Jobs › Northwestern Medicine

This position has closed. Northwestern Medicine removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 29, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Volunteer Manager - Volunteer Services

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 28, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about managing volunteers.

What they are checking: The posting names planning and administering volunteer programs.

How do you coach a staff member who has never supervised a volunteer before?

What they are checking: The posting names functioning as a consultant to staff acting as volunteer supervisors.

This is in Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with the location the posting states.

What would you do

How do you place a volunteer in a role that suits both them and the hospital?

What they are checking: The posting names coordinating selection, placement and evaluation with supervisory staff.

A volunteer is not working out in their placement. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Volunteers cannot be managed like employees and the conversation is harder for it.

How do you keep volunteers coming back?

What they are checking: Retention is the whole economics of a volunteer programme.

How do you handle a volunteer who oversteps into clinical territory?

What they are checking: The boundary that protects patients and the volunteer, and it is easily crossed with good intent.

About the work

What would a new volunteer service look like, and how would you decide it was worth starting?

What they are checking: The posting names identifying, developing and implementing new volunteer services.

How do you make sure volunteers stay inside policy on confidentiality and boundaries?

What they are checking: The posting names ensuring compliance with hospital and volunteer department policies.

How would you design an orientation that prepares someone for a hospital environment?

What they are checking: The posting names attending and assisting with planning in-service training.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Medicine from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Volunteer Manager reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Plans and administers the volunteer programs designed to supplement the services provided by NM staff. Administers the local volunteer program consistent with the systems, processes, policies and procedures as defined by the Volunteer Services Department for use across the NM system. Works in partnership with staff in developing, implementing and interpreting programs and policies related to volunteer-staff relations, volunteer development/training and safety issues. Responsibilities : • Functions as consultant to staff who are in the role of a volunteer supervisor, helping them learn supervisory skills and resolving issues related to volunteer activity. • Coordinates selection, placement and evaluation of volunteers with supervisory staff ensuring compliance with all hospital/volunteer department policies and other legal and regulatory requirements. • Works with staff to coordinate volunteer activities and to identify, develop and implement new volunteer services that enhance the quality of care provided to patients and families. • Attends and assists with planning of in-service training conducted by supervisory staff. • Recruits, interviews, orients, screens and trains volunteers, ensures an adequate flow of volunteer candidates and timely completion of the application-to-onboarding process. • Schedules the work of volunteers ensuring coverage in all volunteer functional areas. • Conducts rounds to volunteer stations; identifies and corrects problems as they arise in a timely, responsive and professional manner. • Is accountable for customer relations including the manner in which volunteers communicate with patients, families, physicians and employees. • Promotes positive volunteer relations through coaching and feedback regarding volunteer performance, serves as a resource for volunteer questions, issues or ideas. • Facilitates growth and development of volunteers, including opportunities to learn new skills, ensures volunteer completion of required competencies and review of key policies and procedures. • Prepares appropriate documentation/correspondence regarding volunteer attendance records, health maintenance, training checklists and volunteer recognition. • Writes letters of recommendation for qualified volunteers. • Tracks and records volunteer hours, maintains volunteer records and prepares an annual report. • Ensures departmental compliance with regulations, statutes and other applicable laws regarding operation and record retention. • Manages the financial operation of area(s) of responsibility. • Prepares operating and capital budgets designed to meet individual, departmental and organizational strategies and goals. • Monitors financial performance versus budget; prepares monthly written reports and explains variances. • With the Director, Volunteer Services, develops plans for National Volunteer Week; coordinates the annual volunteer recognition event. • Collaborates with the Director to develop goals and objectives for area(s) of responsibility which are aligned with NMs strategic plan and/or organizational goals. • Establishes key performance indicators; develops and implements a continuous quality improvement plan designed to improve performance. • Maintains professional competence by keeping informed and educated regarding volunteer administration and legal issues. AA/EOE. Required : • Bachelors degree with a concentration in business or the behavioral sciences. • A knowledge of volunteer program management with a minimum of three years experience in volunteer administration, human resources or a comparable field. • Strong communication and organizational skills and a service and team orientation. • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Preferred : • Formal supervisory experience is preferred. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.