Volunteer and Engagement Associate

Massachusetts Nonprofit Network; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Transit stipend

Job summary

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) in Boston, MA is seeking a Volunteer and Engagement Associate to manage volunteers, coordinate events, and lead outreach across the Charles River watershed. The role reports to the Chief Impact Officer and collaborates with engagement, advocacy, programs, and communications teams.

This full-time, hybrid position requires in-office presence in Boston/Newton and a start date around January 2027.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of related experience, bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience managing volunteers or as a volunteer.
• Experience in education spaces is helpful but not required.
• Environmental field background is helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

• Engage CRWA volunteers through clear and direct communications.
• Train volunteers for participatory programs.
• Recruit new volunteers.
• Support volunteer success through engagement, communications, and appreciation events.
• Lead and coordinate CRWA’s Annual Earth Day Cleanup in April.
• Coordinate invasive species removal events with community members and corporate teams.
• Coordinate herring monitoring and education program activities.
• Support communications and outreach for River Restoration and Education programs, including content creation and newsletters.
• Represent CRWA at school events.
• Manage supplies, opportunities, and scheduling of community representatives.
• Maintain and update CRWA’s volunteer management software.
• Provide documentation for sponsorships, grants, annual report, waivers, and media requests.
• Perform administrative duties as needed.

Skills

Volunteer management

Communications

Event coordination

Public engagement

Organization

Multilingual (bonus)

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Reports to: Chief Impact Officer

Location: Hybrid (Boston, MA or Newton, MA). In-office presence required 3 days a week.

Position Description

Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) is an internationally recognized nonprofit working at the intersection of climate resilience, environmental justice, and clean water advocacy. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, CRWA's mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the health of the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy, and the law.

The Volunteer and Engagement Associate manages CRWA’s hundreds of volunteers, engaging them in special events, and hands‑on clean up and restoration efforts across the Charles River watershed, while collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on community events. The associate is CRWA’s lead for the annual Charles River Earth Day Cleanup, one of the largest two‑day cleanup events in the country.

The Volunteer and Engagement Associate is a key member of the CRWA’s team, engaging with residents and other volunteers to advance CRWA’s mission. The associate reports to the Chief Impact Officer, and works closely with the engagement, advocacy, programs, and communications staff.

This position is a hybrid remote/in-office position located in CRWA’s Boston office with a start date expected in January 2027.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage CRWA volunteers through clear and direct communications.
• Train volunteers for participatory programs.
• Recruit new volunteers.
• Support volunteer success through continuous engagement, communications, and appreciation events.
• Lead and coordinate CRWA’s Annual Earth Day Cleanup event every April.
• Coordinate invasive species removal events with corporate teams and community members in local conservation areas.
• Coordinate CRWA’s herring monitoring and education program, managing requests and new opportunities.
• Support communications and outreach for River Restoration and Education programs, including helping to create content for social media, sending newsletters, writing flyers, editing website pages, responding to public inquiries, and organizing events.
• Represent CRWA at school events.
• Manage supplies, opportunities, and scheduling of CRWA’s community representatives.
• Manage and keep CRWA’s volunteer management software up to date.
• Provide necessary documentation for volunteer event sponsorships, grant reports, CRWA’s annual report, volunteer waivers and participant forms, and media requests.
• Perform administrative duties, as needed.

Qualifications

• A minimum of two years of related experience, with a bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent practical experience.
• Previous experience managing volunteers, or as a volunteer.
• Prior experience working in formal or informal education spaces is helpful but not required.
• Educational background and/or work experience in the environmental field is helpful but not required.
• Commitment to CRWA’s mission, and demonstrated enthusiasm for communicating with the public about CRWA’s mission.
• Ability to effectively engage volunteers to advance CRWA’s work.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Highly organized and detail‑oriented.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, anticipate project/event needs, and problem‑solve when challenges arise.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people from all backgrounds; multilingual is a plus.
• Demonstrate a high level of courtesy, tact, and professionalism.
• Able to work evenings and weekends, as needed.

CRWA strives to attract and retain staff from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected.

If you need accommodations to make the interview process more accessible, please let us know by emailing [e-mail].

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. CRWA is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Essential Physical Functions

This role requires regular physical activity, including standing, walking, bending, reaching, and kneeling throughout the shift. You must be able to comfortably lift, maneuver, and transport equipment, or event materials up to 25 pounds.

This position requires regular travel to and from CRWA's Newton field office and throughout the Charles River watershed; therefore, a valid driver's license and reliable access to a personal vehicle is necessary to perform the functions of this role.

Comfortable working outdoors under all weather conditions.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time position based in Boston and Newton. The salary for this position is $62,000.00 annually. CRWA-sponsored benefits include generous paid time off, employer contributions to health insurance premiums and retirement plan, paid family and medical leave, Employee Assistance Program, transit stipend, and professional development opportunities. CRWA’s office operates on a hybrid remote/in‑person schedule (3 days per week in the Boston or Newton office). We are unable to consider fully remote candidates for this role.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

CRWA is committed to the ongoing work of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and in our external relationships.

Internally, CRWA seeks to embed these principles in staff hiring, professional development, and retention practices as well as in Board recruitment, onboarding, and governance. CRWA strives to attract and retain staff and Board members from a wide range of backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives and to foster a culture of belonging in which all feel valued and respected.

Externally, we are engaged in outreach and relationship development to connect with a broader set of constituents in the watershed, including people and communities that have historically been marginalized. CRWA acknowledges the historic disinvestment and past harm in some watershed communities and is committed to advocating for equitable investments in climate resilience and river health.

CRWA condemns racism, sexism, bigotry, and discrimination in any form.

About Charles River Watershed Association

CRWA is an internationally-recognized environmental advocacy nonprofit based in Boston, MA. Our mission is to protect, restore, and enhance the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy, and the law. We develop science‑based strategies to increase resilience, protect public health, and promote environmental equity as we confront a changing climate.