DEDICATED LEADERS

Volunteer Crew Leaders

Do You: 

• Have previous construction experience or an interest in learning?  

• Feel pride when you teach someone a new skill?  

• Thrive when working alongside a diverse group of people coming together to achieve the same goal?  

If you do, chances are you are the perfect fit for our Volunteer Crew Leader program. 

The Role 

Volunteer Crew Leaders are essential in creating outstanding volunteer days, leading small groups in construction tasks, and ensuring that our homes are built to the Habitat standard. A typical day includes:  

• Prepping tools and materials and facilitating morning check-in as volunteers arrive 

• Orienting volunteers to the build site and Habitat mission  

• Leading small groups of volunteers throughout your assigned construction duties  

• Using the “tell, show, do” model to teach volunteers the construction tasks at-hand 

• Overseeing volunteers as they complete assigned tasks to keep our build schedule on-track and homes to a high standard 

• Ensuring the safety of the group by teaching and enforcing proper equipment usage 

• Managing clean-up and preparing for the next volunteer day   

Perks 

• Access to exclusive volunteer spots, making it easier for you to volunteer regularly  

• Involvement in a community of like-minded folks committed to helping Chicago families thrive 

• Hands-on training from Habitat staff to expand your construction knowledge and skills 

• Opportunities to teach Habitat Chicago homebuyers the skills they’ll need to become successful homeowners  

• Invitations to participate in special Habitat events, such as Women Build and home dedications 

Qualifications 

• Willingness to learn and work with a diverse group of people  

• Experience working as a member of a team 

• Excellent verbal communication skills 

• Interest in construction (prior construction experience and group facilitation a plus!)  

• Ability to be on your feet for extended periods of time, often on rough and uneven terrain 

• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs. on a regular basis  

• Ability to work on ladders and heights of up to two-stories 

• Ability to work in varying weather conditions (we build year-round!)  

• At least 18 years of age (over 21 preferred)  

Time Commitment 

• Crew Leader days run from 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (full days are required)  

• Crew Leaders are asked to attend monthly task trainings on Saturday afternoons

• Crew Leaders are asked to volunteer at least once a month (but the more often, the better!)  

• Crew Leaders are asked to commit to at least one year of service in the program  

Required Training

To equip our crew leaders with the tools they need to be successful, the following trainings are required:  

• New Volunteer Orientation 

• Build Site Basics Course (Safety on the Build Site & Volunteer Management for Crew Leaders)

• Online Lockton Safety Course 

• Multiple days shadowing a current Crew Leader on the build site 

• Task courses as needed 

Become a Crew Leader 

Get started by contacting our Volunteers Team at volunteer@habitatchicago.org or (312) 563-0296 x319.  

Already a Crew Leader? 

If you’re already a Crew Leader or a Crew Leader in training, log into our Volunteer Portal to sign up for an upcoming Crew Leader shift (hint: only Crew Leaders can see these shifts – you’re just that special). 

Faithful Few

Our Faithful Few are exactly what the name implies: a handful of volunteers who come out to the build site regularly. Our Faithful Few are not charged with leading volunteer crews, but they are our Crew Leaders’ go-to guys and gals for getting some serious work done on-site. 

The Role

Our Faithful Few help more Chicago families achieve a decent place to live by committing to: 

• Steadfast energy for the duration of all volunteer days 

• Safety, productivity, and fun on the build site

• Creating a positive build site experience for everyone – leading by example and going above and beyond to help however, wherever they can 

• Following the standard building procedures of the Habitat Chicago Construction Department

• Sharing in Habitat Chicago’s core values: trust, commitment, engagement, innovation, curiosity and achievement

Perks

• Access to exclusive volunteer spots, making it easier for you to volunteer regularly 

• Becoming a part of a community of like-minded folks committed to helping every Chicago family thrive

• Hands-on guidance from Habitat construction staff to improve your construction knowledge and skills

• Additional opportunities to work alongside Habitat Chicago homebuyers, really getting to know the people you’re working so hard to help  

Time Commitment 

• Faithful Few volunteer days run from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. to help our crew with site prep and clean-up 

Join the Faithful Few

Faithful Few volunteers are designated by our Construction Team after volunteers demonstrate their reliability on site. If you are a frequent volunteer and would like to be considered to become a part of the Faithful Few, email our Volunteers Team.   
 

Already a Part of the Faithful Few?

Follow the button below to access upcoming volunteer shifts, which are open especially for our Faithful Few!