Sumac Volunteer Manager (Full-time, Permanent)

Community Food Centres Canada; Ontario; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Volunteer Manager to lead volunteer efforts at a Community Food Centre. This role involves recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteers, ensuring they feel valued and empowered. The ideal candidate will foster a culture of learning and collaboration while supporting diverse communities. With a commitment to equity and inclusion, this position offers the chance to make a meaningful impact in marginalized neighborhoods through food programs. Join a team dedicated to building health, belonging, and social justice across Canada.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Defined benefit pension plan

Paid vacation days

Wellness days

Professional development opportunities

Employee Assistance Program

December break

Qualifications

• 3+ years in community development or volunteer coordination.
• Experience in developing and facilitating programs.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and onboard volunteers for programs and events.
• Develop and implement best practices for volunteer management.

Skills

Community Development

Volunteer Coordination

Project Management

Program Planning

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Conflict Resolution

Organizational Skills

Analytical Skills

Coaching

Education

Relevant Post-secondary Degree

Tools

Digital Tools

Job description

Sumac Volunteer Manager (Full-time, Permanent) *New Position

Location: Our office is located in Toronto, Ontario.

Reports to: Sumac Community Food Center Director

Hiring Range: $65,000-75,000 annually, including a comprehensive benefits plan, pension plan, three weeks paid vacation (increasing to 4 weeks paid vacation in your second year of employment), a December break (usually a week) to recharge, wellness days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities.

Job Posting Closing Date: May 13, 2025

About us:

At the heart of Community Food Centre Canada’s work is the belief that food is a basic right. We bring people together around good food so communities can thrive. With more than 400 partners across the country, we build inclusive, culturally responsive Community Food Centres, share knowledge, create health-focused programs, and advocate for equitable policy change.

CFCC is strongly committed to equity and inclusion within its community. We especially welcome applications from members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, people with lived and living experience similar to the communities they serve and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.

About the position:

CFCC is seeking a Volunteer Manager, who will be responsible for recruiting, training, mentoring, and coordinating volunteers at the Community Food Centre. The Volunteer Manager supports volunteers to work towards their personal and professional goals in a meaningful and supportive setting, fostering a culture of learning, leadership, and growth where volunteers feel supported, valued, and empowered.

Key Responsibilities:

Recruitment

• Recruit and onboard volunteers for the Centre’s programs and events.
• Perform volunteer intakes, including skill assessments, goal setting, and matching volunteers to appropriate positions.
• Develop and maintain clear job descriptions for volunteer positions.
• Develop relationships with agencies seeking practicum placements, and supervise and support practicum placement students.
• Update website and social media with volunteer opportunities.
• Develop and facilitate regular volunteer orientation sessions.
• Create donor volunteer opportunities in collaboration with fundraisers.

Administration

• Develop and implement volunteer best practices, policies and procedures.
• Assist program leads in creating and planning for volunteer positions.
• Develop and maintain administrative systems to recruit, train and track volunteer information.
• Create and update volunteer schedules.
• Develop and implement an evaluation plan for the volunteer program and an annual volunteer program report.
• Ensure adherence to organizational values, policies and processes.

Volunteer Support

• Create an inclusive volunteer experience that prioritizes mutual respect, collaboration, and a culture of learning.
• Implement regular volunteer training workshops for pre-employment and/or professional development.
• Build opportunities for volunteers to gain new skills as well as utilize and enhance pre-existing skills.
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers to keep them informed and engaged.
• Create and send out monthly newsletters to volunteers.
• Develop and run volunteer recognition activities and events.
• Coach and support volunteers in their day-to-day work.
• Support other team members in working with and supervising volunteers.

Organizational Support & Collaboration

• Keep staff informed about policies, procedures and responsibilities regarding the volunteer program.
• Facilitate and/or support food programs and events as necessary.
• Role model professional behavior and positive communication with participants, volunteers and partners.
• Participate and represent the organization at events.
• Develop funding proposals, and write reports to funders as required.
• Create and manage volunteer appreciation events.
• Align with CFCC values and contribute to the evolution of our culture.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Skills:

Required

• Three years work experience in community development and/or volunteer coordination.
• One year of work experience in developing and facilitating capacity-building, pre-employment and/or community development programs.
• Excellent project management, program planning, team building, motivational coaching and supervisory skills.
• Experience working with people from diverse cultures and abilities in a community-based setting.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience working with people living on low incomes, and who are facing barriers and obstacles and discrimination.
• Demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and reconciliation and anti-oppressive practice.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Strong organizational, analytical, writing and communication skills.
• Comfortable with using a variety of digital tools and willingness to learn new digital tools as necessary.
• Availability & willingness to work some early morning or evenings, the occasional weekend on a regular or as-needed basis.

Preferred

• Knowledge of and experience with food security issues and programs is an asset.
• Experience facilitating food programs is an asset.
• Ability to speak a second language and knowledge of the Downtown East are assets.
• Relevant post-secondary degree is an asset (volunteer management, pre-employment counselling, social service worker).

Successful candidate will be required to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check.

You don’t think you meet all the criteria? Still apply. Research shows that women and people from equity deserving groups, often do not apply until all the boxes are ticked.

Why work for us?

We offer:

• Comprehensive benefits package including extended health, dental, life insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, membership in a defined benefit pension plan, 15 paid vacation days in your first year (increasing to 20 paid vacation days in your second year of employment).
• A culture of mutual support where staff are committed to creating an equitable and inclusive Canada.
• An opportunity to be part of a movement building health, belonging and social justice in marginalized neighbourhoods across Canada through the power of food.

How to apply:

To apply, please scroll up and click Apply Now. Please attach your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please share what you think makes you an ideal candidate for this role. Only those applicants being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations or technical support, please email [e-mail] (please do not email your application to this email). Thank you for your interest in CFCC.