Volunteer Program Manager
Employment Type
Job (Full-Time)Job Categories
Volunteers/Volunteer Management
Job Description
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is hiring a Volunteer Program Manager!
Are you a dynamic leader, passionate about working with volunteers, excited about inspiring meaningful connections among people and nature in one of the most beautiful settings in Maine, and committed to supporting the Gardens’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility goals?
This is a Year-round, Full-time management position. Scheduling requires one weekend day when open to the public, as well as some flexibility during the week and occasional evening events.
Year-round employees receive personal and sick paid time off, health and retirement benefits, discounts in our culinary programs and Gardenshop, and a Gardens membership.
$64,000 – 71,000 salaried, exempt
The Volunteer Program Manager leads the Gardens’ volunteer program by recruiting, matching, training, and supporting volunteers across a wide range of roles that advance the organization’s mission and guest experience.
-Fosters an inclusive environment among the volunteers and plays the lead role in introducing volunteers to the Gardens, overseeing organizational efforts to ensure volunteers are welcome and valued within the organization.
-Orients all volunteers to the culture, policies, and practices of the Gardens so they are effective ambassadors for the organization. Supports volunteers in their success within the organization.
-Ensures that the volunteers provide our guests with an excellent guest experience through all volunteer roles.
Physical Requirements:
Based in an office setting, this position does require moving throughout the Gardens frequently in all kinds of weather. May require standing for long periods of time. Requires use of telephone, radio, and computer equipment.
Application review will begin on July 27.
Interview process: Virtual interview with the Guest Experience Director. Final round candidates will be invited for an on-site interview with various stakeholders.
About Us
At nearly 325 acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is the largest public garden in New England. With two miles of hiking trails, 19 acres of ornamental and themed gardens featuring native plants of Maine and those suited to northern coastal conditions, nearly a mile of saltwater frontage, a children’s garden, a sensory garden, and so much more, there’s something for everyone. A true Maine experience, the Gardens is committed to connecting people to plants and nature, preserving the biodiversity of the Maine coast, and continuing to be a place accessible and welcoming to all. The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is dedicated to being an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where every member of our community is valued, respected, and appreciated. We acknowledge that a society is stronger, more resilient, and more beautiful when it is diverse. We are committed to identifying and striving to eliminate barriers that, historically, have prevented the full participation of communities most impacted by inequity.
Duties & Responsibilities
-Consult with leadership and staff to determine organization’s needs for various volunteer services. Match volunteers with assignments and support staff to train, supervise, and engage volunteers placed in their departments.
-Plan, organize, and implement volunteer orientation(s), training, professional development, and ongoing volunteer engagement events.
-Review and update recruitment plan annually and recruit volunteers for a large variety of assignments within the Gardens, both type of work and time commitment.
-Write and revise job descriptions, determine appropriate recruitment resources, and interview potential volunteers.
-Manage the planning, implementation, training, and long-term strategy of the docent program, including working in close collaboration with the Interpretation & Exhibits team.
-Regularly assess volunteer performance, address performance issues as needed, and evaluate volunteer satisfaction to improve the overall volunteer experience.
-Support and strengthen the cultural competency of volunteers by implementing the Gardens’ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility values within volunteer programming and support.
-Develop and manage the Volunteer Program budget.
-Hire, train, and manage the Volunteer Engagement Team, ensuring they meet performance expectations, provide an inclusive environment and excellent guest experience for volunteers, and effectively collaborate with staff.
-Support Volunteer Engagement Team with tasks such as the management of volunteers and group tour arrivals, greeting and transport of guests, including covering scheduled lunches.
Education and Experience
-At least five years of demonstrated success working with volunteers and customer service (preferred in a cultural institution).
-At least five years of demonstrated success building and leading high-functioning and collaborative teams. Ability to delegate tasks and oversee team’s work, hold employees accountable for work performance, and coach and develop employees.
-Demonstrated success leading tours and docents with a deep understanding of tour etiquette and informal education.
-Leadership ability to implement a strategic vision and cultivate buy-in on the team.
-High level of organization, attention to detail, and ability to independently manage scheduling and communications with large numbers of people during peak periods of the season.
-Ability to engage and communicate effectively and foster relationships amongst a wide group of individuals and across multiple departments, to successfully build an inclusive team and manage conflict.
-Ability to communicate the value of volunteering generally, the value of volunteers to the Gardens, and the value of the Gardens to the community.
-Proficient user of Microsoft Office and database management platforms.
-Comfort interacting with guests, volunteers, staff, board members, and the community, striving to exceed guest expectations and creating an exceptional experience for those visiting the Gardens.
-Some knowledge of gardening, local history, and local geography is desirable.
-Commitment to working across the organization and leading volunteers to support our Community Agreements and integration of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility principles into the Gardens’ internal operations and its relationships with visitors and guests.
Application Instructions
Application Deadline:July 27, 2026
