What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Volunteer Programs position at Operation Gratitude, Inc.?
About Operation Gratitude
For over 20 years, Operation Gratitude has connected grateful Americans with service members, veterans, and first responders through acts of tangible support. As we enter our next chapter, we are evolving into a national, community-powered organization that empowers grassroots expressions of gratitude across the country.
Our commitment to military and first responder communities remains at the heart of everything we do.
Position Summary
The Director of Volunteer Programs is responsible for designing, building, and leading Operation Gratitude’s national volunteer ecosystem. This is a leadership role for someone who can think strategically, execute operationally - building a scalable, mission-aligned system that engages volunteers across the country. This position is a Remote role and will require some travel (~15%).
The Director will oversee both volunteer engagement and volunteer operations/logistics to ensure we have:
- Clear pathways for individuals, schools, youth groups, and national organizations to participate
- Strong systems that support volunteer activation and fulfillment
- Seamless coordination between engagement and logistics
- A consistent, high-quality volunteer experience nationwide
- An appropriate/meaningful volunteer appreciation program to encourage continuing/repeat volunteerism
Every volunteer - whether a mom engaging her kids at the kitchen table, a teacher leading a classroom project, a scout troop, a regional district leader - should feel like they have a clear and meaningful place in Operation Gratitude. This leader will design and drive that ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities
Volunteer Strategy & Ecosystem Development
- Develop and execute a national volunteer engagement strategy
- Design clear participation pathways for individuals, local groups, regional leaders, and national partners
- Ensure grassroots engagement and structured organizational partnerships operate within one cohesive framework
- Expand volunteer reach while maintaining operational sustainability
Execution & Operational Oversight
- Translate strategy into actionable plans with clear timelines and accountability
- Oversee day-to-day volunteer initiatives across engagement and logistics
- Ensure strong coordination between volunteer engagement and operational fulfillment
- Anticipate and resolve challenges proactively
This role requires ownership - not just ideas, but follow-through.
Team Leadership
- Supervise and support the Manager of Volunteer Operations & Engagement and the Manager of Operations & Logistics
- Clarify priorities and ensure strong performance across functions
- Foster collaboration between engagement and logistics to create a seamless volunteer experience
Systems & Smart Use of Data
- Strengthen systems for onboarding, communication, and volunteer tracking
- Use insights and trends to refine programming and improve effectiveness
- Ensure volunteer information supports long-term growth and engagement
We value thoughtful, data-informed decision-making - without creating unnecessary complexity.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with all other departments to align volunteer engagement with broader organizational goals
- Support pathways that deepen volunteer connection to the mission
Qualifications
- 7 years of experience in nonprofit volunteer management or community engagement
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education plus experience
- Demonstrated success leading teams and scaling programs
- Strong operational mindset and execution skills
- Experience engaging both grassroots volunteers and structured partner organizations
- Clear communicator with strong leadership presence
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Success in Year One
- A clearly defined, cohesive national volunteer ecosystem
- Strong alignment between engagement and logistics
- Simplified, accessible participation pathways
- Improved coordination across volunteer segments
- A volunteer program that feels integrated, scalable, and mission-aligned