Overview

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for a full-time Volunteer Coordinator (VC) position based in Los Angeles, California. In collaboration with the Site Manager, the VC role executes the recruitment, screening, and training for Child Advocate volunteers. This position ensures that all necessary processes, events, and programs are effective in yielding and retaining bicultural and bilingual volunteers. In addition, the Volunteer Coordinator actively engages with the National Volunteer Program Coordinator and VCs across the organization, supporting the implementation of the national volunteer strategy. This role is critical to the work of the Child Advocate Program and reports to the Managing Attorney in the Los Angeles, California office.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. The immediate focus of Young Center’s work Child Advocate Program is to serve as Child Advocate (guardian ad litem for children in immigration proceedings) for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children pursuant to the 2008 Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and the 2013 Violence Against Women Act. Our role is to identify and advocate for the best interests of immigrant children both while they are in federal custody and after they are released, applying federal and state law and long-recognized principles of the best interests of the child. Young Center also does policy work, advocating with legislators, federal agencies, and other stakeholders to promote consideration of the best interests of the child in all decisions concerning immigrant children and to create a dedicated juvenile immigrant justice system that treats children as children. Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, Harlingen, Chicago, New York, Washington DC, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Co-develops annual recruitment, outreach, and training strategy for a cohort of Child Advocate volunteers per calendar year.
  • Develops and maintains relationships with relevant community partners and recruiting sources in the Los Angeles community.
  • Serves as the site contact for the National Volunteer Program Coordinator (NVPC) and inquiries regarding volunteer recruitment in the regions served by the Los Angeles office.
  • Hosts and represents the Young Center Child Advocate Program at community recruitment events and presentations (virtual and in-person).
  • Conducts screening calls for prospective volunteers to follow up on applications, determine Spanish proficiency, and gauge fit for the volunteer Child Advocate role.
  • Tracks new applications and conducts reference checks for prospective volunteers.
  • Co-develops calendar, content, and materials for 2-3 annual Volunteer Child Advocate trainings.
  • Co-develops annual training budget and is responsible for maintaining receipts/appropriate documentation of all expenditures.
  • Implements training plan and acts as project manager to ensure all logistics are delegated and completed on time and within budget.
  • Makes recommendations to Child Advocate case supervisors about matching volunteers to children.
  • Co-coordinates local and national education and appreciation events for volunteers.
  • Enters, maintains, and tracks data on volunteer applications, recruitment, and engagement.
  • In collaboration with Young Center Operations team, ensures that all active volunteers successfully complete and maintain multi-state background clearances.
  • Actively participates in weekly planning meetings with Volunteer Coordinators across the Young Center. 
  • Supports the organizational strategy to recruit, train and grow Volunteer Child Advocates, led by the National Volunteer Program Coordinator (NVPC).
  • Designs and publishes a volunteer Child Advocate newsletter 2-4 times per year.
  • Serves as a Child Advocate for at least one child to learn about the role of the Child Advocate.
  • Provides administrative and clerical support to site, as needed.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

  • At least 2 years of post-high school experiences that may include a combination of employment, community organizing, internships, student leadership and/ or volunteer experience.
  • Experience leading the coordination of medium to large scale projects to successful completion.
  • Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
  • Comfortable with public speaking and able to engage with a variety of audiences that include colleagues, community partners, and volunteers.
  • Highly collaborative and willing to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.
  • Organized, detail oriented and able to work independently on tasks and deliverables.
  • Takes a proactive and creative approach to problem-solving.
  • Commitment to comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback.
  • Desire to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles.
  • Ability to effectively engage across different cultures, identities, and ethnicities.
  • Basic data collection and analysis ability.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms.
  • Fluent in English and Spanish (oral and written).
  • High School Diploma required, college degree a plus.
  • Valid driver’s license and access to a car.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Lived, volunteer, or professional experience with immigration, child welfare and issues affecting migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children.
  • Experience managing volunteers.
  • Experience or familiarity with Salesforce databases.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include regular attendance; keyboarding; sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day); driving. Ability to use computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation. Must be able to work at least two-three full weekends for the Child Advocate Trainings. May be requested to work evenings or weekends for other special events as needed.

 

COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS

All employees must be fully vaccinated prior to first day of employment.

APPLICATION DETAILS

For roles working directly with children, clearance of a fingerprint-based criminal background check, child abuse and neglect check (CANS), and tuberculosis test is a condition of employment.

 

The Young Center is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no application will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

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