Job Description

Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator


Company: John Howard Society of Victoria


Location: In Person, Victoria, BC


Job Type: Full-time, Permanent


Work hours: 40 hour per week, Mon - Fri, 8 am to 4:30 pm


Salary: $32.45 - $34.42 per hour


Benefits: Employee Engagement Activities, Organization Events, Dental care, Disability insurance, Employee assistance program, Extended health care, Life insurance, Paid time off, RRSP match

Who We Are:

John Howard Society of Victoria is a fast paced growing, dynamic and innovative social service organization that strives to create safe, healthy, and inclusive communities for all. Our goal is to help individuals achieve greater independence by providing support with housing, life-skills, education, employment, and community-based services.


At John Howard Society of Victoria we come from various backgrounds and share a common goal of wanting to make things better in our community, for our community. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that adapts to your needs.

Our Vision, Mission, Goals, and Values:

Our Vision: A safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all Our Mission: We contribute to a safer, stronger and more sustainable communities by supporting people to achieve greater independence Our Goals:

+ Service Excellence: Improve the quality of life of the people we service through more relevant, accessible and sustainable services.
+ Organizational Sustainability: Realize a resilient operational and governance model that supports JHSV to consistently serve the end-to-end client journey.
+ Capacity: Increase our capacity to work effectively and efficiently as a team.
Our Values:

+ Our Service Commitments (How we provide services to clients) - Dignity, Advocacy, Empowerment
+ Team Values (How we work together) - Collaboration, Accountability, Resiliency

What We Offer:

Competitive Benefits: Enjoy paid vacation, sick and personal time, health and dental plans, long-term disability, critical illness and RRSP Supportive Environment: Our Employee Assistance Program and professional development opportunities are designed to help you succeed both personally and professionally. We invest in our employees' growth through training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities. Engaging Culture: Be part of a friendly team that values your input! With numerous employee engagements, you can make your voice heard and contribute to meaningful change for our clients and our community. Employee Engagement: We often organize team and social gatherings to strengthen relationships and foster camaraderie to create a supportive network among colleagues. Impactful Work: Employees at JHS Victoria are driven by a shared mission to make a positive difference in the community. Engaging in meaningful work enhances job satisfaction and connects team members to a greater purpose.

About the Program:

Community Adult Mentorship and Support (CAMS) program offers one-on-one mentorship and practical support to adults who have experienced incarceration and are transitioning back into the community while serving their sentence. Through volunteer-based mentoring and community engagement, CAMS helps participants build stability, strengthen life skills, and foster pro-social connections. The program emphasizes reintegration, harm reduction, and person-centered support, with the goal of empowering participants to lead safer, healthier, and more connected lives.

Position Summary:

The Position reports to Sr. Program Manager


We are seeking a dedicated Coordinator for the Vancouver Island Community Corrections Volunteer Program, focusing on the Community Adult Mentoring and Support project. This role involves recruiting and overseeing volunteers to provide 1-on-1 mentorship and facilitate community-building activities for offenders.


The position will serve a diverse clientele, including neurodiverse offenders with mental health challenges and neurotypical offenders. Candidates should be prepared to work with individuals from various backgrounds, including differing genders and cultural histories. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills are essential for fostering positive relationships and ensuring effective program delivery. This is an in-person role with no opportunity to work-from home.

What You'll Be Doing:

Volunteer Recruitment and Management (25%)

Plan and deliver information sessions in collaboration with community agencies, educational institutions, and partner organizations within Vancouver Island. Maintain and regularly update volunteer postings across digital platforms, job boards, and community networks. Conduct thorough screening of potential volunteers through structured interviews and reference checks, ensuring mandatory security clearance is coordinated, and briefing certificates are signed and obtained prior to acceptance. Actively build and diversify a broad recruitment base, including local service groups, faith communities, cultural associations, and educational institutions. Broaden the volunteer base to reflect the cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity of local communities and the offender population. Build and maintain relationships with volunteer coordinators at colleges, universities, and local service groups to support ongoing recruitment efforts and visibility for the CAMS program. Develop and implement a targeted recruitment and engagement strategy to attract, retain, and support a diverse pool of volunteers aligned with the program's goals. Maintain ongoing engagement with volunteers through regular communication, check-ins, recognition efforts, and opportunities for feedback to strengthen commitment and retention. Attend local volunteer fairs, community events, and educational institution career days to promote CAMS and recruit volunteers.

Volunteer Training and Support (20%)

Recruit, screen, train, supervise, and support approximately 50 CAMS program volunteers annually, ensuring alignment with the unique needs of the Community Adult Mentoring and Support (CAMS) initiative. Ensure all volunteer applications are complete and maintain up-to-date, confidential records of volunteer activities, hours, and matched clients. Schedule and facilitate mandatory training, including JHS organization specific training, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) training and orientation; covering CAMS-specific roles, responsibilities, boundaries, safety protocols, and applicable legislation. Ensure new volunteers complete all required orientation and training before being matched with participants, and support their attendance at ongoing professional development and mentorship-specific training sessions. Identify and coordinate additional training opportunities in collaboration with Victoria Parole employees and other relevant professionals. Conduct regular check-ins with volunteers to monitor well-being, address concerns, and provide coaching or debriefing as needed. Evaluate training effectiveness through volunteer feedback, session evaluations, and ongoing skill development tracking.

