Volunteer Coordinator in Leominster, Massachusetts at GAAMHA

Volunteer Coordinator (VC)

Ripple Effect – Leominster Peer Recovery Support Center (PRSC)
Redefining Community Support through Compassion, Accountability, and Real Impact

Position Overview

At GAAMHA, we believe recovery grows stronger when people are connected, supported, and given meaningful opportunities to lead. Ripple Effect PRSC exists to break down barriers to recovery by nurturing a safe and inclusive environment where individuals can access vital resources and thrive. Its vision is to inspire hope, empower recovery, and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout the community.

As the Volunteer Coordinator (VC) at Ripple Effect – Leominster PRSC, you will help build engagement, leadership, and community within the center by recruiting, supporting, training, scheduling, and developing volunteers and peer leaders from the PRSC member community.

This role is central to creating a peer-led environment where members are encouraged to use their strengths, lived experience, and recovery journeys to support others. You will work closely with members interested in volunteer and peer leadership opportunities, helping them identify goals, navigate barriers, and grow into meaningful roles within the center.

The VC also administers the volunteer stipend program, working with the Program Director and GAAMHA’s business office to ensure proper distribution, documentation, and reporting of stipends.

This role is ideal for someone who believes in the power of peer leadership, understands multiple pathways to recovery, and can balance compassion, accountability, organization, and professional follow-through.

Key Responsibilities

Volunteer & Peer Leadership Development

Recruit, welcome, train, schedule, supervise, and retain Ripple Effect PRSC volunteers and peer leaders from the member community.

Build strong relationships with members who are interested in volunteering, peer leadership, or taking a more active role in the center.

Help volunteers and peer leaders identify personal goals, leadership interests, and barriers to growth, then develop practical plans to support progress.

Promote a peer-led culture by encouraging members and volunteers to participate in decisions that impact the development and operation of Ripple Effect PRSC. Ripple Effect’s Code of Conduct identifies this as the Peer Participatory Process.

Provide feedback, encouragement, coaching, and guidance to volunteers and peer leaders in a way that supports confidence, accountability, recovery, and personal development.

Supervise the Peer Leader Supervisor by offering regular feedback, direction, and support to promote success in the role.

Peer Recovery Support & Member Engagement

Provide one-on-one recovery coaching services to members as needed.

Use a strengths-based, person-centered, and nonjudgmental approach that honors multiple pathways to recovery.

Offer hope, encouragement, and practical support while respecting member autonomy, self-determination, boundaries, and confidentiality.

Help members connect with center activities, community resources, volunteer opportunities, and other supports that align with their needs and goals.

Model respectful communication, healthy boundaries, and recovery-oriented conduct in all interactions with members, volunteers, staff, and visitors.

Programming, Activities & Community Building

Work with members, volunteers, peer leaders, the Assistant Program Director, and the Program Director to create weekly and monthly activity schedules selected by the member community.

Support the planning, coordination, and facilitation of groups, activities, events, and outings that promote recovery, wellness, connection, and community participation.

Coordinate and schedule member activities and outings with the Assistant Program Director and provide transportation and oversight as assigned.

Help maintain a welcoming, respectful, substance-free, and recovery-oriented environment for all members and visitors. Ripple Effect’s Code of Conduct emphasizes respect for boundaries, respectful communication, confidentiality, and maintaining a substance-free environment.

Stipend Program Administration

Manage the volunteer stipend program in coordination with the Program Director and GAAMHA’s business office.

Ensure stipend information is accurate, complete, and submitted in a timely manner.

Maintain organized documentation related to volunteer participation, stipend eligibility, distribution, and reporting.

Communicate clearly with volunteers, peer leaders, program staff, and administrative staff regarding stipend expectations and procedures.

Support accountability and consistency in the stipend process while maintaining professionalism and respect for all participants.

Safety, Confidentiality & Professional Standards

Represent GAAMHA and Ripple Effect PRSC in the community through outreach, networking, events, and partnerships as directed.

Conduct yourself in a manner that reflects GAAMHA’s values, Ripple Effect’s mission, and the professional standards of the agency.

Maintain appropriate boundaries and uphold confidentiality consistent with GAAMHA and Ripple Effect policies. Ripple Effect’s confidentiality policy states that member privacy, dignity, and anonymity are to be protected by all lawful and reasonable efforts and applies to staff, volunteers, interns, peer leaders, and consultants.

Use trauma-informed communication and de-escalation strategies when needed, following PRSC procedures.

Attend required meetings, supervision, and mandatory trainings.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director.

Required Qualifications

Must be a person in long-term recovery, defined as one year or more, from a substance use disorder.

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Experience managing schedules, volunteers, events, activities, groups, or programming in a busy environment.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with warmth, clarity, respect, and professionalism.

Ability to build relationships and foster a sense of community among diverse groups of people.

Commitment to recovery principles, including peer support, multiple pathways, dignity, respect, self-determination, and community connection.

Strong organizational skills and ability to follow through on documentation, scheduling, communication, and administrative responsibilities.

Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office, email, social media, web-based platforms, and tools used for scheduling, communication, outreach, and documentation.

Valid driver’s license required.

Personal mobile phone required.

Preferred Qualifications

Recovery Coach training/certification or willingness to complete.

Experience working or volunteering in a Peer Recovery Support Center, recovery community organization, behavioral health setting, or community-based program.

Experience supervising, coaching, mentoring, or supporting volunteers or peer leaders.

Bilingual or multilingual abilities.

Supervision

Given: Supervision of volunteers, peer leaders, and the Peer Leader Supervisor.
Received: Supervision from the Program Director.

Why Join GAAMHA?

When you join GAAMHA, you join a community built on innovation, dignity, accountability, and real impact. We invest in our team through training, supportive supervision, and opportunities to grow—because when our staff thrives, our community thrives.

At Ripple Effect PRSC, your leadership helps create the conditions for members to grow, give back, and become leaders in their own recovery community. Your ability to organize, encourage, guide, and support volunteers can help strengthen the entire center.

Together, we’re redefining community support so everyone can access the help they deserve.