Seasonal Volunteer Coordinator

Job Description – Seasonal Volunteer Coordinator

NYC Plover Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to protect Piping Plovers, endangered and imperiled shorebirds that nest each year along the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens.

Founded in March 2021, NYC Plover Project (NYCPP) is about to kick off the fifth year and its fourth season of its popular volunteer program, together with its partners, Gateway National Recreation Area, National Park Service (NPS) and NYC Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks). In 2021, NYCPP had approximately 40 volunteers and has since grown to more than 150 by the end of our 2025 season.

In total, more than 350 volunteers have conducted more than 18,000 hours of service since the organization began. Volunteers conduct a number of tasks, primarily serving as beach ambassadors for the birds and their nesting sites.

NYC Plover Project is looking to hire a volunteer coordinator to leadthe organization’s volunteer effort. The purpose of this role is to help recruit and retain committed volunteers, manage and fill schedules, supervise volunteers and serve as a problem-solving mechanism for this effort. Both the volunteering and volunteer coordinator roles are seasonal to align with nesting of Piping Plovers and other native shorebirds.

In 2025, NYC Plover Project is looking to expand its number of regular volunteers and continue conducting its volunteer effort from mid-April until mid-August, across both partners’ sites, in addition to set-up days in March, installing signage and fencing. A strong emphasis is on recruiting more volunteers from the following zip codes of the Rockaways – 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, and 11697.

The volunteer coordinator will serve as the primary point of contact for volunteers and potential volunteers. This position is a hybrid role of in-person and remote, and is based in Rockaway, Queens and focused on the beaches of the Rockaway Peninsula – Fort Tilden, Breezy Point Tip, Jacob Riis Park as well as New York City Parks & Recreation’s Rockaway Beach Endangered Nesting Area (RBESNA) in Edgemere, Far Rockaway.

It is likely that the person in this role will spend 3-5days on-site at beach locations once the season is fully underway (late-May through early-August).

From May - August, the work week will be five days, including Saturdays and Sundays. The specific schedule will be discussed with the supervisor. Availability to work on Saturdays and Sundays in June and July are required.

• Coordinate and oversee volunteers on the beach
• Serve as principal contact person for volunteers
• Help to recruit new volunteers and retain those from past seasons
• Participate in training and supervision of volunteers
• Manage volunteer schedule, following up with volunteers to sign up for shifts
• Assist with coordination, and distribution of volunteer materials
• Act as "on-call" person for volunteers 5 days a week,including on weekends and summer holiday weekends (Memorial Day, Juneteenth and July 4th) unless exceptions are communicated with ample notice in advance.
• Communicate with volunteers about gaps in schedule and locations most needed to be watched ahead of weekends and holidays
• Provide volunteers with expectations or specific needs for volunteer shift ahead of shift or as needed
• Serve as a moderator(s) for the principal volunteer Slack channel, responding to volunteer queries in a timely fashion
• Coordinate volunteer beach and or task captains to help manage specific sites and tasks (Tilden, Breezy Tip, RBESNA, Slack, Bay 9 Booth)
• Conduct follow-up with volunteers after shifts, capturing data and feedback to help share with other volunteers, NYC Plover Project, NPS and NYC Parks

• Excellent verbal communicator and people skills, with an ability to diffuse potential conflict situations and personality types
• Highly-organized with attention to detail
• Ability to form positive relationships with a wide variety of volunteers and community partners
• Patient, positive, and resourceful problem-solver
• Ability to work well independently and as a team member
• Flexibility and ability to work with multiple demands and distractions
• Commitment to diverse, equitable…