AmeriCorps HR Associate

Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Our diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly, and our program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are our heartbeat and our greatest resource; we are all passionately rallied around our mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that works. Join our stellar team leading the charge to deepen our impact and expand our service. Learn more about us at http://www.readingpartners.org/.

The High Level

Reading Partners’ AmeriCorps HR Associate (ACHR), is part of a growing AmeriCorps team collaborating to act as a catalyst for people to bring their best selves to Reading Partners’ students, communities, and teammates. The AmeriCorps HR Associate’s main role is to contribute to a positive AC member experience by owning, improving, and directing the management of HR systems for the Reading Partners AmeriCorps/VISTA program (AC/V) and its members. This role supports all aspects of AC/V compliance and ACHR functions. The ACHR Associate is tasked with creating, expanding, and streamlining the ACHR functions, including benefits administration, personnel records, background checks, ACHR systems and reporting, payroll, and regulatory compliance for all AC/V members of the organization. This role is an opportunity to foster relationships with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders, alongside with the larger AmeriCorps Team. The role is fully dedicated to supporting AC/V members and managers, is savvy at the art of both creating and driving projects, is goal and detail-oriented, and is excited by operational management, strategy, and execution.

What You’ll Do:

On a year round basis, work closely with all regions and the AC team to ensure 100% AC/VISTA grant compliance.

• Lead and execute AmeriCorps onboarding and offboarding processes annually ensuring 100% compliance.
• Executes all AC Member verification and background checks in line with AC/V and RP legal policies and procedures. Adjudicates as necessary.
• Compile, maintain and audit all AC member paper files, ensuring accurate and compliant personnel records for AC grant audits.
• Provide detailed reports to ACPMs as needed throughout the year to support grant management.
• Maintain knowledge of and ensure organizational compliance with federal and state regulations concerning each AC grant and program in consultation with the ACPM.
• Manage and execute communication with regions around compliance timelines, expectations and needs.
• In collaboration with the AC Team build the capacity of regions to execute compliance requirements throughout the year.
• Ensure Reading Partners maintains original records and back-up for the reports/numbers/data you submit to CNCS under the demographics/outputs/outcomes/PM sections of the grant progress reports.
• Manage Reading Partners deep storage system.
• Manage seasonal temporary staff to support onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Manages and executes team support around compliance work.  

Create sustainable operations systems and processes to drive, manage, and perform all HR Administration functions for AC/VISTA members nationwide.

• Enters and maintains data for all AC/V members and other internal and AmeriCorps based reporting systems, ensuring accurate and compliant personnel records.
• Works closely with Payroll Manager to ensure accurate AC payroll.
• In collaboration with the ACPM role executes the development, implementation, and messaging of policies and procedures directly related to AC/V operations and human resources functions.
• Develops new internal systems to streamline AC/V HR operations.
• Focus, in particular, on improving AC/V onboarding and offboarding systems.

Lead and own benefits administration for AC/VISTA members.

• Lead all benefits processes for Reading Partners’ AC/V members, including enrollments, terminations, change reporting, claims resolution, and leaves.
• Drives all AC/VISTA member learning, understanding, and communication of benefit plans and enrollment provisions through orientation and ongoing support.
• Manage all aspects of relationship with benefits partners.

Support AC/VISTA Member Relations to meet compliance requirements.

• Lead on first tier accommodations (ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act) requests and determines proper escalation when required.
• Support AmeriCorps grant compliance by ensuring 100% completion of all mid year and end of year AC reviews by all AC members.
• In collaboration with ACPM provide support to managers in documenting member performance.
• Coordinating with regional leads to provide training, materials, and support around processes related to onboarding, offboarding, background checks, and compliance.

Supports additional team functions as needed, including identification and execution of special projects related to departmental priorities and goals.

How You’ll Do It :

Drive for Results: Demonstrated aptitude for creating and completing projects quickly and accurately in the face of challenging environments. Strong ability to prioritize, streamline, and design scalable systems. High degree of comfort and hunger in developing innovative new systems to streamline departmental operations.

Relationship Development: Ability to cultivate and leverage strong relationships both locally and remotely. Proven track record in providing great client service experiences, solving problems and communicating effectively with all internal and external stakeholders. Develop close partnerships with Payroll Manager, all members of AC team, Talent team, and regional stakeholders to provide top tier service for Reading Partners staff and AC/V Members.

Project Management: Strong skill set in effectively leading an initiative with many stakeholders to fruition in a timely manner. Ability to motivate people with competing priorities toward a goal. Ability to take personal initiative and execute on key priorities.

Organization:  A passion for details, collaboration and working with others and independently to problem solve. Ability to execute details quickly and to communicate effectively to a wide group of stakeholders. Professional organization and prioritization skills - can take a list of tasks and get them done.

Communication: Strong aptitude for effective communication remotely and in person with internal and external partnerships. Ability to set up successful systems for communication and messaging, tailor communication to audiences, and break down complex topics for a variety of audiences. High competency with written communication.

Approach:  Maintains a strong sense of calm during peak periods. Ability to rally others to achieve organizational goals. Strong ability to assess and address sensitive situations. A sense of humor.

About You!
You’ll be successful in this role if you:

• Have a strong commitment to service and support of all internal teammates and stakeholders
• Have strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize and delegate when necessary
• Have experience in either HR administration or grants management
• Are adept at learning new technology platforms quickly and efficiently
• Takes initiative - both independently and in a team setting
• Are flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
• Have demonstrated success in customer service, office management, or related operations role
• Are interested in working at an organization amidst great growth and change
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Boast a deep belief in our mission
• Root your work in our core values
• Can prove eligibility to work in the US legally

Bonus points if you:

• Previous experience with AmeriCorps program & grant compliance
• Experience with SalesForce, eGrants, OnCorps
• Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni

What we offer:
Reading Partners offers the full package – great benefits, a great place to work and the opportunity to have a glowing and growing career.

• We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. This is a full time, non-exempt, hourly position.
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, commuter benefits, referral bonuses, 403(b) option and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• We offer an exciting and dynamic culture and we commit to investing in and supporting our amazing people to grow their careers with us.

The other stuff you need to know:

Travel: This position is based out of Reading Partners’ National Headquarters in Oakland, CA. This position is not geo-flexible.

Typical Physical & Mental Demands:  Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching, eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator and other office equipment.  Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with AmeriCorps Members and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

What’s Next?

If you’re interested in joining our Reading Partners team, please submit the following application materials to our online job posting:

• A cover letter describing your interest in Reading Partners and how your past experience has prepared you for this role. Please include your hourly compensation needs.
• Resume

At Reading Partners we respect and honor the diversity in our workforce, and we are an Equal Opportunity Employer.