Volunteer

Administrative Volunteers are the first point of contact for clients, donors, and volunteers. They are critical to the overall operations of the organization and work to create a welcoming environment for all our clients and volunteers in the office. In this role, there is a significant opportunity to learn about our services and to be a crucial link between clients, staff, volunteers, and donors.

Specific duties include:

• Welcoming clients and visitors into our space
• Answering phones
• Booking client appointments
• Confirming client appointments
• Monitoring email inboxes, responding to emails, and forwarding emails to staff
• Supporting various administrative tasks and projects
• Entering data
• Organizing files

Previous experience: Technical experience and administration confidence, including computer literacy, good communication skills, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and being able to answer a variety of questions when someone calls.
Location: In-person
Shift opportunities: 9:30am-1:30pm, 1:30pm-4:30pm (Tuesdays to Saturdays)
Time commitment: Minimum one shift per month

Stylists work with clients to find the perfect outfit for an interview, new job, or special suiting. In-person stylists will have a 75-minute appointment with a client in our space and create a positive and uplifting experience to help them feel confident. 

Specific duties include: 

• Working in a team with other stylists to meet the needs of our clients
• Working with the unique styles of each client so they leave feeling confident 
• Supporting clients who are looking for professional clothing

Previous experience: Customer service skills and fashion acumen an asset
Location: Dress for Success Vancouver, 5118 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC
Shift opportunities: 9:30am-1:30pm (Wednesday to Saturday), 1:00pm-4:30pm (Saturday)
Time commitment: Minimum one shift per month

Sorters are responsible for selecting and organizing the clothing that ends up dressing our clients. Sorting volunteers will work through the donations provided and categorize them based on their quality and appearance. 

Specific duties include:

• Welcoming clothing donations from donors
• Sorting and steaming clothing donations
• Organizing the back stock of clothing we receive from donations
• Organizing donations in the sorting rooms
• Merchandising and making the office look organized
• Dusting, vacuuming and sanitizing

Previous experience: This volunteer role is a great opportunity for individuals who have an eye for detail and who love organizing. A background in fashion or retail is not necessary; ability to lift moderate to heavy bags.
Location: Dress for Success Vancouver, 5118 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC
Shift opportunities: 9:30am-1:00pm, 1:00pm-4:30pm (Tuesdays – Saturdays)
Time commitment: Minimum one shift per month

Dress for Success Vancouver is looking for mentors to support members of our Working Women’s Group in their personal and professional development journey. 

Through monthly one-on-one meetings, mentors will offer guidance, coaching, and actionable advice to help mentees set and achieve their goals. They’ll provide constructive feedback, share resources, and facilitate networking opportunities.

If you’re ready to support another woman in her career journey, we’d love to hear from you!

Key Skills:

• Excellent communication and active listening skills to effectively guide and support mentees.
• High emotional intelligence to empathize with diverse perspectives and challenges.
• Patience and understanding to accommodate individuals from varied backgrounds and career/life stages.

Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years of work experience in Canada.
• Proven leadership experience within your field or organization

Commitment: a minimum of one hour per month for six consecutive months. Meetings can be scheduled virtually or in person at times that are mutually convenient.

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Career Support Specialists use their expertise to prepare clients for their job search by reviewing resumes and cover letters, conducting mock interviews, and providing immediate feedback based on their career experience. They are individuals who have previous professional experience in human resources, hiring, and recruitment.

Workshop Speakers present workshops on career, health and wellness-related topics to members of the Dress for Success Vancouver community including clients, volunteers, agencies, and staff. These workshops provide tips and tools to help women and gender-diverse individuals in our community grow, develop, and thrive in their careers and lives.  

