Director, Volunteer Services

Information about the organization

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a federally chartered, nonpartisan institution that was created by the US Congress to serve as America's national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and an educational institution dedicated to the history and lessons of the Holocaust. The Museum seeks to educate Americans from all 50 states and all walks of life as well as international audiences. The Museum has three areas of expertise: Holocaust remembrance, Holocaust scholarship and education, and genocide prevention.

In carrying out its important memorial and educational mission, the Museum is guided by its institutional values for our workplace: Honor the memory of the victims; carry out our work with dignity, humility, integrity and respect for others; and strive for excellence through teamwork, rigor, and a culture of continuous learning. Consistent respect for others is the foundation for trust, collegiality and inclusion.

Information about the role

This position is located in the Volunteer Services and Survivor Affairs Division of the Office of Constituency Engagement, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. The primary purpose of this position is to manage the daily operations of the Museum-wide Volunteer and Survivor Affairs programs, including recruitment, training, placement, and enrichment of volunteers and oversee the day to day management and coordination for survivors who volunteer. Volunteers come from all walks of life and perform a variety of roles across the Museum, such as working with the visiting public and conducting translations and research. Director works closely with the staff within the Office of Constituency Engagement and works with other Museum divisions that engage volunteers to help carry out their goals and strategic priorities. At present, the volunteer corps comprises approximately 350 volunteers, including 40 Holocaust survivors. Together, they donate thousands of hours of service annually to the Museum.

The Office of Constituency Engagement also oversees other areas dedicated to key constituency groups for the Museum: US Holocaust Memorial Council (the Museum's presidentially and Congressionally appointed governing board); and Congressional relations; and includes Survivor Affairs-a unit dedicated to Holocaust survivors who volunteer at the Museum. Holocaust survivors are the Museum's most important stakeholder. Many survivors have volunteered at the Museum on a regular basis-engaging with visitors, sharing their personal histories, serving as tour guides, translating historic materials, and more-since the Museum opened in 1993. Their presence has been an invaluable asset to our visitors and our staff, and their contributions vital to the Museum's mission.

Survivor Affairs is the program area responsible for managing and coordinating the involvement of survivors who serve as volunteers. Survivor Affairs serves as the central "address" for survivors at the Museum and coordinates: survivor speaking engagements, the Echoes of Memory writing workshop, survivor involvement in marketing, media, and Development activities, and all institutional special programming.

This is a full-time donated position (non-Federal) paid with the Museum's private funds. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Duties, and Responsibilities for the role

The incumbent is responsible for all aspects of the Volunteer Program and working in close collaboration with the Director of Constituency Engagement, will manage the Survivor Affairs Program. This includes reshaping the Volunteer program as necessary to support the Museum's strategic plan, and developing effective strategies for recruitment, orientation, training, engagement, and recognition of volunteers. They provide overall day-to-day management and direction for the Volunteer and the Survivor Affairs Programs in order to support the institution's strategic goals and mission. Will oversee the work and activities of survivors who volunteer at the Museum. This position requires the ability to cultivate relationships by working collaboratively, communicating clearly and effectively, engaging respectfully with all members of the Museum community, and excellent judgment, people skills, and problem-solving ability.

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Volunteer Services Program Management

