Community Engagement Coordinator

Twelve years ago, one fight for one life became a movement. When chef Ryan Hidinger was diagnosed with stage-four cancer in 2012, Atlanta’s restaurant community rallied with fundraisers, meals, and fierce generosity. That outpouring sparked Giving Kitchen: a belief that no one in food service should face crisis alone. Today, we stand with food service workers—servers, line cooks, bartenders, dishwashers, and hosts—providing emergency financial assistance and a Stability Network of resources. We’ve served over 40,000 workers and awarded more than $17 million in assistance, earning recognition from the James Beard Foundation, Fast Company, and Charity Navigator. We’re building a national movement, and volunteers are its backbone.

About The Role

Volunteers extend our reach into every community we serve. As Giving Kitchen grows into a national movement, we need a leader to build the infrastructure to support that growth—starting with a deep understanding of our current systems and a clear vision for the future. This role is designed to grow with us. In your first year, you’ll learn our existing event volunteer systems, deploy them for two major events, and help launch the GK Advocate program. Beginning in 2027, you’ll evolve into building and scaling a national volunteer program, designing the pathways and partnerships to carry our mission further.

Responsibilities

• Year One: Learn, Launch & Lay the Foundation
  • Learn our existing event volunteer systems, processes, and documentation; identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Plan and execute volunteer deployment for two major Giving Kitchen events, ensuring a seamless experience.
  • Partner with the Community Engagement Manager to build and launch the GK Advocate program, including role design, recruitment, onboarding, and activation.
  • Evaluate and implement new volunteer management platforms and tools to support long-term growth.
  • Document learnings, gaps, and recommendations to inform the national volunteer strategy starting in 2027.
• 2027 & Beyond: Build & Scale the National Volunteer Program
  • Design a national volunteer program strategy supporting expansion into new markets while strengthening our Atlanta base.
  • Develop scalable recruitment, onboarding, and training systems for consistent deployment across regions.
  • Create tiered volunteer pathways (one-time, recurring, and leadership roles) to grow engagement over time.
  • Establish standardized policies, role descriptions, and best practices to maintain quality and safety.
  • Build volunteer leadership roles and a pipeline for greater responsibility.
• Recruit, Train & Engage Volunteers
  • Source and recruit volunteers through community partnerships, industry relationships, corporate groups, and digital outreach.
  • Develop and deliver onboarding and training content to prepare volunteers to represent Giving Kitchen.
  • Design recognition and appreciation practices aligned with our values to retain volunteers.
• Coordinate Volunteer Operations
  • Own the volunteer scheduling and deployment process for events and program needs.
  • Maintain accurate volunteer records, hours, and impact data using volunteer management and CRM systems.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for volunteers, addressing questions and issues with warmth and responsiveness.
  • Coordinate logistics for volunteer-supported events, including supplies, site readiness, and day-of communication.
• Partner Across the Organization
  • Work closely with Programs and Client Services to align volunteer needs with direct service work.
  • Collaborate with the Community Engagement Manager on volunteer engagement tied to the GK Advocate program and community partnerships.
  • Support Development on volunteer engagement for fundraising events and donor relationships.
  • Assist regional staff and partners to ensure volunteer programming is consistent and locally relevant as we expand nationally.
• Measure & Report Impact
  • Track volunteer hours, retention, satisfaction, and program impact; translate data into actionable insights.
  • Regularly evaluate and refine volunteer processes based on feedback and outcomes.
  • Provide volunteer program updates and metrics for board materials, grant reports, and organizational dashboards.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience coordinating or managing a volunteer program, event staffing operation, or community engagement initiative.
• Demonstrated success learning, operating, and improving existing volunteer or event systems—not just building from scratch.
• Experience supporting or launching a new program or initiative in partnership with a cross-functional team.
• Familiarity with volunteer management software, CRM platforms, or partnership platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Galaxy Digital); experience evaluating and implementing new tools is a plus.
• Experience working with nonprofit programs, community partnerships, or mission-driven organizations preferred.
• Comfort with regular travel to support volunteer activity in regional and national markets.

Skills

• A relationship builder who connects easily with people from all backgrounds and makes everyone feel welcome.
• A systems thinker who can operate within existing structures, identify improvements, and know when to build something new.
• A clear, warm communicator who can train, motivate, and coordinate volunteers with patience and enthusiasm.
• An organized project manager who can juggle multiple events, timelines, and volunteer groups without dropping details.
• A curious, adaptive learner energized by new platforms, tools, and ways of working.

Qualifications

You believe volunteers are partners in the mission, not free labor, and treat them accordingly. You’re equally comfortable running someone else’s playbook and eventually writing your own. You learn what exists, make it better, and build toward what comes next—without losing patience for the in-between. You lead with warmth and honesty, earning trust through reliability. You’re energized by growth and excited to build something national and lasting.

Benefits

• Starting salary range of $55,000 - $62,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Very generous paid time off and holidays.
• Parental leave.
• Hybrid flexibility.
• Real budget for professional development and coaching.

Beyond benefits, you’ll join a team that values thoughtfulness, celebration, and showing up as your whole self. You’ll help build the volunteer network that powers our movement, working at a fast-growing, nationally recognized nonprofit where your impact touches thousands of food service workers in crisis every day.