Position Summary
The Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Volunteer Engagement Manager is on the front lines of engaging with and cultivating volunteers across the Great Lakes region.
The Volunteer Engagement Manager oversees the Alliance’s two flagship volunteer programs. This includes the 1) Adopt-a-Beach program, which involves 12,000 volunteers in over 1,000 cleanups per year on all five Great Lakes and all eight Great Lakes states; and 2) Ambassador program, a growing “speakers bureau”-type program that currently involves nearly 150 volunteers per year.
They develop a strategy to deepen the impact of the Alliance’s regional volunteer leadership and to manage program implementation. They work closely with the Development Team (volunteerism is a common pathway to becoming a donor and one of the main ways companies get involved), the Communications Team (promoting both programs and leveraging volunteer-generated data), and the Programs Team (which advances policies in areas such as plastic reduction).
A robust and engaged group of volunteers is critically important to the mission of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, as we seek to build a larger audience and turn awareness into action. This position plays an important role in creating opportunities for volunteers to join the Great Lakes movement and advancing policy changes to protect and conserve our lakes.
A typical week may include the following:
- Monday: Respond to volunteer and partner emails, coordinate upcoming sponsored Adopt-a-Beach cleanups, and plan outreach for an upcoming trip to Port Huron.
- Tuesday: Enter cleanup litter data, prepare sponsor impact summaries, attend the weekly Advancement team meeting, and order volunteer supplies.
- Wednesday: Prepare for the Ambassador Deep Dive with the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator and co-host a virtual Adopt-a-Beach Team Leader training.
- Thursday: Coordinate with Communications and Engagement teams, send Deep Dive reminders, attend the Content Meeting, prepare for Friday’s cleanup, and co-host the Ambassador Deep Dive.
- Friday: Lead a sponsored Adopt-a-Beach cleanup, meet with a prospective corporate sponsor, and update volunteer opportunities for Ambassadors.
Responsibilities
Management and Strategy
- Develops strategy for and manages the implementation of the Alliance’s volunteer programs, including the regional Adopt-a-Beach program, aiming to involve 12,000 volunteers in 8 states, and the Alliance Ambassadors program, a network of 100-125 volunteers trained to speak to groups about Great Lakes issues.
- Contributes to and develops a 3-year strategic plan (as part of the Advancement Team) and annual work plans and budgets for both the Adopt-a-Beach and Alliance Ambassadors programs.
- Manages the Adopt-a-Beach program, with a focus on ensuring regional participation and maintaining program visibility.
- Supports the growth and implementation of the Adopt-a-Beach business sponsorship program in partnership with the Alliance’s Development Team.
- Leads the growth of the Alliance Ambassadors program, with a focus on expanding it into a regional presence.
- Identifies and cultivates relationships with high-performing volunteers to deepen their engagement with the Alliance, either by increasing their volunteer leadership role or by engaging them in other areas of the Alliance’s work.
- Manages and deepens relationships with partners (ex: stewardship and conservation organizations, museums and higher education, corporate and affinity groups, fraternal societies, youth-centered groups, boating and yacht clubs, etc.)
- Consults with the Advocacy and Communications Teams to leverage the expertise and passion of the Alliance’s most dedicated volunteers.
Outreach
- Manages and facilitates external outreach opportunities to audiences critical to supporting Great Lakes and water protection, such as public speaking, tabling, and presentations, as appropriate to support Alliance priorities.
- Mobilizes and recruits volunteers from communities (i.e., geographic, racial/ethnic, etc.) not currently represented in Alliance volunteer programs to ensure a wide diversity of people are engaged in Great Lakes protection efforts.
- Identifies expansion opportunities for the Alliance’s volunteer programs that align with the Alliance’s strategic goals.
- Conducts training for volunteers to become environmental leaders, so that they have the skills and knowledge to address relevant Great Lakes issues and take action to improve the ecosystem.
- Develops materials to recruit, train, and steward volunteers, including presentations, videos, webinars, how-to guides, surveys, emails, FAQs, and program manuals.
- In coordination with the Government Affairs team, identifies opportunities and supports volunteers to participate in lawmaker education and other forms of issue advocacy.
- Speaks publicly to large and small groups, and occasionally to the media, about the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Alliance’s volunteer opportunities, and Great Lakes issues.
- Partners with the Development team on corporate partner outreach, including facilitating lunch-and-learns with Adopt-a-Beach sponsors.
Technical
- Manages volunteer data and identifies strategic uses of the information for internal and external partners.
- Manages programs’ supply inventory, ordering, and relationships with key vendors.
- Ensures timely, accurate, and effective collection of Adopt a Beach individual clean-up and seasonal data with companies, team leaders, and the broader community of Alliance supporters.
- Compiles and disseminates litter data regionally and nationally to engaged research and eNGO partners.
- Manages systems and technologies used to support the Adopt-a-Beach and Alliance Ambassadors programs, including the Adopt-a-Beach program website, the Adopt-a-Beach program database, and systems that track volunteer participation. (AGL has a consulting firm on retainer to handle the technical work.)
Work Relationships
Reports to the VP of Advancement and works with volunteers, nonprofit organizations, and business partners across the Great Lakes region. Directly supervise the Volunteer Engagement Coordinator.