• Develops short and long-range plans for the Museum Volunteer Program.
  • Manages the development and implementation of all aspects of the Museum's volunteer programs, including recruitment, orientation, trainings, evaluation, and recognition programs as well as budgets, policies, systems, and procedures in accordance with professional museum standards.
• Develops, builds and maintains positive, long-term relationships with volunteers and staff who work with volunteers.
  • Develops an understanding of the Museum's strategic plan and its various programs to understand where and how volunteers can help advance institutional goals.
  • Works closely with all Museum Divisions and volunteer liaisons to periodically assess the needs for volunteer expertise and level of volunteer staffing needed.
• Advises Museum management and volunteer liaisons on programs, policies, procedures, systems related to Museum volunteers. Also provides guidance on performance or conduct issues with individual volunteers.
• Develops and maintains processes to promote the volunteer program across diverse communities and potential applicant pools.
  • Recruit and place new volunteers in a timely manner - including review volunteer applications, interview potential volunteers, check references, and match their talents with organizational needs and Museum Divisions.
  • Manages comprehensive orientation and general onboarding for all new volunteers including guest speakers, badging and network access, if needed.
• Maintains ongoing communications, programs, and activities with volunteers
• Serves as a liaison between staff liaisons and volunteers, as needed.
• Maintains, updates and publishes guidelines, best practices and procedures for the Volunteer Policy and Procedures manual.
• Oversees volunteer recognition and appreciation.
• Maintains the volunteer database.
  • Develops and administers volunteer surveys.
  • Uses survey data to help improve the volunteer program.
• Represents the Division in meetings, discussions, or other forums.
• Manages and guides the Volunteer Advisory Board including defining its role, ensuring its effective functioning, and handling matters such as scheduling meetings, developing agendas, tracking action items and related activities of the VAB. Proactively addresses potential issues and concerns.
• Reviews or develops reports for all Museum volunteer initiatives including annual reports.
• Supports special events and programs across the Museum, as needed.

Survivor Affairs Program Management

In close coordination with the Director of Constituency Engagement, the incumbent manages the staff of a robust program for Holocaust survivors who volunteer at the Museum, including the following:

• Oversees day to day management and coordination for survivors who volunteer helping ensure survivor voices are incorporated as needed and appropriate to advance Museum's mission
• Onboards new survivors.
• Manages the Speakers Bureau, writing workshop, and staffing of the Survivor Desk located in the Museum building.
• Oversees, working closely with Survivor Affairs staff, the implementation of survivor virtual and in-person meetings.
• Maintains proactive and regular communications with survivors about upcoming programs, meetings, and other scheduled activities.
• Attends events featuring Museum survivors that are held in DC and may accompany survivors to events held elsewhere in the US.
• Supervises three staff in Survivor Affairs, providing leadership and direction, promoting Museum values and DEAI principles, employee development, and team building/engagement.
  • Develops performance standards and job descriptions, approves leave, and evaluates performance of direct reports and the division overall.
  • Responsible for management decisions related to hiring, promotions, awards, disciplinary actions, and other personnel matters.
  • Certifies payroll and manages budget, finance, and contract/procurement related matters.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for the role

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience managing a robust volunteer program of similar size and complexity, ideally in a museum setting.
• Demonstrated experience working with a special constituency requiring great sensitivity and care
• Extensive practical knowledge and understanding of volunteer management principles in order to oversee and implement the Division's work and plan for its development.
• Supervisory experience including the ability to lead, manage, and motivate a diverse team of employees and volunteers.
• Experience collaborating, building relationships, interacting, negotiating, and communicating effectively with volunteers and all levels of staff.
• Ability to think strategically about volunteer programs based on institutional goals.
• Exceptional skills in relationship-building, communications, and problem solving with a wide-range of individuals from diverse walks of life
• Substantial knowledge of customer service, supervisory skills, planning methods, in order to deliver high quality services in accord with Museum needs and priorities.
• Possess a work style that is closely aligned with the Museum's values including integrity, humility, teamwork/collaboration, respect for others, and commitment to continuous learning.

Interested applicants must send their resume and cover letter; applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The Museum is committed to cultivating and maintaining a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion (DEAI). Please click to view the Museum Statement on Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (PDF).

Benefits Highlights:

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum values employee wellness, work-life balance and the diversity of what this means for individual employees in life and work. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package for benefits-eligible employees that includes generous paid leave benefits, health, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, a health savings account with an employer contribution, 403(b) retirement plan with a generous employer match and contribution, group term and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, commuter subsidy, access to two employee assistance programs, as well as voluntary critical illness and accident insurance coverage, long-term care and pet insurance options. Our policies also support telework and other flexible schedule options based on the job, work and team collaboration requirements.