Volunteer Engagement Coordinator (Full-Time)

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until 9 January 2026 and/or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. We reserve the right to close the posting early if a well-qualified candidate pool has been established.  Early submission is encouraged.  Please ensure that your application highlights your experience and qualifications as they relate to the responsibilities of this role.

• Do you enjoy building meaningful relationships, supporting volunteers, and creating positive experiences for guests and the community? 
• The Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens seeks a compassionate, organized, and proactive Volunteer Engagement Coordinator (Full-Time). 
• This coordinator plays a key role in fostering inclusive, mission-aligned volunteer engagement across Adult Volunteers, Adaptive Services, group volunteer programs, and seasonal or special events. 
• This role thrives in a dynamic environment where each day brings variety, teamwork, and opportunities to make an impact. 
• It is ideal for someone who remains calm in a lively setting, enjoys coordinating people and projects, and values inclusive, relationship-based program support.
• You are someone who finds purpose in helping others succeed, building meaningful relationships, and creating positive experiences for volunteers and the community. You bring a calm, supportive presence to busy environments. 
• You enjoy variety in your day, and feel energized working with people of different backgrounds, abilities, and generations.
• Success in this role is defined by how effectively you demonstrate the core competencies in action.
• This is your opportunity to engage and inspire a diverse community of volunteers to helping us to meet our mission:
• “Connecting our community with wildlife and wild places.”

What you'll do...

Relationship Building & Community Engagement:

• Build trust, connection, and belonging with volunteers, staff, and community partners. 
• Modeling a calm, collaborative presence in a lively, fast-paced environment and approach challenges with diplomacy, care, and consistency.

Program & Project Management: 

• Support and coordinate multiple volunteer programs and activities.
• Prioritize effectively, stay organized using checklists and structured workflows, and keep work moving forward while managing multiple responsibilities at once.

Operational Awareness & Daily Coordination: 

• The day varies and you stay adaptable. 
• Anticipate needs, identify potential gaps early, and communicate proactively to keep people, plans, and expectations on track.

Communication & Collaboration:

• Support a culture of teamwork and transparency.  Approach communication as relationship-building not just information sharing.

Inclusivity, Generational Awareness & Adaptive Support:

• Demonstrate cultural awareness and understanding to reinforce an environment where everyone feels respected, capable, and included.
• Professional Growth & Continuous Improvement: Model growth-minded professionalism to balance initiative with collaboration and you approach improvement with curiosity.
• What you bring...
• Ability to work a schedule; Sunday- Thursday.
• 2+ years of experience in a similar role involving community outreach, engagement, and representing the organization to customers, the public, government agencies, and other external stakeholders. 
• ​Equivalent experience: A combination of relevant education and/or professional experience that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the responsibilities of the role may also be considered.
• 1+ year experience may include program management, customer support, hospitality, recreation, conservation, or other relationship-driven work.
• 1+ year demonstrated ability to manage multiple people, projects, and priorities simultaneously while maintaining professionalism, organization, and positive relationships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and experience using volunteer management software such as Volgistics (or similar platforms), along with comfort working in databases, scheduling systems, and communication tools.
• Emotional intelligence to foster a positive and impactful volunteer experience for all participants.
• Proven ability to exercise discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment when handling sensitive information, conflict, or performance concerns involving volunteers or stakeholders.
• Ability to represent the organization in a professional manner during public engagement, outreach events, partner meetings, and volunteer interactions, reflecting the organization’s mission, values, and service standards.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and respect when working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments to coordinate volunteer needs, resolve scheduling or service concerns, and support shared organizational goals.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate information clearly, respectfully, and professionally in both verbal and written formats across diverse audiences.
• Pre-Employment Requirements: Candidates selected for this position must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings prior to their start date.  Compliance with these requirements is mandatory to ensure the safety of staff, animals, and visitors. These include:
• Verification of professional references.
• Employment history verification.
• Level II Criminal background check.
• 5-panel drug test
• .Ability to maintain a valid driver's license and eighteen years (18) of age with a clear driving record.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to consistently remain on your feet for 6-8 hours on shift.
• Ability to consistently remain on your feet for prolonged periods of time.
• Manual dexterity for standing, reaching, flexibility, and body movement for bending, crouching, walking, kneeling, stoop, bend, lift, kneel, crawl, climb, jump, dig and prolonged standing/sitting.
• Ability to operate motorized cart, trucks, hand and/or power tools.
• Ability to work outdoors and indoors under all environmental conditions and temperatures.
• Ability to transport and move items occasionally up to 25 pounds without difficulty for short distance.
• Auditory ability for verbal communication/conversation/responses via telephone, telephone systems, two-way radio, and face-to-face interactions.
• Visual and auditory acuity appropriate for safety and discern differences in document.

​WORK CONDITIONS

Weather Exposure:

• Exposure to various weather conditions, including extreme heat, sunlight, cold, rain, and wind.

Pathogens:

• possible exposure to animal or human bloodborne pathogens.

Infectious Diseases:

• Risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases.

Hazards:

• Potential for injuries from wildlife, equipment, chemicals, and heights.

On-Call Responsibilities:

• May be scheduled to be on call to work with others for emergencies, as needed.

Disaster support:

• Available to fulfill disaster-response duties and responsibilities as needed.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local employment regulations. 

EOE / DRUG FREE WORKPLACE

• Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens are committed to providing equal employment opportunities.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
• Candidates are encouraged to request accommodation if needed during the application, interview, or employment process.

Salary

• Compensation depends on experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities: $17-$19 per hour