Universal Competencies
Mission Alignment & Values
Ensures team deliverables align with the mission. Makes decisions that reflect Alliance values, even when difficult. Translates mission into actionable team priorities.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Justice (DEIJ)
Considers equity implications in decisions. Creates inclusive team environments. Identifies access barriers in projects/processes. Embeds equity principles into team practices.
Communication & Feedback
Communicates within teams proactively. Delivers constructive feedback with care. When challenges arise, communicate early with proposed solutions.
Collaboration & Influence
Influences peers and partners through expertise and relationship-building. Navigates competing priorities diplomatically. Drives alignment with teams. Represents Alliance in external coalitions or working groups.
Adaptability & Learning
Navigates ambiguity and shifting priorities effectively. Supports the team through change. Identifies own development needs and seeks resources. Creates a learning culture within the team.
Emotional Intelligence
Manages own emotions effectively in challenging situations. Supports team cohesion. Models emotional regulation and empathy. Addresses interpersonal challenges with care.
Judgment & Decision Making
Exercises sound judgment in complex, nuanced situations. Weighs risks and tradeoffs carefully. Trusted to make independent decisions. Anticipates consequences of decisions within teams.
Leadership Competencies
Project Management & Accountability
Drives progress across full projects. Keeps others aligned across dependencies. Anticipates delays and risks before they arise and adjusts plans. Accurately estimates and plans work for the team.
Planning & Strategy Execution
Translates strategic priorities into clear, actionable team goals. Leads the development of work plans aligned with strategic priorities and grant deliverables. Monitors progress and adapts plans as needed.
Team Leadership & Development
Directly supervises 1-2 staff or manages projects with team accountability. Conducts performance reviews. Supports professional development. Recruits and onboards new team members. Leads high-functioning project teams.
Reliability & Follow-Through
Provides accurate timelines with contingency plans. Consistently delivers quality work. Anticipates and mitigates major risks across initiatives. Ensures the team maintains high standards of follow-through.
Knowledge/Skills
- Associate’s degree with relevant experience or Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, and/or communications preferred.
- Five to seven years of experience in volunteer coordination and training, community outreach, and developing stakeholder partnerships in the public, private, or nonprofit sector.
- Understands how to analyze and prepare program data, which will inform future program evaluation, design, growth, and effectiveness.
- Demonstrates experience connecting with a diverse range of stakeholders of all ages, identities, backgrounds, and abilities. Examples of potential stakeholders include civic groups, schools, agency staff, businesses , and community-based environmental organizations.
- Specific ability to manage volunteers with a positive, nurturing attitude to achieve measurable results.
- Experience leading volunteers in outdoor, hands-on activities. Comfortable managing volunteers in outdoor settings with variable weather and in crowded environments.
- Excellent listening, writing, and speaking skills. Able to speak publicly in a clear, compelling, and engaging manner with experience speaking with the media.
- Prior database management skills, specifically Salesforce.
- Adaptive leader who is open, creative, and flexible in thought and practice, with the skills to lead both from the front and from behind as needed.
- Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Experience managing personnel.
- Experience creating and executing work plans and budgets.
- Knowledge and passion for the Great Lakes or addressing water issues.
- Spanish / multi-lingual fluency preferred.
Job Parameters
This position is full-time and consistent with Alliance employment policy. The Alliance has defined salary ranges that are evaluated annually, and it is customary for candidates to join at the lower half of the range to leave room for learning and development in the role. It is uncommon for starting salaries to fall above the midpoint. The salary range for this position begins at $70,000, and we negotiate salaries with final candidates based on their experience in similar roles and expertise related to the qualifications.
Excellent benefits, including medical, dental, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, FSA, 11 paid holidays plus the business days between 12/26 and 12/30 (staff who must work on any paid holidays may take those holidays at another time subject to the employee handbook), 3 weeks’ annual vacation to start + PTO, and Fidelity 401(k) with employer match of up to 6% of salary, eligible after 30 days.
This is a primarily remote position with a strong preference for candidates living in the Chicago area, with the expectation of working from the office once per week.
Application Process
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, references, and a writing or work sample demonstrating relevant qualifications to hr@greatlakes.org. Include the job title in the subject line.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis starting on July 6th, 2026, until the position is filled. Materials should be compatible with Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat. Applicants will receive confirmation of receipt of their materials, further guidance, and updates about the hiring process by e-mail, with interviews provided for finalists. No phone inquiries, please.
EEO Statement and Alliance Mission, Vision, and Values
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The search process will reinforce the Alliance’s belief that achieving diversity requires an enduring commitment to inclusion that must find full expression in our organizational culture, values, norms, and behaviors.
Our vision is a thriving Great Lakes and healthy water that all life can rely on, today and far into the future. We aspire to be a voice for the lakes and to support the voices of the communities that depend on the lakes and their waters.
The mission of the Alliance for the Great Lakes is to protect, conserve, and restore the Great Lakes, ensuring healthy water in the lakes and in our communities for all generations of people and wildlife. We advance our mission as advocates for policies that support the lakes and communities by building the research, analysis, and partnerships that motivate action, and by educating and uniting people as a voice for the Great Lakes.
To achieve our vision and mission, everyone in our organization will live our values of Community, Relationships, Courage, Integrity and Optimism, and weave the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion into all our work. Each value and principle is backed by measurable goals and expectations for our Board of Directors and staff.
For more information about the Alliance’s programs and work, please visit us online at www.greatlakes.org.