Volunteer Site Leader (Volunteer Opportunity)

This is an unpaid volunteer opportunity.

Habitat NYC and Westchester is looking for Volunteer Site Leaders (or VSLs) who can manage a small group of volunteers (up to five people) on our work sites as they go through their activities to ensure that they are doing the work correctly and safely. VSLs assist our site supervisors in making sure things run smoothly, so they are critical to the success of our events.

Activities may include basic construction tasks, landscaping, and painting. We are currently working on a gut-and-rehab project on a two-family home in the Crotona Park area of the Bronx.

It is critical that you have experience with (or at least comfort with) managing small groups of people and have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills. We want the volunteers to have a positive experience, so enthusiasm for the work is also key.

Responsibilities:

Greet volunteers.

Assist head Site Leader in the monitoring of volunteer activities.

Assist in the organization of materials on-site.

Assist in maintaining a safe and clean site.

Monitor and ensure volunteers are equipped with proper protective gear, including PPE (if necessary).

Important: Since we rely on VSLs to help manage events, you must be certain that you can attend any events to which you commit.

Hours and qualifications:

The hours are from 8 am to 3 pm.

Events are to take place Monday – Friday, usually during one or two weeks of the month. Exact weeks TBD. We currently do not offer Saturday or Sunday opportunities.

Experience with construction, landscaping, and painting is a plus, but our site staff will train you on the tasks. For construction, in particular, comfort with using common tools is desired.

Your assistance will greatly help the volunteers have a fun, productive, safe, and meaningful day, and help Habitat ensure that the projects are completed competently, on time, and within budget.

To apply:

Please email Charles Frenkel, Volunteer Coordinator, or call 646-779-8857. Let us know the relevant experience you have for the position and please forward your resume.

What you need to know regarding volunteering and COVID-19:

Unless there is a health emergency declared by city, state, or federal government, Habitat for Humanity New York City and Westchester County does not require that volunteers wear masks for disease transmission prevention. Masking is optional and we are not currently checking for vaccination status.

As COVID-19 is still among us, please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance on how to protect yourself and others from COVID transmission for a full treatment of the topic.

The New York State Department of Health, which has implemented the CDC’s guidance, suggests that everyone should:

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before you eat.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue and discard it in a closed container.

Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects

For people who feel sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, it is recommended that a person:

Talk to a healthcare provider

Stay home, away from others.

Volunteers are asked to bring personal containers for their water. This will limit the sharing of items which in turn will reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses as well as reduce plastic waste.

The Habitat site staff may refuse entry to anyone showing signs of being sick or ask persons to leave if they develop signs of sickness during the event.