Volunteer Coordinator

Motown Museum; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Motown Museum is seeking a detail‑oriented Volunteer Coordinator to lead the day‑to‑day operations of our volunteer program. You will recruit, onboard, train, and schedule volunteers while building strong relationships with museum staff and visitors.

This role emphasizes recognition, recordkeeping, and dependable coordination across departments to ensure volunteers are prepared, supported, and connected to the museum’s mission.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required; bachelor’s degree preferred in Human Resources, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience coordinating volunteers, employee engagement, customer service, nonprofit administration, or a related area.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement volunteer recruitment strategies to attract qualified and engaged volunteers.
• Recruit, interview, onboard, orient, and train volunteers.
• Coordinate volunteer schedules, assignments, coverage, and communications.
• Partner with department leaders to identify and fulfill volunteer staffing needs.
• Maintain accurate volunteer records, applications, agreements, training documentation, schedules, and other required records.
• Coordinate volunteer appreciation and recognition initiatives.
• Ensure volunteers understand and follow Museum policies, safety procedures, and expectations.
• Respond to volunteer questions and concerns and provide timely follow-up.
• Prepare reports regarding volunteer participation, coverage, retention, and program effectiveness.
• Help strengthen volunteer engagement and retention through consistent communication, support, and recognition.

Skills

Relationship building

Volunteer recruitment

Scheduling coordination

Communication

Recordkeeping

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the role

• The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the Museums volunteer program—from recruiting and onboarding new volunteers to scheduling, training, communication, engagement, recognition, and recordkeeping.

This role is ideal for an organized, people-focused professional who enjoys building relationships, coordinating multiple moving pieces, and creating a welcoming experience for volunteers. The successful candidate will partner with Museum department leaders to understand their volunteer needs and ensure volunteers are prepared, supported, and connected to the Museums mission.

What you'll do

• Develop and implement volunteer recruitment strategies to attract qualified and engaged volunteers.
• Recruit, interview, onboard, orient, and train volunteers.
• Coordinate volunteer schedules, assignments, coverage, and communications.
• Partner with department leaders to identify and fulfill volunteer staffing needs.
• Maintain accurate volunteer records, applications, agreements, training documentation, schedules, and other required records.
• Coordinate volunteer appreciation and recognition initiatives.
• Ensure volunteers understand and follow Museum policies, safety procedures, and expectations.
• Respond to volunteer questions and concerns and provide timely follow-up.
• Prepare reports regarding volunteer participation, coverage, retention, and program effectiveness.
• Help strengthen volunteer engagement and retention through consistent communication, support, and recognition.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required; bachelor’s degree preferred in Human Resources, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field.
• At least two (2) years of experience coordinating volunteers, employee engagement, customer service, nonprofit administration, or a related area.
• Previous museum or nonprofit experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success recruiting and retaining volunteers.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments, schedules, and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships with volunteers, employees, department leaders, and Museum visitors.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and handle confidential information appropriately.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other technology used for communication, recordkeeping, reporting, and program administration.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, dependability, and appropriate escalation of concerns.

What Will Make You Successful

• You genuinely enjoy working with people and creating a welcoming environment.
• You are highly organized and can manage people, schedules, documentation, and deadlines.
• You communicate clearly and follow through on commitments.
• You know how to recruit people, build relationships, and keep volunteers engaged.
• You are comfortable partnering with leaders across different Museum departments.
• You understand that volunteers are an important part of delivering an exceptional visitor and program experience.

What Success Looks Like

• Recruit and onboard qualified volunteers who meet the Museums program needs.
• Maintain strong volunteer coverage for scheduled events and assignments.
• Provide timely orientation, training, communication, recognition, and support.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and current volunteer records and required documentation.
• Build strong working relationships with department leaders and provide dependable coordination of volunteer assignments.
• Create a volunteer experience in which people feel welcomed, prepared, valued, and connected to the Museums mission.
• Support strong volunteer participation and retention that contributes to the Museums visitor experience, programs, and special events.

Why This Role Matters

Volunteers play an important role in helping Motown Museum deliver meaningful experiences to visitors, students, community members, and guests. The Volunteer Coordinator helps make that experience possible by ensuring the right volunteers are recruited, prepared, scheduled, supported, and recognized.

Join the Motown Museum Team

Motown Museum is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace.

About Motown Museum

In the 1960s,HitsvilleU.S.A. was buzzing with activity. These modest buildings on Detroit’s West Grand Boulevard housed dozens of the music industry’s most talented, passionate and successful people. More than half a century later, the walls of Motown Museum continue to hold that entrepreneurial energy for its staff—and youcould be part of our team.

As a museum and cultural institution, we seek to hire talented and skilled individuals interested in careers, internships, and volunteers across a variety of functions—including staff for collections, programming, fund development, guest services, retail, management, and more.