CharityVillage

Job title: Community Programming and Volunteer Coordinator

NOC 42201 – Social and community service workers; NOC 12103 – Conference and event planners

Reporting relationship: This position reports to the Executive Director.

Hours of work: full-time (35 hours per week). Primarily weekdays but regular evenings and occasional weekends required. 

Contract duration: Permanent starting September 1, 2025 (date flexible) (subject to a three-month probationary period)

About Romero House:

Romero House is a community of welcome for newly arrived refugee claimants in Toronto. We are a charitable organisation offering transitional housing and immigration and settlement support in the spirit of good neighbours, valuing dignity, mutuality, and care. We are a diverse community where all are welcome. Romero House is unique in that we are not only a housing and settlement service provider but an intentional community (some of our staff and volunteers live in our housing) very connected to our neighbourhood and each other.  

Job purpose:

The Community Programming and Volunteer Coordinator fosters a vibrant and inclusive community at Romero House by planning and coordinating programs, events, and volunteer involvement that support refugee claimants in their settlement journey. This role is responsible for overseeing community activities and seasonal celebrations, engaging residents in social and cultural programming, and ensuring that volunteers are welcomed, trained, and meaningfully involved in our work. By building relationships with residents, volunteers, and community partners, the Coordinator helps create a sense of belonging and shared purpose for all those connected to Romero House.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Implement and organize the delivery of community building activities (including with residents of Romero House, former residents, other service users, volunteers, neighbours, and other supporters). Activities include kids club, teens club, adult activities, celebrations, trips out of town, and more. 

• Supervise contract staff or volunteers who may be delivering some of this programming

• Plan the scope and format of events, establish and monitor budgets, review administrative procedures and progress of events, sometimes in coordination with a committee or other staff

• Coordinate all aspects of events, such as facilities, food, signage, displays, translation, special needs requirements, audio-visual equipment, and printing

• Organize registration of participants if needed (usually through WhatsApp poll or Google Forms), prepare programs and promotional material (such as a flyer), and publicize events (often through WhatsApp, phone calls, or talking to residents who stop by our weekly food bank)

• Coordinate and train staff required for events, such as sharing a role description and ensuring they understand 

• Coordinate winter holiday gift program for current and former residents

• Enroll children in March Break and summer camps

• Coordinate the distribution of free event tickets to families 

• Seek out and share information about free community events with families 

• Mobilise and coordinate volunteer resources and activities

• Supervise volunteers in certain programs while supporting team members to supervisor volunteers in other areas

• Oversee the volunteer database, communicating regularly with current and prospective volunteers

• Receive and approve volunteer applications, carrying out interviews when necessary

• Onboard volunteers 

• Ensure volunteer agreements and Vulnerable Sector Checks are completed according to Romero House policy 

• Identify areas that could use volunteers and recruit using our current database, social media and various networks 

• Delegate tasks to volunteers and explore new areas in which volunteers could support the work for Romero House 

• Lead and coordinate volunteer training sessions as needed, while actively seeking out partnerships and external resources to enhance volunteer development and support.

• Plan and carry out regular volunteer appreciation events and recognition initiatives

• Follow up with residents and volunteers to check in about how the volunteer support is going 

• Maintain program statistics for purposes of evaluation and research

• Supervise a Community Animator position in the summer, if funded by Canada Summer Jobs 

Qualifications (Required)

• Proficiency in English 

• Proficiency with computers

• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities independently and as part of a team

• Post-secondary education in community work, social services, event planning, nonprofit management, or a related field OR equivalent experience in organizing community programs, volunteer coordination, or working in a social service setting

• Strong communication skills (reading, writing, critical thinking, following instructions) 

• Strong organizational skills 

• Commitment to migrant and social justice values

• Strong problem solving skills and takes initiative 

• Self awareness with respect to power, privilege, and prejudice and tools to promote equity and inclusion

Assets (Helpful but not required)

• Experience working in diverse communities 

• Experience living at Romero House

• Proficiency with Google Workspace, including Google Sheets and email templates

• Proficiency in Canva for graphic design 

• Valid Ontario driver’s licence, minimum level G2

• Proficiency in other languages, in particular Spanish, Persian, Arabic, Amharic, Ukrainian, Russian, French, Kirundi, or Yoruba

• First Aid certification 

Working conditions

• Working indoors

• Working with vulnerable populations including recent migrants, low-income, trauma survivors, non-English speaking

• Communicating with service users using digital translation tools, volunteer and professional interpreters  

• Hybrid work (combination of office work and work-from-home). Office location: 1558 Bloor Street West, Toronto. The office is located on the ground floor and basement of a building with no elevator. It has a power-operated front door. The washroom is not wheelchair accessible. 

• Frequent use of email and instant messaging (both email and WhatsApp are used daily within the team and with volunteers and community members)

• Frequent face-to-face meetings and phone calls

• Frequent individual work and regular team work

• Meeting 2-3 times/week as a team for prayer (a place where faith and spirituality are welcome to be expressed and not required)

• Given that we are a transitional shelter, successful candidate must have up to date immunizations as recommended by Toronto Public Health (accommodations will be provided as required by the Ontario Human Rights Code)

• Some travel may be required 

Compensation

• $50,000 gross annual salary 

• $2,000 Health Spending Account

• Employee Assistance Program

• Up to $50/month cell phone reimbursement 

• 3 weeks of paid vacation plus closure between December 25 and January 1

Equity:

We provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences (pardoned), marital status, family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

We particularly encourage applications from minoritized groups, including people with experiences of migration, people of colour, people with disabilities, members of the 2SLGBTQIA community, and those with varied areas of expertise and lived experiences.

Accessibility: 

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.