Reading Partners AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator (2020-21)

Dallas, TX

 

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 and AmeriCorps service members in under-resourced elementary schools. Our dedicated 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 and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are the heart and soul of our organization, 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 www.readingpartners.org.

 

AmeriCorps/VISTA engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country. Since the program’s founding in 1994, over 1 million AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1.4 billion hours in service across America while tackling pressing problems and mobilizing more than 2.3 million volunteers for the organizations they serve.

 

At Reading Partners we have to mobilize 350 AmeriCorps and VISTA members to serve in various positions across the country.  This specific AmeriCorps service opportunity is community based, supporting and implementing the Reading Partners mission while at the same time exemplifying the AmeriCorps motto of “getting things done” by recruiting and engaging community volunteers to serve our students. Reading Partners strives to recruit AmeriCorps members dedicated to a year of service in the community. 

 

The Role

Interested in outreach, recruiting, and empowering community volunteers to provide 1:1 tutoring to our amazing students? Check out our Volunteer Coordinator role!

 

The AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator serves as the representative of Reading Partners within the community, leading the charge in recruiting and onboarding volunteer tutors. Volunteer Coordinators also lead in executing community engagement initiatives in the region. No two days are alike for Volunteer Coordinators! Our top Volunteer Coordinators are ambassadors for service, demonstrate an excitement for community/volunteer recruitment and outreach, and strongly believe in our vision and values and are excited to share those with the community. 



What you’ll do & how you’ll do it:

Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement

Lead Reading Partners’ efforts to recruit, onboard and train volunteer tutors to deliver our curriculum.

  • As a face of Reading Partners in the community, Volunteer Coordinators demonstrate an ability to communicate our mission, vision, and volunteer opportunities throughout the region. Volunteer Coordinators can successfully tailor their recruiting pitches to different audiences and demonstrate a high level of comfort with public speaking. Identifying and implementing effective recruitment strategies is a significant component of the Volunteer Coordinator role, as onboarding tutors (including delivery of our tutor orientation). Volunteer Coordinators also lead the creation and execution of retention strategies, planning for and hosting volunteer recognition events, and developing ways to appreciate partnerships.

 

Partnership Cultivation and Management

Cultivate and manage a portfolio of community partners that serve as pipelines for Reading Partners’ tutor recruitment efforts.  

  • We believe volunteers get results; our program can’t run without our volunteer reading partners! A self-starting individual will thrive best in this role, as Senior Volunteer Coordinators must balance a variety of responsibilities, including partnership research and cultivation to broaden the volunteer base, maximizing existing partnerships, and providing marketing support to the region. 

 

Data entry & database management

Track new and returning volunteers through the process of becoming active volunteers

  • Stellar organizational skills are a must for accurate tutor and partnership record tracking, data management through Salesforce, and supporting the high volume of volunteer tutor calls and emails.
  • Complete weekly data auditing and consistent communication with volunteers to ensure a timely and positive experience for all volunteers.

 

Additional Information

  • Except when under shelter in place orders or if schools/offices are otherwise closed to Reading Partners, the essential functions of this role are performed in schools and/or in designated locations where programming may be delivered, such as a Reading Partners regional office, or another Reading Partners approved location where volunteers may be convened to tutor students using our remote tutoring system. To promote a safe environment, AmeriCorps members will be required to properly wear a mask when serving on-site. Reading Partners will provide AmeriCorps members with a mask.
  • Should schools and/or Reading Partners offices close due to the public health crisis, members may be asked to continue their service remotely under the Reading Partners “teleservice” policy, a copy of which will be provided during Reading Partners AmeriCorps Orientation (RPAO).
  • Due to the changing nature of serving in public education AmeriCorps members may, at any time, be asked to transition to another Reading Partners AmeriCorps position within the OneStar awarded Reading Partners Texas Program.
  • AmeriCorps members are required to wear the AmeriCorps logo on a daily basis while actively serving. A Reading Partners AmeriCorps branded lanyard will be provided
  • This position has access to vulnerable populations and, upon acceptance to the program, requires clearance of a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC). Vulnerable populations include children 17 years of age or younger, persons age 60 and older, or people with disabilities.
  • In the event of a local, state, or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps members may be asked on a volunteer basis or be required by OneStar to activate to assist in disaster response and recovery activities within their communities.  This may involve virtual service opportunities or in-person service opportunities. This may include service opportunities outside of the member’s standard service hours or in place of their standard service duties. In the event of a large-scale, high needs local, state, or federal disaster, AmeriCorps members may voluntarily or be required by OneStar to deploy to an area outside of their service area to assist in disaster response and recovery activities.

 

About You!

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

  • Are dedicated to national and community service
  • Understand this position is an AmeriCorps service commitment and are dedicated to successfully completing a full term term of service.
  • Demonstrate a passion for working with children
  • Possess a natural ability to connect with people
  • Are eager for a dynamic schedule
  • Pay strong attention to detail and manage competing priorities effectively
  • Boast a deep belief in and passionately promote our mission
  • Demonstrate a love for relationship building and public speaking
  • Have flexibility and adaptability in both work style and work environment  
  • Take initiative in meeting goals and seeking professional growth
  • Can problem-solve through challenges and failures
  • Can quickly learn new technology systems like Salesforce, and have a high level of comfort with Microsoft Office and Google Apps
  • Root your work in our core values
  • Possess a high school diploma or GED
  • Hold US Citizenship or Permanent Resident Status
  • Have not completed more than three (3) prior AmeriCorps or VISTA service terms

Bonus Points if you:

  • Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alum/alumna
  • Have experience volunteering with other community-based or education programs

 

What we offer:

  • AmeriCorps members earn an annual living stipend of up to $16,500
  • AmeriCorps members are eligible for medical, dental, and vision coverage at no cost for our members; childcare assistance is available through AmeriCorps for those who qualify.
  • AmeriCorps members can earn an education award of $6,195 after successfully completing their service term.
  • You may be eligible for student loan forbearance on federal student loans.
  • We offer an exciting and dynamic culture, and we commit to investing in and supporting our amazing people to grow their careers with us. As such, we provide ongoing professional development opportunities.

The other things you need to know:

  • Service Terms: AmeriCorps members serve full-time (approximately 40 hours/week) from September or October 2020 through July 2021, and must commit to a service term of 1700 hours over a 10-11 month period.
  • Travel: Volunteer Coordinators are constantly traveling throughout the community, and need reliable transportation to attend partnership meetings, career fairs, and other events. AmeriCorps members also make occasional trips to regional offices and service day events.
  • Reading Partners AmeriCorps Orientation: At the start of each program year, Reading Partners holds an intensive program orientation training to take a deeper dive into our program, foster relationships with regional teams, and learn the skills necessary to execute their respective AmeriCorps role.  
  • Onboarding Paperwork: This summer, all incoming first-year AmeriCorps members will need access to a few required identification documents (for example, their ID and Social Security Card), which can be securely and electronically sent to our AmeriCorps HR team. Unfortunately, we are unable to make exceptions to this requirement
    • Note: A legible photograph of the required document is absolutely okay. 

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

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Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Position will remain posted until filled. No phone inquiries.

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