Position Description

Position Title:Volunteer Field Coordinator

Reports to:Friends Program Manager

Date:July 2012

Summary: The Volunteer Field Coordinator’s (VFC) principal responsibility is to plan and implement “walk-up” and service group volunteer trail improvement projects within Virgin Islands National Park. The VFC coordinates projects, organizes group stays, oversees field work, maintains tools, and oversees the use of the volunteer base camp.The VFC supervises the volunteers and reports directly to the Friends’ Program Manager and VINP’s Trails Supervisor.

Principal Responsibilities:

1. Planning

  • Identify individual projects and prepare proposals for approval by VINP officials (Chief of Resource Management and Trails Supervisor)
  • Prepare seasonal and monthly work plans for approval by VINP officials (as above)
  • Recruitvolunteer groups that would be willing to participate in the program.
  • Coordinate with service group leaders on the details of their group’s trips and act as liaison between group leaders and the NPS.

2. Field Coordination

  • Supervise actual work in the field, ensuring that all field work is done with safety as a primary concern.
  • Provide technical guidance to volunteers.
  • Transport volunteers to/from work sites
  • Ensure that volunteers are able to use tools safely.
  • Ensure adequate tool availability and maintenance.
  • Oversee management of tool trailer and its organization/maintenance.
  • Inspect, sharpen, and put requests in for new tools to be purchased

3. Volunteer Base CampManagement/Organization

  • Ensure that the base camp is kept orderly and well-maintained
  • Assign tents to volunteers/group leaders
  • Orient volunteers, or group leaders, to camp facilities, routines, rules and responsibilities
  • Set-up and break down camp, as necessary
  • Liaise with Cinnamon Bay Campground general manager and maintenance supervisorand security officer.

4. Administrative

  • Respond to general correspondence and requests for information about volunteer programs and planning group trips.
  • Apply online for group visits. (This often needs to be done a season/year in advance.)
  • Solicit donations from groups and grant opportunities.
  • Maintain volunteer database and file participant waivers.

5. Other Duties

  • May be asked to write an article for the Friends Tidings newsletter.
  • Participate in Friends organizational planning
  • Provide assistance and information to service groups so they can manage their free time and work time efficiently to experience the Island.

Professional Requirements:

  • Extensive trail repair and maintenanceexperience/training including Highline/slack line operation
  • Volunteer management or coordination experience
  • First aid certification and outdoor survival skills.
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Knowledge of Virgin Islands National Park and St. John’s history, culture and ecology is preferred. If not, the candidate should be willing to invest the time necessary to study up on and tour historic sites and flora to be versed on them to answer questions of volunteers.

All interested Parties should send resumes to Audrey Penn: