E-Commerce Manager - Volunteer

About Us

The Humane Choices Foundation (humanechoice.org) is a Canadian volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to reducing animal suffering, promoting plant-based living, and protecting oceans and marine life. Everything we do is powered by people who care deeply. As we grow, we are building new revenue streams that support our advocacy work, and e-commerce is one of them.


The Opportunity

We are looking for a Volunteer E-Commerce Manager who can take full ownership of our online store from the ground up. That means sourcing the right products, setting up a smooth buying experience, handling the operational side of fulfillment, and making sure every sale reflects who we are as an organization. This is an end-to-end role for someone who has done this before and wants to put those skills toward a mission that matters.


What You Will Do

Procurement and Product Sourcing

  • Research and identify ethical, cruelty-free, and plant-based product suppliers that align with our values and Canadian consumer expectations.

  • Evaluate suppliers on quality, pricing, lead times, and ethical sourcing standards before bringing any product on board.

  • Negotiate pricing and terms with vendors and maintain strong ongoing supplier relationships.

  • Manage inventory levels to ensure stock availability without over-purchasing, especially in the early stages.

  • Continuously review the product catalogue and recommend additions, removals, or replacements based on performance and mission fit.

Store Setup and Management

  • Build and manage our online store, most likely on Wix or a comparable platform, ensuring it is visually on-brand, easy to navigate, and optimized for conversion.

  • Write or oversee compelling product listings including titles, descriptions, pricing, and imagery.

  • Ensure all product pages are accurate, up to date, and consistent with the foundation's brand voice.

  • Manage product categorization, tagging, and search functionality so customers can find what they are looking for without friction.

  • Keep the store maintained and functional, troubleshooting any issues that arise promptly.

Order Management and Fulfillment

  • Oversee the complete order lifecycle from purchase confirmation through to delivery.

  • Coordinate with suppliers or fulfillment partners to ensure orders are processed and shipped accurately and on time.

  • Set up and maintain order tracking and customer notification systems so buyers are always informed.

  • Handle returns, exchanges, and customer complaints professionally and in a way that protects both the customer experience and the organization's reputation.

  • Identify fulfillment bottlenecks and fix them before they become recurring problems.

Sales, Marketing, and Growth

  • Develop and execute basic promotional strategies including seasonal campaigns, product launches, and discount offers.

  • Collaborate with the digital and content team to drive traffic to the store through social media, email marketing, and the foundation's website.

  • Monitor store analytics including traffic, conversion rates, average order value, and abandoned carts, and use that data to make informed decisions.

  • Identify cross-sell and upsell opportunities that increase revenue without compromising the customer experience.

  • Research what comparable mission-driven organizations are selling and surface ideas for expanding our product range.

Finance and Reporting

  • Track revenue, cost of goods, and margins and report regularly to the leadership team in plain language.

  • Work with our donation processing platform (Zeffy) and ensure e-commerce revenue is properly separated and accounted for.

  • Flag any pricing, margin, or cash flow concerns early so leadership can make informed decisions.

  • Maintain clean records of all supplier invoices, product costs, and sales data.


What We Are Looking For

Required

  • Demonstrated experience managing an e-commerce store end to end, whether for a business, nonprofit, or personal venture.

  • Familiarity with at least one e-commerce or website platform such as Wix, Shopify, WooCommerce, or similar.

  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple moving parts simultaneously without dropping anything.

  • A good eye for product presentation, including copy, pricing, and imagery.

  • Comfortable working with basic analytics and translating numbers into clear, actionable insights.

  • Self-directed and reliable in a remote volunteer environment where there is no one standing over your shoulder.

  • Genuine alignment with the values of the Humane Choices Foundation, including a commitment to cruelty-free and ethically sourced products.

Nice to Have

  • Experience with dropshipping, print-on-demand, or working with Canadian suppliers.

  • Background in ethical or sustainable consumer goods.

  • Familiarity with Canadian consumer protection regulations and sales tax obligations for online retail.

  • Experience using Monday.com or Slack for team collaboration.

  • Basic graphic design skills for creating product imagery or promotional assets.


Why Join Us

Most e-commerce roles ask you to sell things you feel indifferent about. This one asks you to build something you can actually be proud of. Every product sold through our store directly supports the foundation's advocacy work for animals and the planet.

  • End-to-end ownership of a real e-commerce operation with room to build it your way.

  • A flexible, fully remote volunteer arrangement that fits around your schedule.

  • Direct collaboration with the leadership and digital teams.

  • Meaningful portfolio experience running a mission-driven online store.

  • A team that communicates openly, values your expertise, and will tell you so.


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