Volunteer managers plan volunteer involvement in organizations and co-ordinate volunteer programs in a variety of settings.

Duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another but, in general, volunteer managers:

• plan volunteer programs and identify opportunities for volunteer involvement in not-for-profit and public sector organizations
• recommend policies related to volunteer involvement in an organization and work with management to incorporate volunteers into human resources policies
• write role descriptions for volunteers
• design orientation programs for volunteers
• recruit, interview, select and orient volunteers
• implement risk management policies
• develop volunteer recognition programs
• make staff members and the public aware of the volunteer program
• educate staff members about working with volunteers
• supervise volunteers or, more often, provide support for staff who supervise volunteers
• evaluate volunteer programs and volunteers
• collect statistics and write reports
• write funding proposals
• administer volunteer program budgets.

Much of the work involves supporting volunteers in their duties and helping staff members and volunteers work together co-operatively. Volunteer managers also may work with a Board of Directors.

Most volunteer managers work in office environments. Travel may be required to attend meetings during the day and, sometimes, during evening or weekend hours. Volunteer managers may work part-time, on contract or have additional responsibilities.

Volunteer managers come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds including volunteer management, education, human resource management, public relations, community development, marketing, recreation, social work, psychology and education. However they acquire them, volunteer managers need computer skills and the following management skills:

• interviewing skills
• training, coaching, team-building and leadership skills
• planning and administrative skills
• marketing skills
• conflict resolution skills.

Organizations such as Volunteer Alberta, Volunteer Calgary and Volunteer Edmonton may offer short non-credit courses related to volunteer management on an as-needed basis.

Volunteer managers work in not-for-profit and public sector organizations such as:

• human and social service agencies
• cultural organizations
• leisure and sports organizations
• educational and religious institutions
• health care institutions.

Many volunteer managers work on a part-time or contract basis, and must work within small budgets. Advancement opportunities depend on the nature of the organization and the manager's qualifications.

Volunteer managers are part of the National Occupational Classification 4212: Community and Social Service Workers. In Alberta, 85 per cent of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Health Care and Social Assistance
• Repair, Personal, Religious and Other Services.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next ten years.

Some volunteer managers are volunteers themselves or work on a contract basis. Salaries for managers who have full-time, paid positions vary considerably. In general, the highest salaries are in the public sector.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Community and Social Service Workers group earned from $10.88 to $34.37 an hour. The average wage was $18.91 an hour.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

For information about current collective agreements in the public and not-for-profit sectors, see the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA) website: www.avaintl.org

Association of Directors of Volunteer Resources (ADVR) website: www.advr.ab.ca

Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) website: www.hsaa.ca

Volunteer Alberta website: www.volunteeralberta.ab.ca

Volunteer Calgary website: www.volunteercalgary.ab.ca

Volunteer Edmonton website: www.volunteeredmonton.com

Volunteer Management Group Edmonton: www.vmgedmonton.ca