POSITION TITLE: Program Officer, Volunteer Recruitment & Mobilization (standard volunteers)
POSITION LOCATION: Ottawa, ON, Canada
REPORTS TO: Manager, Volunteer Recruitment & Marketing
CONTRACT TERM: 12 months
SALARY LEVEL: PRO1 – $53,000.00- $59,000.00
LANGUAGES REQUIRED: English required, French an asset
APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 9, 2025
EXPECTED START DATE: November 1, 2025
Are you an experienced recruiter with a passion for connecting people to meaningful opportunities? WUSC is currently looking for a Program Officer, Volunteer Recruitment & Mobilization to help mobilize Canadian professionals for international volunteer assignments.
BACKGROUND
WUSC is a Canadian global development organization working to catalyze positive education and economic outcomes for young people. We bring together and collaborate with a diverse network of partners (including students, volunteers, schools, governments, not-for-profits, and businesses) who share this mission. Together, we influence systems change, and foster inclusive, youth-centered solutions that enable young people to thrive and belong. We work with all young people, with a focus on women and displaced populations. WUSC currently operates in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Canada, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $65 million. Our global team includes over 100 staff in Canada and more than 250 staff internationally, implementing a diverse portfolio of development projects in collaboration with numerous multilateral and bilateral donors, and philanthropic foundations.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Manager Volunteer Recruitment & Marketing, the Program and Administrative Officer, Volunteer Recruitment & Mobilization (standard volunteers), is responsible for implementing recruitment strategies, selecting candidates and matching volunteers to meet the needs of global partners and WUSC country offices. The Program Officer supports the administrative requirements for departing, on assignment and returning volunteers, and to provide support in organizing in-person volunteer group debriefing sessions in Ottawa.
Volunteer Assignment Development, Recruitment, Mobilization and Volunteer Management
- Work in partnership with international colleagues to review and validate the volunteer assignment descriptions and to post assignments on the WUSC website
- Screen volunteer applications for eligibility and suitability for specific assignments
- Conduct pre screening calls and interviews with volunteer candidates and continually assess candidates’ alignment with WUSC’s volunteer assessment competencies, WUSC’s values, mission and vision as well as comply with WUSC’s Volunteer Code of Conduct during the pre-departure process
- Share selected applications to WUSC country offices for final approval
- Conduct regular meetings and follow-ups on recruitment progress with international colleagues and with the Manager, Volunteer Recruitment & Marketing.
- Collaborate with the volunteer training team and the volunteer administration team to ensure volunteers are prepared for their assignments and to ensure all necessary administrative and training requirements are completed
- Provide volunteer management support to WUSC Country teams and support to volunteers on assignment as required
- Conduct one-on-one debriefing sessions with volunteers after the completion of the assignment
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date assignment and volunteer data in the Information Management Systems Salesforce .
Other related duties:
- Contribute to the development, implementation and review of team systems, processes and tools
- Provide support and cover to volunteer mobilization team colleagues as needed
- Support with the onboarding of new colleagues
- Undertake specific additional responsibilities, as may be agreed upon with their supervisor
- Integrate gender equality and other inclusion considerations in all volunteer recruitment, mobilization and communications activities.
Work environment
- Promote and maintain an organizational culture that advances gender equality, reduces power abuse and inequalities, and fosters trust, respect and safety.
- Create a working environment is free from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH)
- Ensure high standards of prevention and response measures for SEAH are in place consistent with the WUSC’s safeguarding policies and WUSC’s Code of Conduct.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
Education
- University degree in Human Resources, Social Sciences, International Development, or a related discipline
Experience & Competencies
- At least one year of professional experience in recruitment or volunteer
mobilization - At least one year of professional experience in administration
- Experience with salesforce or any other CRM will be considered an advantage
- Excellent interpersonal skills and capacity to work in partnership with different cultural groups, staff and volunteers
- Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and handle multiple initiatives simultaneously
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Sound judgment
- Curious, enthusiastic and willing to innovate and adapt
- Experience volunteering or working in international cooperation is an asset
- Commitment to gender equality and to the values of international volunteering.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Curious, enthusiastic and willing to innovate and adapt.
Languages
- Complete fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is a strong asset.
WHY WORK WITH WUSC?
Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.
WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.
Here’s some of what you can expect working with us in Canada:
- 35-hour workweek, ability to work flexible hours
- Remote-friendly workplace, with free access to our Ottawa office
- 4 weeks annual leave
- Paid sick days (10) and special leave days (5)
- Extensive health and dental coverage for you and your dependents, 100% covered by us
- Group RRSP contributions, from day 1
- 300$ reimbursement for home office equipment
- Being part of a friendly, caring and enthusiastic team!
APPLICATIONS
WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check.
WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Candidates must be legally allowed to work in Canada. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