Specific duties include:

• Meeting with the Program Coordinator to discuss the topic and structure of the workshop
• Developing an engaging 60-90 minute thought-provoking workshop with a supporting slide deck
• Drafting a workshop title and short description with specific outcomes
  

Previous experience: 5+ years of relevant Canadian-based experience, proven expertise in content matter, workshop facilitation experience, and strong communication skills.
Location: Virtual
Shift opportunities: 7:00-8:30 pm (Tuesdays)
Time commitment: Varies

Event Volunteers are responsible for helping the Dress for Success Vancouver staff and event committee host a successful event. There are several volunteer opportunities for our Success Luncheon in the fall, both on-site at the event and for some advance preparation.

General duties include but are not limited to:

• Preparing and setting up event 
• Assembling prizes and gift bags
• Shuttling event supplies to and from the event location
• Assisting with registration
• Selling raffle tickets, processing payments
• Managing event activation booths
• Cataloging auction items 

Previous experience: No previous event experience necessary. Being organized, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and able to take direction are key to pulling off a successful event.
Location: Virtual, in-person, and on-site at the event
Shift opportunities: Communication will be sent out to interested volunteers before the event.
Time commitment: Volunteer meetings in the months leading up to the event and also on-site during the event.

Communications Volunteers help Dress for Success Vancouver share its message with clarity and impact. These remote volunteers ensure that newsletters, written materials, print pieces and marketing materials are accurate, on brand and visually compelling.

Specific duties include: 

• Copy editing written content across newsletters, website posts, print materials and more
• Providing constructive feedback in a timely manner
• Applying our style guide and understanding our audience and brand voice
• Reviewing alignment, spacing and information hierarchy to enhance design
• Design Volunteers: Creating graphics, templates, layouts or slide decks to support campaigns and events

Qualifications:

• Experience in copy editing, communications, journalism, marketing or graphic design
• Strong understanding of spelling, grammar and CP Style
• Ability to give collaborative and constructive feedback
• Familiarity with Google Docs and quick to respond via email
• Design Volunteers: Graphic design experience using Canva, Adobe Creative Suite or similar

Training: Provided virtually by the Communications Director
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Time Commitment: Varies

The Opportunity

The Dress for Success Board of Directors (the “Board”) is seeking applications from women or gender-diverse individuals living in the Metro Vancouver region to serve as a Junior Board Member for the 2025-2027 term. The Board is looking to fill one Junior Board Member role at this time.  

The Junior Board Member position was created to support the development of an emerging professional woman or gender-diverse individual within the local community. The role is intended for early career professionals with approximately 2-5 years’ working experience. 

The Role

The Junior Board Member role is focused on supporting the Board Secretary, as well as participating in Board and committee meetings. As a Board member, they will have the opportunity to gain hands-on board experience, while growing their professional network, meeting mentors, and building relationships to support their community leadership and career. 

The role is intended for individuals with:

• a strong passion for the organization’s mission and who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of women,
• a willingness to contribute ideas and skills, and
• the desire to prioritize the time required to participate in the schedule of Board and Junior Board Member duties. 

This is a non-voting board position; however, the Junior Board Member is invited to participate in meeting discussions and to share their perspectives.  

Position Commitment

This is a two-year opportunity beginning in April/May 2025. The majority of the work in this role will be completed remotely and there will be occasional in-person Board meetings at various office locations within Metro Vancouver. The time commitment per month for this role is approximately 4-5 hours, including meetings. There are opportunities to volunteer in additional capacities, if desired, but not required. The Board is on a break from meetings over July and August.   

To Apply

To learn more about this role and to apply, please click here. The deadline for applications is March 31st, 2025.

We thank all who apply, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Board Diversity Statement 
The Board of Directors of Dress for Success Vancouver believes embracing diversity involves continually seeking to learn, engage, reflect, and act to meet the needs of the clients we serve, our Board of Directors, employees, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and communities.

We acknowledge systemic barriers of discrimination and inequity, and power imbalances related to privilege. We recognize it is our responsibility as a Board and as a feminist organization to work to address these issues. The inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences are encapsulated in Dress for Success Vancouver’s values of dignity, hope, inclusion, and reconciliation.