Join our team!

Position: Leadership & Volunteer Programs Manager

Department: Development

Office Location: New York, NY (Headquarters)

Work Type Designation: Hybrid; expected to work from the office when necessary and/or for team functions

Reports to: Director of Leadership Programs

Union Status and Grade: Non-Union

Annual Salary Range: $85,000 - $110,000. The salary for this role will be determined by a candidate’s years of relevant experience related to the position.

Travel: Estimated 15-20% nationally. Travel includes attending three annual in-person board program weeks, fundraising events as needed, retreats, etc.

FLSA Status: Full-time/Exempt

Supervisory Responsibilities: None
 

Who We Are  

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.   
  
We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization. 


Leadership & Volunteer Programs Manager

The Leadership & Volunteer Programs Manager (LVPM) plays a critical role in advancing national fundraising efforts at Lambda Legal by strengthening the infrastructure that supports volunteer leadership engagement. This position enables senior leadership to focus on high-value relationship building and strategy by owning and optimizing the systems, processes, and coordination required to effectively cultivate volunteer leadership pipelines and steward key national leadership groups – including the Board, National Leadership Council, Emeritus Board, and the forthcoming Plaintiff’s Council.

The LVPM reports to the Director of Leadership Programs (DLP) and regularly supports Executive and Development leadership, requiring a high degree of discretion, independent judgment, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information, while ensuring leaders have the structure, tools, and insights needed to drive engagement and fundraising outcomes. This role also oversees and manages the internship lifecycle for the Office of the CEO at national headquarters (HDQ).

This is a highly execution-oriented role with opportunities to shape and strengthen volunteer engagement strategies, translating relationship-driven goals into clear, actionable plans that advance Lambda Legal’s mission.

What you’ll do:

Volunteer Strategy and Pipeline Development (35%)

• Develop and implement a national volunteer engagement strategy to build a pipeline of volunteers who can be activated into Liberty Circle, major donors, and national sponsors.
• Design and scale volunteer fundraising programs that ensure consistent, high-quality engagement opportunities across regions.
• Maintain and continuously refine Lambda Legal’s Volunteer Playbook to support standardized practices and scalable growth.
• Track and analyze volunteer participation, engagement, and conversion to inform strategy and improve donor pipeline outcomes.
• Identify high-potential volunteers for leadership opportunities and connect them to the applicable stakeholders.
• Support HDQ-based volunteer councils (e.g. Emerging Leaders), in collaboration with the HDQ Regional Director and Major Gifts team.

Board and Leadership Program Management (35%)

• Support the DLP with Board Program:
  • Own and manage the organization's Board management platform (OnBoard), driving continuous improvement in systems, processes, and user experience.
  • Maintain official Board records, including minutes, resolutions, committee rosters, and any other materials required for the annual audit.
  • Coordinate the program logistics of a 40-person Board, committee calendars, and quarterly meetings.
• Support the DLP in managing Lambda Legal's broader portfolio of leadership programs, including:
  • National Leadership Council (NLC): Support program administration including scheduling meetings, tracking recruitment pipelines, and maintaining member records and communications.
  • Emeritus Board: Coordinate engagement initiatives for long-tenured former Board members, including organizing convenings, managing outreach, and supporting events and meeting logistics.
  • Plaintiff's Council: Develop and operationalize a Plaintiff's Council from the ground up, including supporting the development of program infrastructure, coordinating inaugural meetings, and managing ongoing engagement and logistics.

Intern Management (20%)

• Manage the intern life cycle for the Office of the CEO, including recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding in alignment with People & Culture’s standards and procedures.
• Ensure interns receive structured onboarding, mentorship, and performance feedback aligned with organizational goals.
• Maintain consistency and quality across internship experiences.

Event Support (10%)

• Support local fundraising events by developing project timelines; negotiating vendor contracts; organizing site visits; coordinating volunteers; designing and producing promotional materials (invitations, social media and other collateral);
• Assist with ticketing, seating, and on-site event execution.
• Coordinate Pride activations and other donor outreach efforts across the Northeast region with a focus on engaging BIPOC and TGNC communities.

Who you are:

Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in nonprofit development, volunteer engagement, or program management.
• Experience planning and staffing events and activations, including vendor coordination, timeline management, and on-site logistics.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple projects simultaneously across multiple workstreams without losing sight of long-term goals.
• Comfort with providing administrative leverage, including selective scheduling, agenda creation, documentation, and follow-up.
• Proven ability to work independently, take initiative, anticipate needs, and follow through on assignments without constant supervision and limited direction.
• Skilled at upward management by providing targeted, timely updates, surfacing key decisions needed, and asking clarifying questions proactively.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to produce polished materials — from event collateral to program reports — independently and under tight deadlines.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM or volunteer management platforms.

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience managing a donor portfolio or conducting direct solicitations.
• Prior experience with nonprofit governance or board administration.
• Demonstrated success designing, implementing, and managing volunteer engagement or cultivation programs, with measurable outcomes tied to donor or leadership pipeline growth.
• Experience recruiting, onboarding, and supervising interns in a structured program context.

Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves. Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable.

All employees at Lambda Legal are expected to adhere to ethical conduct in all interactions and tasks, ensuring a positive and respectful workplace environment.
 

Our Values & DEIB Philosophy

Successful candidates will embrace and champion our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement, bringing a commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace. They will thrive in a diverse environment, actively contributing to a culture that respects and uplifts the full spectrum of communities Lambda Legal serves. Candidates can review our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement on our Careers Page.
 

Why Work at Lambda Legal?

You get to do meaningful, life-changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include:

• Medical benefits that begin on your start date
• Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
• Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment)
• Paid Time Off:
  • Paid Vacation (15 Days)
  • Sick Leave (12 Days)
  • Personal Leave (3 Days)
  • Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
  • Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
  • Floating Holiday (1 Day)
• 12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
• Health Reimbursement Account
• $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
• Annual professional development fund
• Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
• Premium subscription to the Calm App
• Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)

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Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog and Instagram.

Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV-affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender-diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply.