Volunteer Coordinator

Location: Ottawa, Canada

Working Hours: 37.5 hours/week (Monday–Friday, 8:00–16:30)

Reports To: Volunteer Manager

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Our work commemorates the war dead, from building and maintaining our cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries and territories to preserving our extensive records and archives. Our values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were 100 years ago.

CWGC’s Canada, Americas and Pacific Area (CAPA) covers all of North, Central, and South America (31 countries) and another 10 countries in the Pacific Region including Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Fiji, Thailand, Singapore, and Myanmar. We are responsible for caring and maintaining 72,000 war graves, over 66,000 commemorations, 17 CWGC owned cemeteries and other sites with memorials, stones of remembrance and crosses of sacrifice. 

We are seeking a Volunteer Coordinator to support our expanding National Volunteer Program (NVP)—a vital initiative that connects passionate individuals with meaningful opportunities to care for sites of remembrance across Canada.

As a Volunteer Coordinator with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), you will play a pivotal role in preserving a legacy that spans generations and continents. You will manage day‑to‑day operations of the program, maintain volunteer records, support training and communications, and help ensure a positive experience for every volunteer who represents the Commission. Every volunteer you support, every project you coordinate, and every connection you foster contributes directly to ensuring the stories of the fallen are honoured with dignity and respect.

The Impact You’ll Make:

• Empower volunteers across Canada to care for sites of remembrance that hold profound historical and cultural significance.
• Ensure the smooth operation of the National Volunteer Program, enabling thousands of volunteer hours that directly protect and preserve heritage sites.
• Shape the experience of dedicated individuals who share the mission of remembrance and stewardship.
• Help extend the reach of CWGC’s commemorative work through training, outreach, communications, and community partnerships.
• Your work ensures that future generations will continue to have places of quiet reflection, education, and remembrance—making this a role with genuine, lasting impact.

What you’ll need to bring to this rewarding role:

• Post‑secondary education in Volunteer Management, Event Management, Communications, Public Relations, or a related field.
• Fluency in both English and French, written and spoken.
• Experience supporting volunteers, delivering events, or providing excellent customer service.
• Strong administrative or office coordination experience, ideally within a volunteer‑driven or not‑for‑profit setting.
• A track record of building positive, productive working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Confident presenter, able to deliver engaging training both online and in person.
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and a genuine ability to connect with people.
• Comfortable learning new systems and working with databases and digital tools.
• A proactive, self‑motivated mindset—someone who anticipates needs, solves problems, and takes initiative.
• Collaborative spirit with the flexibility to adapt to changing situations and emerging priorities.

What We Offer

• A Mission with Purpose. Contribute to an international effort that honours the fallen and preserves history for generations. Your work supports remembrance on a national and global scale.
• A Supportive, Engaged Team. Be part of a passionate, collaborative team across Canada, the Americas, and the Pacific—professionals and volunteers united by shared values of Commitment, Ambition, Respect, and Excellence. We are proud and committed to ensuring we bring this to life every day, for ourselves, each other and those who lost their lives.
• Professional Growth & Development. You will receive support to develop your skills in volunteer management, event coordination, communications, and heritage stewardship.
• Competitive Compensation and Benefits. including matching RRSP, comprehensive health care plan including Tele-medicine services and a Health Care Spending Account, plus generous paid annual and sick leave

We believe creating a diverse environment enriches our organisation and strengthens our mission, therefore, we welcome applications from everybody. Join our inclusive environment where every individual is valued.

At CWGC, we are more than an organization; we are a legacy. If you have the passion, skills, and vision to ensure future generations continue to honour the sacrifices of the past, we want to hear from you.

How to Apply:

Apply via the CWGC.org Career Portal . As this is an active role, we will be interviewing as we go along, and the role will close when we have an offer accepted by a preferred candidate.