Volunteer role · Opportunity Hack
Hackathon Operations Lead — Phoenix
Be the person who makes the Fall 2026 hackathon actually run: venue, food, check-in, schedule, and the hundred small saves nobody notices when they go right. On-site in Phoenix/Tempe.
About Opportunity Hack
We're a nonprofit that connects tech volunteers with nonprofits who need software. Our flagship hackathon happens each fall at ASU in Tempe — 100+ hackers, a dozen nonprofits, one weekend.
The role
A hackathon is a live event wearing a tech costume. Catering shows up late, the check-in line backs up, a room double-books, the awards ceremony needs to start in ten minutes and the demo laptop won't connect. The Operations Lead is the person who handles all of that so hackers and nonprofits only experience the good parts.
What you'll do
- Before (~2 hrs/week, ramping to 4–6 in the final six weeks): help plan the venue layout, food schedule, volunteer shifts, signage, and run-of-show with the core team
- During (the full event weekend, on-site): run check-in, keep the schedule honest, direct day-of volunteers, and solve problems in real time
- After: a short retro so next year's event starts smarter
- Coordinate over Slack with the core organizing team — we're responsive and we'll have your back
Who this is for
- Event, program, or project coordinators (aspiring or experienced) who want a serious line on their resume
- People who stay calm when the plan meets reality, and communicate clearly while it's happening
- You must be in the Phoenix/Tempe area and available on-site the full event weekend — this one can't be done remotely
What you get
This is a volunteer role, and it is not paid — we are a nonprofit with very limited funds. What we can offer is real:
- Real, portfolio-worthy experience with actual users, constraints, and deadlines — not a side project that never ships
- Hearts toward certificates, plus LinkedIn recommendations and references from people who watched you deliver
- A leadership title you can put on your resume, backed by work anyone can verify
- The satisfaction of helping nonprofits get software they could never afford
Everyone who runs Opportunity Hack has a full-time job. We volunteer because we believe tech can do good. Join us.
The fine print
- We are unable to sponsor visas. This is an unpaid volunteer role.
- We run on Slack and email — fast, clear communication is the core skill for every role here.
- We'd love someone who sticks around past Fall 2026, but we'll take all the help we can get.
Commitment: Through the Fall 2026 event — ~2 hrs/week now, 4–6 hrs/week in the final six weeks, plus the full event weekend on-site
Before you start
The application takes ~30 minutes — on purpose.
It includes a role-specific work sample and a two-minute video answering prompts on camera. That's our filter for AI-written and copy-paste applications — and your preview of the actual job. Phone camera is perfect.
Know someone perfect for this? Send it their way:
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