Client Support (15%)

Conduct intake and needs assessments with referred clients to determine risks, strengths, and support goals. Develop individualized service plans in collaboration with each client, outlining short- and long-term objectives and appropriate community resources. Provide ongoing monthly check-ins with clients to monitor progress, address emerging needs, and adjust service plans as necessary. Maintain regular communication with community partners, parole officers, and other support systems to ensure wraparound services are in place. Connect clients with appropriate volunteer mentors, internal programming, or external services based on identified needs. Maintain accurate and confidential case notes and records in alignment with agency and CSC standards. Facilitate client re-engagement where participation lapses, supporting consistent access to mentorship and community connection.

Coordination and Community Engagement (15%)

Attend CSC-sponsored volunteer coordinator meetings as scheduled, including CCIB, and represent the CAMS program in local interagency and justice-focused working groups. Collaborate closely with the Case Management Team to ensure appropriate services for CAMS participants, particularly those with complex mental health or reintegration needs. Coordinate appropriate matches between identified offenders and CAMS volunteers, ensuring alignment with both volunteer strengths and participant needs.. Conduct regular visits to William Head Institution and other CSC institutions to provide information about CAMS, build relationships with potential participants, and support reintegration planning. Organize quarterly volunteer support meetings and an annual volunteer recognition event, while developing and coordinating 2-3 ongoing engagement projects annually to enhance the CAMS experience for both volunteers and participants. Coordinate with all Community Residential Facilities (CRFs) in Victoria to identify emerging needs among residents, and co-develop meaningful opportunities for volunteer involvement based on those needs. Support community education about the CAMS program by presenting to local partners and promoting community involvement in reintegration. Collaborate with volunteers to co-design initiatives that reflect their skills and interests while meeting program goals.

Reporting (25%)

Prepare a detailed monthly timesheet reports, including a detailed breakdown of tasks performed throughout the day, along with a comprehensive monthly narrative report for submission to funders. Prepare an internal monthly report including but not limited to; the number of direct service hours, number of volunteers, 1:1 matches, offenders contacted/interested, hours of volunteer services, activity highlights etc. Collect, maintain, and analyze comprehensive data related to volunteer recruitment, training, retention, and matches, ensuring accuracy and timely updates in program databases. Track and report on the number and demographics of offenders engaged, matched with volunteers, including specific reporting on participants with mental health or other complex needs. Document and report volunteer hours and service activities, including direct contact time, training participation, and project involvement. Prepare detailed quarterly and annual reports for funders, program leadership, and stakeholders, including both quantitative metrics and narrative summaries that highlight program activities, outcomes, and success stories. Maintain accurate timesheets and activity logs for all program staff and volunteers, supporting operational transparency and payroll processes. Utilize data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities, and recommend program enhancements based on evaluation findings and stakeholder feedback. Collect and analyze regular feedback from volunteers and clients to inform continuous program improvement and enhance volunteer satisfaction and participant outcomes. Maintain accurate and up-to-date databases for John Howard Society and Correctional Service Canada, including the volunteer master list, recruitment and onboarding records, and all required documentation to ensure compliance and ease of reporting.

Perform other duties and projects as required and not limited to the responsibilities as mentioned.

The assigned percentage of job responsibilities may vary based on organizational and operational priorities.*

What We're Looking For:

Qualifications:

Post-Secondary education (Criminology, Social Services, or related field). Excellent written and oral communication, dispute resolution and problem-solving skills. Experience working in the Human Resource Management field considered an asset. At least 1 year experience working in Volunteer/People Recruitment, Training and Management. Proven experience working with marginalized populations. Proven experience working with adult individuals with mental health issues. Proven experience working directly with offenders in a community environment. Combination of education and experience will be considered. Minimum 2 years' experience in a leadership role. Must have knowledge of theory, principles, and best practices in the areas of volunteerism Demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships with a range of different individuals Proficient in verbal and written English at a professional level, with excellent communication, organization and interpersonal abilities. High proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, SharePoint) and case management systems. Criminal Record Check and Enhanced Security Clearance. Valid Class 5 Driver's License and access to a reliable vehicle, insured for business up to $5,000,000 for liability, and which can be used to transport clients. Travel will be required within the CRD. Emergency First Aid certification is an asset. Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information effectively and possess strong integrity.

Skills and Competencies:

Ability to understand the dynamics of offender's behavior and assess their needs and risks, managing it as part of the case management process. Experience working with a range of different individuals and groups in the community, and to be sensitive to and understanding of their social realities, including culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, and lifestyle Well-developed interpersonal communication, assessment, and conflict management skills

Who You Are:

Self-Motivated: Driven to achieve goals independently. Team-Oriented: Works collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers. Adaptable: Flexible in adjusting to changing circumstances and needs. Empathetic: Understanding and supportive towards marginalized populations. Resourceful: Creative in developing solutions and new initiatives. Detail-Oriented: Focused on accuracy and thoroughness in all work. Committed: Dedicated to improving community services and supporting individuals.

Creating Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities

at JHS Victoria:

At John Howard Society of Victoria, we proudly embrace the rich diversity of the communities we serve, and we're excited to invite applicants from all backgrounds to join our team! We understand that everyone's journey is different, and we are committed to providing the support needed to ensure equal opportunities for success throughout the hiring process. John Howard Society of Victoria will provide reasonable accommodation upon request. Please email hr@jhsvic.ca if you have a need for any accommodation. We're here to help!

Ready to Make a Positive Impact?

If you're passionate about making a positive impact in people's lives and meet the qualifications for this role, we'd love to hear from you!


Please submit your application through our portal. Submission deadline is August 15, 2025 and we'll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. So don't wait--apply today and take the next step in your journey with us!