Outreach & Operations Specialist- Friendship Project

The Administrative Assistant is responsible for performing all administrative and daily office functions for the Facilities department. This position provides administrative support to all team members and has reporting functions across the department.

At Advocates, we provide comprehensive services for people facing developmental, mental health, or other life challenges.

We're a nonprofit, mission-driven organization with a person-centered approach, empowering the individuals we support to make choices, build independence, and live full, meaningful lives.

Our work is rooted in respect, compassion, and inclusion, and we envision a world where individual differences are appreciated and celebrated.

At Advocates, we value the ideas, experiences, and contributions of every employee and are committed to fostering a supportive, welcoming culture where people can learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact.

• Develop and implement outreach strategies to recruit new Friendship Project volunteers.
• Build relationships with community organizations, schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, colleges, and other potential sources of volunteers.
• Represent Friendship Project at community events, outreach opportunities, and organizational meetings.
• Respond to prospective volunteer inquiries and help individuals understand Friendship Project’s mission and volunteer opportunities.
• Assist with volunteer onboarding, orientation, communication, and ongoing engagement.
• Maintain regular communication with volunteers and help foster a welcoming and connected volunteer community.
• Identify opportunities to recognize, appreciate, and retain volunteers.

• Assist with identifying appropriate volunteer-participant matches based on interests, availability, personality, and individual needs.
• Maintain communication with participants and volunteers throughout the matching process.
• When appropriate and within the scope of the position, provide temporary companionship or participate in activities with Friendship Project participants while a suitable ongoing volunteer is recruited.
• Develop trusting, respectful relationships with participants while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Communicate participant or volunteer concerns to the appropriate Friendship Project staff and recognize when additional support or professional intervention may be appropriate.

• Increase awareness of Friendship Project and its mission throughout the community.
• Develop and maintain relationships with organizations and individuals who may benefit from or support Friendship Project.
• Identify new opportunities for collaboration, partnership, volunteer recruitment, and community engagement.
• Serve as an enthusiastic ambassador for Friendship Project within the community.
• Assist with outreach materials, presentations, communications, and other initiatives designed to increase participation and visibility.

• Plan, coordinate, and support Friendship Project social events, volunteer gatherings, and community activities.
• Assist with identifying event ideas that promote connection, belonging, and meaningful social engagement.
• Coordinate logistics including scheduling, communication, registration, volunteers, materials, and follow-up.
• Attend and actively participate with attendees during Friendship Project events and activities as needed.
• Gather feedback from participants and volunteers to help strengthen future programming.

• Provide day-to-day administrative and operational support to the Friendship Project team.
• Maintain accurate volunteer and participant information, outreach records, event details, and other program documentation.
• Assist with scheduling, correspondence, follow-up, data collection, and reporting.
• Track volunteer recruitment and engagement activities and help monitor program outreach efforts.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, communication, and overall program efficiency.

• Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant professional experience in human services, community outreach, communications, nonprofit management, business, education, or a related field.
• Experience in outreach, recruitment, volunteer coordination, community engagement, sales, relationship management, or program operations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to connect authentically with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with community partners, volunteers, participants, and colleagues.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain appropriate boundaries, and handle sensitive situations with discretion.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively.
• Flexible, creative, resourceful, and willing to take on a variety of responsibilities as program needs evolve.
• Commitment to the mission of Friendship Project and to promoting social connection, belonging, and community inclusion.

• Familiarity with outreach and community partnership development.
• Experience planning community events or group activities.
• Experience working in a nonprofit, human services, mental health, education, or community-based setting.
• Experience recruiting, coordinating, or working with volunteers.
• Education or experience in counseling, psychology, social work, human services, or a related field.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing loneliness, social isolation, or barriers to community participation.

Advocates is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels respected and valued. Advocates fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and promotes diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, partnered status, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience.