Volunteer Assistant

HIRING RANGE: $19.50 - $21.00 Hourly 

GENERAL PURPOSE: Responsible for starting and managing a new Park Stewards program to include recruiting, scheduling, and supporting volunteers and volunteer groups, managing records and program operations, organizing supplies, setting up training sessions, tracking park care activities led by volunteers, and providing on-site support at times.  

Wheat Ridge was founded during the 1859 Gold Rush as a rest stop for miners and later named for its golden wheat fields. As unsuccessful miners turned to farming, the area thrived with orchards, vegetable fields, and later, greenhouses, earning the title “Carnation City.” Incorporated in 1969, Wheat Ridge now offers a central location with easy access to Denver and the Rocky Mountains. It operates as a home-rule city with a council-manager government, where the elected council sets policy, and the manager oversees daily operations and budgeting. 
 

CORE VALUES: The City of Wheat Ridge is committed to excellence and ACTION!: 

• Accountability: Employees take responsibility for their actions, decisions, and recommendations and are accountable to each other and the community. 

• Change: Adapts to changing organizational needs, conditions, and work responsibilities. 

• Teamwork: Employees value teamwork as a collaborative effort, with each person contributing unique skills, knowledge, and training to achieve common goals. 

• Integrity: Employees uphold the highest ethical standards, recognize the importance of public and customer trust and adhere to the values of the organization. 

• Opportunity: Employees are empowered to grow professionally, develop best practices, and seek challenges to advance the City. 

• NOW!: Employees are proactive, timely, and efficient in responding to the needs of the organization and the community – NOW!  

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Launch and manage a new Parks Stewards program by recruiting community members, organizing training sessions, and tracking volunteer-led park care activities. 

• Recruit and onboard volunteers by posting volunteer openings, collaborating with marketing staff, answering basic questions from applicants and collecting contact information. 

• Schedule volunteers by creating and updating work calendars for necessary tasks and park needs. 

• Prepare volunteer materials, equipment and other necessary items; organize related equipment; inspect equipment to ensure safety and cleanliness; may be required to set up and break down materials used for projects.  

• Facilitate volunteer orientations and trainings, including setting up tables and chairs, training materials, project supplies, cleaning of event location, welcoming volunteers and conducting the trainings and education. 

• Greet volunteers, monitor safety and provide customer service and supervision. 

• Provide a safe and fun environment in which volunteers feel comfortable. 

• Gather feedback from volunteers to enhance the volunteer program and overall parks and recreation operations.  

• Actively participate in volunteer activities on occasion.  

• Develop positive relations with volunteers and community and provide information concerning parks, facilities and program(s).  

• Maintain a variety of records, including volunteer waivers and registrations, volunteer evaluations, grant documentation and receipts. 

• Perform related work as required and assigned.  

• Drives city-owned vehicles or passenger vans as assigned to and from destinations. Operates assigned motor vehicles safely and obeys all applicable traffic laws. 

• Conducts pre and post trip inspections of assigned vehicles and completes a safety checklist. Reports any vehicle performance or maintenance issues to supervisor. Ensures vehicles are ready for use including, but not limited to, obtaining keys, filling with gas, and cleaning vehicle upon return.   

Qualifications

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: 
Gives oversight to assigned volunteers and assists in evaluation and disciplinary processes. 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Applicants must be 18 years or older.   

• American Red Cross Infant/Child/Adult CPR, AED, First Aid, Standard Precautions  

• Handle confidential information related to volunteers, vendors and other team members.  

• Ability to drive effectively during daytime and nighttime hours, and to read and follow a road map. 

• Computer literacy, including fundamental experience with email, web browsing, and Microsoft Office. 

HOURS OF WORK, LOCATION, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: This is a part-time, grant funded, term-limited position, currently funded through 3/31/2028, averaging 15-20 hours per week, including mornings, evenings and weekends to support the Park Stewards program and other volunteer events. This position will require reliable transportation and the ability to get to various park locations as needed, as well as to go shopping for materials when needed.  Performed in an indoor or outdoor setting where team member may be subject to noise and distraction; requires extended periods of hearing and speaking in a loud voice for up to an hour at a time; requires public relations skills in handling concerns and complaints; entails working closely with others and working with little to no supervision; requires excellent organizational/time management skills.  Requires muscular exertion and/or physical strain and frequent concentration on an activity where the flow of work is intermittent or the operation involves little attention or checking; requires ability to use walk, hands to fingers, reach, climb, bend, stoop, crouch and occasionally lift objects weighing less than 24 lbs.     

The City of Wheat Ridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, marital status or any other applicable characteristics protected by law, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification. The City of Wheat Ridge will consider reasonable accommodation for employment to qualified applicants upon request to the Human Resources Office. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position.