Volunteer Engagement Director

Volunteer Engagement Director Overview

As Volunteer Engagement Director, you will lead the development and execution of a multi-year volunteer engagement strategy that strengthens mission impact, deepens community relationships, and integrates seamlessly with warehouse operations. This role sits at the intersection of community engagement, operations, and philanthropy — designing a volunteer experience that builds pathways to advocacy and giving while ensuring safe, efficient, mission-driven repack operations.

The Volunteer Engagement Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for one of Food Lifeline
’s most visible and mission‑critical programs: community volunteer engagement and volunteer‑powered warehouse repack operations that are essential to our daily food distribution model. This role provides leadership for a high‑volume volunteer program serving thousands of community members annually.

This role designs and executes a multi‑year volunteer engagement strategy that:

• Advances Food Lifeline’s Strategic Plan
• Strengthens community connection and belonging through our volunteer program
• Deepens pathways from volunteer to donor and advocate
• Ensures safe, efficient, high‑quality volunteer‑powered repack work

The Director leads a cross‑functional team responsible for volunteer recruitment, engagement, and daily oversight of volunteer‑supported repack shifts. This role bridges Development and Operations to align volunteer engagement outcomes with warehouse priorities, safety standards, and long‑term organizational sustainability.

As a senior leader, the Director builds systems, develops people, and advances strategy that strengthens both community engagement and operational impact.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive volunteer engagement strategy aligned with Food Lifeline’s multi‑year strategic plan.
• Define what “best‑in‑class” volunteer engagement looks like for a food bank of our size and complexity.
• Establish KPIs for volunteer recruitment, retention, engagement quality, repack output, safety, and conversion to philanthropy and advocacy.
• Use data and continuous improvement practices to evolve the volunteer model.
• Lead long‑range capacity planning for volunteer‑powered repack work in partnership with Operations leadership.
• Identify innovation opportunities (corporate partnerships, recurring volunteer cohorts, youth engagement, community‑based pathways, etc.).

• Oversee daily volunteer‑supported repack activities through direct supervision of the Volunteer Production Manager and indirect supervision of Volunteer Repack Coordinators.
• Ensure alignment between volunteer shifts and warehouse inventory, distribution needs, and food safety standards.
• Maintain compliance with safety, food handling, and quality control protocols.
• Develop scalable systems that support high‑volume volunteer engagement without compromising experience quality.
• Partner closely with warehouse leadership to ensure volunteer work is effectively integrated into operational planning.
• Participate in disaster response planning and activation related to volunteer mobilization.
• Ensure staff across the organization feel equipped to work effectively with volunteers.

• Partner with the Chief Development Officer to position volunteerism as an entry point into deeper engagement (donor pipeline, corporate relationships, advocacy, ambassadorship).
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to elevate volunteer storytelling and visibility.
• Develop recognition and stewardship strategies that increase volunteer retention and affinity.
• Ensure a cohesive, mission‑centered volunteer journey from recruitment through recognition.
• Develop and cultivate strategic corporate partnerships to support team fundraising initiatives and long‑term growth objectives.
• Build and sustain strong, mutually beneficial relationships with key companies to ensure ongoing engagement, retention, and financial support.

• Ensure…