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Manager of Volunteer Resources

Managers of volunteer resources research, develop, and manage volunteer programs. They provide leadership in effectively engaging volunteers to further the missions of not-for-profit, voluntary, and public sector organizations.

Also Known As

Community Development Coordinator, Community Relations Specialist, Integrated Human Resources Manager, Program Leader, Recruitment Officer, Volunteer Manager

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 4212: Community and Social Service Workers

2006 NOC-S

  • E212: Community and Social Service Workers

2011 NOC

  • 4212: Social and community service workers

2016 NOC

  • 4212: Social and community service workers

2021 NOC

  • 42201: Social and community service workers

2023 OaSIS

  • 42201.00: Social and community service workers
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Managers of volunteers are in charge of volunteer engagement within their organization. Engagement includes:

  • Attracting and retaining volunteers with the same interests and values as the organization
  • Helping volunteers understand the organization’s mission and goals
  • Providing meaningful opportunities for volunteers to contribute so their needs and the organization’s needs are met

Much of a volunteer manager’s work involves supporting volunteers in their duties and helping staff and volunteers work together. Volunteer managers may work closely with the executive director, chief executive officer (CEO), or a board of directors.

Duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another. In general, managers of volunteer resources determine organizational needs that volunteers could fill. They then match volunteers with opportunities to share their time and talents.

Volunteer managers:

  • Create and implement volunteer recruitment strategies
  • Research, develop, and lead volunteer programs
  • Identify opportunities for volunteers to engage in not-for-profit, voluntary, and public sector organizations
  • Work to incorporate volunteers as a vital component of the organization’s human resources
  • Recommend organizational policies related to volunteer engagement
  • Design roles and write job descriptions and project contracts for volunteers
  • Design orientation and training programs for volunteers
  • Recruit, interview, select, and evaluate volunteers
  • Maintain files on each volunteer, and ensure screening practices are documented
  • Create policies and implement risk-management strategies
  • Develop volunteer recognition programs and activities
  • Make staff members and the public aware of the volunteer program
  • Educate and train staff members about working with volunteers
  • Supervise volunteers or support staff who supervise them
  • Evaluate volunteer programs and volunteers
  • Collect statistics (qualitative and quantitative) and write reports
  • Source and write funding proposals
  • Manage volunteer program budgets
  • Stay aware of trends and initiatives to ensure effective, relevant volunteer engagement
  • Establish relationships with organizations and colleagues to share and implement best practices managing volunteer resources

They also liaise with post-secondary schools to help place high school students in volunteer roles. Students are encouraged to show volunteer hours on their post-secondary applications.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Most managers of volunteer resources work in offices. They may need to travel to meetings during the day and to activities or events during evenings or weekends. They may juggle volunteer management with other roles in the same organization.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Community and Social Service Workers

2006 NOC: 4212

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
SOCIAL

Interest in consulting with social assistance recipients and pensioners to advise and aid them in locating and utitizing a variety of community resources; in referring clients to other social services; in counselling clients living in group homes and halfway houses and assisting in pre-release and release planning; in providing crisis intervention and emergency-shelter services; and in co-ordinating volunteer activities of community and social services organizations

METHODICAL

Interest in compiling information to participate in the selection and admission of clients to appropriate programs; to assess clients' relevant skill strengths and deficits; and in maintaining contact with other social service agencies and health care providers involved with clients to provide information and obtain feedback on clients' overall progress

innovative

Interest in assisting clients to sort out options and develop plans of action, and in implementing and organizing the delivery of life-skills workshops, substance-abuse treatment programs, behaviour management programs, youth services programs and other community and social service programs under the supervision of social workers and health care professionals

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. 

It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Managers of volunteer resources need:

  • A demonstrated commitment to volunteerism
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Organizational and leadership skills
  • Initiative and the ability to multitask
  • An outgoing, energetic, and optimistic manner
  • Excellent communication skills, including writing, negotiating, and public speaking
  • The ability to balance the organization’s needs with the volunteer’s needs and interests
  • Problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • Patience and tact in dealing with others
  • A tolerance for ambiguity
  • The ability to work alone or as part of a team
  • Project-management skills

They should enjoy helping others, bringing together diverse interests, compiling information, and staying in touch with other agencies. They should be able to develop innovative approaches to problems.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Social and community service workers

2016 NOC: 4212

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 261 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 29, 2023 and Dec 20, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Excellent oral communication
Client focus
Excellent written communication
Security and Safety: Criminal record check
Judgement
Effective interpersonal skills
Flexibility
Team player
Initiative
Tasks: Administrative and office activities
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Minimum Education Varies

Managers of volunteer resources come from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. They may have education or experience in volunteer management, education, human resource management, public relations, community development, marketing, recreation, social work, psychology, or project management. They also need computer skills and the following management abilities:

  • Interviewing skills
  • Training, coaching, team-building, and leadership skills
  • Planning and administrative skills
  • Marketing skills
  • Conflict-resolution skills

Volunteer Alberta, Propellus, Volunteer Edmonton and similar organizations offer short non-credit courses related to volunteer management on an as needed basis.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

British Columbia Institute of Technology
Mount Royal University

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2020
  • Certification Not Regulated

Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC) endorses the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA)’s certification program (CVA). It is for individuals who:

  • Have at least 3 years of full-time experience related to volunteer resources management or equivalent
  • Hold a current position with at least 30% of their time committed to volunteer resources management
  • Have documentation of education and related experience

CVA certification is not required by law. However, it helps legitimize and strengthen the profession. It also supports the work of volunteer engagement professions within Canada and internationally.

For more information on the certification process, visit the CCVA website.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Managers of volunteer resources work in not-for-profit, voluntary, and public sector organizations. These may include:

  • Human and social service agencies
  • Cultural organizations
  • Leisure and sports organizations
  • Schools and religious institutions
  • Health-care institutions
  • Law, advocacy, and political organizations
  • Environmental organizations
  • International development organizations

Volunteer resources managers may work on a part-time, full-time, or contract basis. They often work with small budgets. Most entry-level positions are for coordinators, while senior positions are for managers. Advancement depends on the nature of the organization and the manager’s experience and qualifications.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Social and community service workers
2016 NOC: 4212

77.9% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Social and community service workers
2021 NOC: 42201
Medium
Demand
13,200
Employed

Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Social and community service workers
2016 NOC: 4212
2.0%
Annual Growth
(Below Average)
336
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

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

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Salaries for managers with full-time, paid positions vary. In general, the highest salaries are in the public sector.

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

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Social and community service workers

2016 NOC: 4212
Average Wage
$23.98
Per Hour
Average Salary
$41,099.00
Per Year
Average Hours
32
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 4212 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.00 $35.54 $21.05 $18.00
Overall $15.84 $45.60 $23.98 $20.20
Top $18.00 $47.29 $26.99 $23.69

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Information, Culture, Recreation
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing
Educational Services
Health Care & Social Assistance
Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related)
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
55%
55%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
20%
20%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
8%
8%
Vacancy Rate
10%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Business, Management and Administrative Studies
  • Communications
  • Education and Library Studies
  • Social Sciences, Law and Religious Studies
  • Social, Community and Protective Services
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2020

Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) website: cvacert.org

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

Propellus website: www.propellus.org

Volunteer Alberta website: volunteeralberta.ab.ca

Volunteer Edmonton website: volunteeredmonton.com

Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC) website: www.vmpc.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2020. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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