Volunteer and Events Coordinator

Ralph Thornton Community Centre; Toronto; On-site; CAD 33,368 - 47,524; Full time

Job summary

Ralph Thornton Community Centre is seeking a Volunteer and Events Coordinator to lead the Centre’s volunteer program and to coordinate support for various community events. The role includes developing new event strategies to meet community needs, with on-site work and occasional remote work in Toronto, ON.

Reporting to the Director of Programs, the position requires strong experience in volunteer recruitment, event planning with diverse communities, and partnership development.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination.
• Experience in equity-based event planning and working with equity-seeking communities.

Responsibilities

• Plans, implements and evaluates the volunteer program at the Centre.
• Coordinates, oversees, arranges and develops activities for events on behalf of the Centre responding to the changing and diverse needs of the community.
• Works closely with other programs and services including the Settlement Services Coordinator to provide development and support to volunteers.
• Liaises with various community organizations, program partners and internal staff to plan and organize events and forge partnerships.
• Prepares budgets and is accountable for special events budgets and evaluating fiscal plans.
• Maintains awareness of developments in volunteerism to provide new strategies and recommendations.
• Coordinates with Communications & Fundraising for marketing for specific events.
• Recruits, orients, trains, oversees and evaluates volunteers for Centre programs and events.
• Develops and updates volunteer policies and procedures and provides coaching.
• Assists with communications plans to promote the organization to volunteers, donors and community members.
• Oversees volunteers at events and integrates them into fundraising programs.
• Organizes volunteer appreciation events and writes reference letters as needed.
• Collects and maintains data and prepares statistics on volunteers and events.

Skills

Volunteer recruitment

Event coordination

Community engagement

Equity-based planning

Budgeting

Job description

Job Summary

The Volunteer and Events Coordinator is responsible for the Centre’s volunteer program and coordinating support for various special events to provide service to the community. To implement new strategies and ideas for events that evolve with the needs of the community.

Reports to: Director of Programs, Ralph Thornton Community Centre

Hours of Work: 35 hours / week during regular business hours with occasional weekend and evening work.

Salary: Wage Grade 9; starting at $29.36 / hour.

Location: On-site, up to 5 days a week, with occasional remote work. Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 765 Queen St. East Toronto, ON

Application Deadline: August 24, 2026 at 10:00 am

Start Date: October 1, 2026 (can be negotiated)

Responsibilities

• Plans, implements and evaluates the volunteer program at the Centre
• Coordinates, oversees, arranges and develops activities for events on behalf of the Centre responding to the changing and diverse needs of the community
• Works closely with other programs and services including the Settlement Services Coordinator at the Centre to provide development and support to volunteers.
• Liaises with various community organizations, program partners and internal staff in order to plan and organize a variety of events. Fosters and maintains existing partner relationships while actively seeking to forge new ones.
• Prepares budgets and is accountable for special events budgets and evaluating associated fiscal plans.
• Maintains awareness of new developments in the field of volunteerism in order to provide new strategies/ideas/recommendations for implementation
• Maintains an ongoing understanding of regulatory requirements, current best practices, rules, policies, guidelines and procedures related to event development volunteer coordination activities.
• Coordinates with Communications & Fundraising coordinator for marketing for specific events
• Recruits (using a variety of media), orients, trains, and oversees and evaluates volunteers for various Centre programs including specific events.
• Develops and implements and/or assists other staff in developing and implementing preliminary and continuing training programs for volunteers.
• Develops and updates volunteer policies and procedures and volunteer job requirements. Provides coaching and mentoring to volunteers.
• Assists with the development of comprehensive communications plans to promote the organization to volunteers, donors and community members maximizing public awareness of the event‑based activities of the organization.
• Oversees volunteers at events and assists other staff in the oversight of program‑specific volunteers.
• Integrates appropriate volunteers into special events and fundraising programs in order to ensure the success of the events.
• Organizes volunteer appreciation events and recognizes outstanding volunteers including administration and writing of reference letters
• Collects and maintains data and compiles monthly, quarterly and yearly statistics on volunteers and events as required by funders, the Centre’s Board, Committees and management.
• Responds to e‑mail, telephone and in‑person inquiries.
• Transports and sets‑up all equipment for events.

Teamwork and Operations

• Contributes to an environment of respect, collegiality and professionalism within the work environment;
• Utilizes tact, discretion, and judgement at all times, including within the Centre’s teams and with external partners, allies, and stakeholders; and
• Contributes to cross‑team projects, working‑groups and campaigns while building a rapport with colleagues from other teams.

Experience

• Significant experience in Volunteer Recruitment and Coordination
• Significant experience in equity‑based event planning and working with equity‑seeking communities

Skills and Aptitudes

• Skills working with volunteer database
• Flexibility with time and experience with full event set‑up and take down
• Clear and effective communication with various teams on same projects
• Skills and equity analysis around interviewing volunteers, volunteer management and community engagement
• Ability to recognize diverse volunteers’ skills placing them in the best role
• Passionate, innovative and empathic
• Contributes to a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment
• Works collaboratively and in a good way as part of diverse team

Assets

• Experience (employment or volunteer) in a non‑profit community organization;
• First Aid/AED Certification (or willingness to obtain);
• Knowledge of the Riverdale/Riverside/Leslieville community

Our Commitment to Employment Equity

The Ralph Thornton Community Centre is committed to employment equity. We seek to build a diverse and welcoming team. We encourage individuals from communities facing systemic barriers to apply, including people of colour, Indigenous people, members of the Black community, women, 2SLGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities.

If you require accommodation to complete and submit your application and/or during the interview process, please advise the recruitment contact person, so arrangements can be made.

In a good way refers to living from the Indigenous Grandfather Teachings and living a good way of life through the teachings.

How to Keep Updated

We thank all applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Check www.ralphthornton.org/about/job-postings for updates in the hiring process for this posting.