

OAM HR

• Email:
• Fax:
• Mail: 2500 Bloomington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Benefits:

This position is eligible for an excellent comprehensive benefits package that includes medical/dental/life/ STD/LTD insurance, an employee assistance program, paid Holidays, personal time off (PTO), and a retirement plan with an employer match program. Employee-paid vision plans, voluntary life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance are also available.

Open Arms of Minnesota is committed to hiring and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that leverages the skills and talents of all employees in our organization, regardless of race, gender, national origin, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status, disability, or socioeconomic status. We encourage all individuals with direct or transferable experience to apply for our open positions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75, $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person