Volunteer Manager

What We Need

Cascade Bicycle Club is seeking an inspiring collaborator, with a passion for volunteer engagement and adult education, to serve as the next Volunteer Manager. The Volunteer Manager will serve this dynamic, well-established, and respected organization by demonstrating a passion for bicycling and for growing the influence and impact of the organization’s mission.

This position will provide program support and oversight of Cascade’s volunteer program for the Rides and Events Department. They will directly supervise one full-time employee - the Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Manager will serve as the primary volunteer coordinator for approximately half of Cascade’s major rides, including the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. The position reports to the Events Director and is a member of the Events Team.

Managing Cascade Event Volunteers is a shared role with a second staff member (Volunteer Coordinator). Together, you will be responsible for cultivating Cascade’s 900-person strong volunteer program. Cascade’s volunteers are an essential part of our work. Recruiting, training, scheduling, retaining and recognizing Cascade’s multi-departmental volunteers will help Cascade achieve our mission.

Who We Are

Cascade Bicycle Club, the nation's largest statewide bicycle nonprofit, is 10,000-members, 56-years old, and 58-staff strong, serving bike riders of all ages and abilities throughout the state of Washington. We teach the joys of bicycling, advocate for safe places to ride, and produce community rides and events. Our signature programs include the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, the Pedaling Relief Project, advocacy for connected trail networks and on-street bike networks in Seattle and across the Puget Sound Region, Free Group Rides, Adult Classes, Let's Go, and the Major Taylor Project.

Washington Bikes promotes the health, safety, environmental, and economic benefits of bicycling. We advocate for people who bike, endorse political candidates, and hold officials accountable. We collaborate with community members and public officials to shape policies and investments in active transportation that create equitable, sustainable, and thriving communities across Washington state.

Our Values:

• Equity - We lead with a racial equity lens to eliminate inequities in community health outcomes and in mobility and transportation access. Bicycles are a tool for liberation.
• Climate Justice & Clean Air - Bicycles are clean, healthy, and an affordable solution to help solve the climate crisis, clean our air, reduce transportation pollution, and create sustainable communities.
• Community - We create opportunities for people to come together by removing barriers and fostering a sense of belonging. Bicycles are an integral part of creating connected, equitable and thriving communities.
• Safety - Safety is a right; we champion spaces that foster physical and emotional well-being.
• Collaboration - We share power, resources, and knowledge as a means to enrich lives and form mutually beneficial partnerships. We celebrate the existing strengths of our partners and participants and seek to be an accessible asset for others.

For a detailed description of the organization and its programs, please visit http://www.cascade.org or http://www.wabikes.org.

What You’ll Bring

Duties and Responsibilities

General Volunteer Management

• Build and maintain a volunteer ladder of engagement
• Cultivate and steward relationships with all Cascade Bicycle Club volunteers
• Lead volunteer orientations, onboarding, and training for the majority of Cascade's diverse volunteer roles and positions
• Manage day-to-day communications with current and potential volunteers, including training, retention, and recognition opportunities
• Expand the eligible volunteer pool while maintaining sustainable and scalable management practices
• Manage and ensure fulfillment of Cascade’s volunteer needs
• Collaborate with Volunteer Coordinator in developing volunteer role details, requirements and responsibilities; including building and managing a strong and diverse team of Volunteer Leaders
• Lead development and implementation of volunteer management and coordination systems and technologies; including keeping Cascade’s volunteer database up to date
• In partnership with the Volunteer Coordinator: facilitate on-site volunteer duties at key events in the Seattle region and in the office
• Staff major Cascade events to oversee volunteers and support overall execution. Track employee support of events
• Support key volunteer programs
• Coordinate on-route Ride Support (Outriders, SAG Drivers, HAM Radio Groups, Operations Center, Route Marking) including recruitment, scheduling, training, and budget oversight
• Recruit, coordinate and train Community Partners (in lieu of staff/volunteers) in support of major rides and events
• Tabling and outreach
• Organizational Support
• Assign and train Cascade staff to support major rides and events as needed

Administration and Team Management

• Direct supervision of the Volunteer Coordinator
• In partnership with Event Producers and Events Director: coach, mentor, and manage day-of-event professional staff and volunteers to ensure the success of major rides and events
• Ensure growth of volunteer programs are scalable, sustainable and in alignment with Cascade’s Strategic Plan
• Collaborate with the Events Director to develop and track volunteer-related program budgets
• Collaborate with Development Department staff to identify volunteer-related philanthropic opportunities
• Manage grant/contract deliverables and alignment of grant/contract outcomes, as needed

Skills and Competencies

• Interest in community, transport, utility, or recreational bicycle riding
• Commitment to undoing institutionalized racism and building cultural competence
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a wide variety of audiences
• Excellent interpersonal and relational skills; enjoyment and comfort in working with diverse communities
• Ability to operate desktop computer, including word processing, and spreadsheet
• Flexible, hard-working, self-starter and ability to work independently; must meet deadlines, be attentive to detail and have the ability to manage multiple projects
• Conflict de-escalation and non-violent communication skills preferred;
• Positive, motivating demeanor while being comfortable with uncertainty
• Embodies a mission-driven attitude with conviction, confidence, and optimism
• Organized and data-driven, able to distill data into informed decisions
• A passion and enthusiasm for running the best programming possible

Qualifications

• Prior people management and/or people development experience; Volunteer coordination experience preferred
• Experience facilitating or leading trainings, orientations, or workshops
• Ability to give and receive feedback, with a desire for personal growth and development
• This position requires a person to be able to lift up to 25 lbs to load and unload event trucks as well as bend, lift, and move
• Project management and/or scheduling experience
• This position requires a valid Washington driver license or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire
• Must complete a WA State background check to work with historically underserved communities
• Experience managing and/or working within departmental budget parameters (preferred)

Job Details

This position is full-time non-exempt and remote-hybrid eligible. Generally, work can be done off-site, provided there is no loss to team collaboration, the needs of the organization, and the essential functions of the position. However, residence in Washington state and the ability to come into the office one to two days a week, with more days required around event days. Some in-person collaboration with volunteers and other stakeholders is essential to succeeding in this role. Some weekend and evening work will be required, especially during the Cascade events season. Typical weekly hours for this position are 40, with occasional evening meetings in the two weeks leading up to a major event (typically 4-6 hours across 2-3 days per week).

Cascade Bicycle Club is on a journey to becoming an anti-racist organization. We strongly encourage applications from people who have historically been underrepresented in the bicycle industry, advocacy, and nonprofit work.

Cascade is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity, racial equity, and inclusion. Cascade does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, work-related injury, covered veteran status, political ideology, genetic information, marital status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other factor that the law protects from employment discrimination. We strive to have a diverse board, staff, and volunteer base that is reflective of th