The award-winning San José Public Library (SJPL) consists of more than 600 employees, a 23% bilingual workforce, and has
24 branch libraries across San José, in addition to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, which is the city's main library jointly operated through a unique partnership with San José State University. SJPL serves a diverse community of roughly one-million residents and currently has nearly
700,000 library members. It annually attracts over
6 million visitors (pre-pandemic) and circulates more than
8 million items per year.
Over the past few years, SJPL has cultivated a 21st century library experience dedicated to public service and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion at the core. In addition to providing library services to the community, SJPL proudly leads two citywide initiatives - the
Education and Digital Literacy Strategy and the
SJ Access digital equity initiative, which has become the number one provider of free public access to Wi-Fi connectivity, tech device lending, and multi-lingual digital literacy programs and support. SJPL is led by Jill Bourne, City Librarian, who was nationally recognized in 2017 as Library Journal's "Librarian of the Year."
SJPL enriches lives by fostering lifelong learning and ensuring that every member of the community has access to a vast array of ideas and information. The library department is a place where people do great work and make a difference in our community. To see examples of SJPL's work and learn more about its impact, visit www.sjpl.org.
Join us to make a difference! SJPL is recruiting a Volunteer Coordinator to administer the library's volunteer programs, organize volunteer activities, and provide support and resources to staff who work directly with volunteers on-site and virtually. The role focuses on drawing upon volunteers' knowledge and motivations to strengthen library events and services. The position will coordinate volunteer assignments and use various tools to develop, evaluate, and promote Library volunteer opportunities.
The Volunteer Coordinator is also responsible for coordinating and leading the library's volunteer recruitment and recognition efforts throughout the year, as well as overseeing the volunteer screening process, including scheduling, and conducting LiveScan background checks.
In addition, the Volunteer Coordinator will serve as a liaison for the San Jose Public Library Foundation , who frequently works with corporate donors to develop group volunteering opportunities at SJPL.
This position will:
- Identify, create, and update training materials and procedural guides for both volunteers and staff.
- Plan, coordinate, and lead volunteer events and community outreach opportunities.
- Develop promotional recruitment and storytelling campaigns to increase the number of volunteers.
- Develop recognition activities for the volunteer program.
- Interview, screen, place, and onboard volunteers.
- Utilize Better Impact, the City's online volunteer management software, to collect and analyze statistics on volunteers, and train and support staff in using these tools.
- Collect and analyze statistics on volunteer programs and trainings
- Assist with developing system-wide volunteer programs.
- Collaborate with partner organizations and stakeholders, such as the San José Public Library Foundation, to facilitate volunteer requests and placements.
Please note: The Library continues to allow hybrid or virtual work as appropriate
Minimum Qualifications Education Experience: Successful completion of high school, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate AND one (1) year experience in coordinating or managing a volunteer program.
Required LicensingPossession of a valid California driver's license.
CompetenciesThe ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:
Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, SharePoint, Canva, Better Impact, Volunteer Match, and Constant Contact.
Collaboration - Develops networks and builds alliances; participates in cross-functional activities to achieve organizational objectives.
Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
Communication Skills - Communicates and listens effectively and responds in a timely, effective, positive, and respectful manner; written reports and correspondence are accurate, complete, current; well organized, legible, concise, neat, and in proper grammatical form.
Coaching - Provides guidance, opportunities, and motivation to develop and strengthen knowledge, skills, and competencies to improve employee's capabilities.
Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
Selection ProcessThe selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews, one of which may include a practical/writing exercise.
You will be prompted to answer the following job-specific questions during the online application process:
- Please describe your experience coordinating or managing a volunteer program or team of people and include the name of the organization(s), your job title(s), and your start and end date.
- Describe a time when you utilized your communication skills to handle difficult or sensitive conversations with volunteers. Please provide an example of the conversation, how you approached it, and the outcome of the conversation.
- Describe your level of proficiency in utilizing common business computer applications including but not limited to: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access (or another database program), Outlook, SharePoint, and Canva. Please provide examples of how you have used each application in your work.
- When working with a group of people, how do you identify their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for professional growth? Please provide an example.
You must answer all job-specific questions in order to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration.
If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact cyrus.castillo@sanjoseca.gov
