VOLUNTEER MENTORSHIP COORDINATOR - 80495

Annual Salary: $61,200.00 - $91,752.00

This position requires a criminal background check.

About the Department

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is to operate safe and secure prisons and provide effective community supervision in order to enhance public safety. The department manages and operates or oversees 14 state prisons housing approximately 21,000 offenders. In addition, the department supervises some 79,000 offenders on probation, parole, or community correction and operates six Day Reporting/Community Resource Centers across the state. The department is fully accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA).

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Religious and Volunteer Services, the Volunteer Mentor Coordinator will serve as the liaison between the Governor’s Faith Based and Community Initiative (GFBCI) Mentors and the TDOC facility staff and inmate "Mentees" who have expressed a desire to be matched with a Mentor. They will play a vital role in supporting the reentry and rehabilitation process for incarcerated individuals by facilitating meaningful mentorship connections. This role involves training and coordinating mentors from community-based (CBO) and faith-based (FBO) organizations, while also assisting with recruiting mentees from within the prison (TDOC) population. The coordinator will manage the logistics of mentorship visits and communications, ensuring compliance with prison policies and procedures. They will also be responsible for ensuring the Volunteer initiatives (faith-based and other group events) are being properly managed and tracked.

Responsibilities

• Mentor Engagement & Volunteer Support
  • Provide ongoing support and communication with Mentors and Mentees to foster long-term engagement and program success.
  • Guide and train the Mentors, set expectations for what success looks like.
  • Serve as liaison/conduit between Mentors and Prison staff.
  • Collaborate with Reentry Specialists to fill any gaps Mentor uncovers.
  • Facilitate Mentor group meetings to share best practices and increase engagement.
  • Provide support to the volunteer coordinators and Chaplains.
• Mentee Recruitment
  • Work with facility staff to identify anyone releasing within 24 months or less.
  • Conduct outreach to the identified individuals, explain the benefits of having a Mentor, and encourage participation.
  • Interview potential mentees to understand their goals, needs, and challenges to facilitate better mentor-mentee matches.
  • Conduct Mentor-Mentee "Meet-ups" and create ideal pairings.
• Logistical Coordination
  • Coordinate visitation schedules, ensuring compliance with policies and available time slots for mentorship meetings.
  • Organize mentor-mentee pairings based on shared interests, goals, and compatibility.
  • Maintain accurate records of mentor-mentee interactions, track progress, and provide updates to Director of Religious & Volunteer Services, GFBCI staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
  • Serve as the point of contact for Mentors and Prison staff, ensuring the program adheres to institutional rules and regulations regarding visitation, communication, and security.
• Program Evaluation and Reporting
  • Monitor the effectiveness of mentorship pairings and gather feedback from both mentors and mentees to assess the program's impact.
  • Provide regular updates and monthly reports to the Director of Religious & Volunteer Services and Volunteer Mentorship Initiative Director (VMI), including success stories, challenges, and recommendations for program improvement.
  • Identify and address any issues or conflicts that arise between mentors and mentees.

Requirements

• Experience in volunteer management, mentorship programs, or community outreach (preferably within criminal justice or reentry services).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse groups and build relationships.