Job Openings
Program Coordinator—Soccer Nights and Community Building Initiatives
Position Summary
Position Start Date: September 2010
Position DescriptionVineyard Community Offerings (VCO) is an initiative at the Greater Boston Vineyard church to build diverse community and promote social justice in the City of Cambridge. VCO believes the most effective, long-term change comes through meaningful, diverse relationships and partnerships in the community. We currently run over 15 programs and events in the community that benefit youth, adults and families. For more information, please visit our website at www.bostonvineyard.org/communityofferings.
VCO is looking to bring on a Program Coordinator. This full-time position is part of an AmeriCorps National program that is hosted by TechMission. As an AmeriCorps member, you will spend 90 percent of your time working with programs for kids (ages 6-12 years old) and families in North Cambridge and 10 percent assisting in VCO development (more details below). North Cambridge is a diverse community composed largely of families, many whom have immigrated from Haiti, Bangladesh, India, Somalia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. The position requires a minimum of a one-year commitment, with a minimum of 1,700 hours of service.
Duties include:
1. Soccer Nights: Soccer Nights is a free, summer evening soccer camp for youth ages 6-12. The goals of Soccer Nights are to promote athletic skill, character building and citywide unity. (Soccer experience helpful but not necessary)
o Follow-up programming: Develop and coordinate our first year of Soccer Nights follow-up programming by creating events and activities during the academic year for Soccer Nights participants and volunteers to foster community and deepen relational network.
o Summer Programming: Coordinate Soccer Nights summer program in North Cambridge (2 weeks of programming—tentatively scheduled for the last week of June and last week of July 2011). Will work closely with the Director to oversee planning team, volunteers, advertising, student recruitment and program logistics.
o Cross-Site Planning & Program Expansion: Work with our Soccer Nights partner sites to increase sustainability and improve cross-site planning by overseeing joint registration and recruitment efforts, managing database and researching corporate sponsors and grants.
2. Community Building Initiatives (CBI): CBI work to create spaces that foster diverse community in our neighborhood with a specific focus of increasing the number and quality of programs for kids ages 6-12 and families in North Cambridge.
o Oversee planning, logistics, facilitation and sustainability of programs in collaboration with a local affordable housing complex.
o Recruit participants and develop relationships with children and families.
o Recruit, support and manage volunteers for programs.
o Provide other direct support for the CBI programs, as needed
3. VCO Development: Assist in VCO development, fundraising and recruiting campaigns.
o Work with Executive Director to coordinate Annual Holiday Silent Auction.
o Participate in the Walk for Cambridge, our annual walkathon fundraiser in May 2011.
o Assist as needed with other major VCO initiatives as needed.
Requirements and Qualifications
Applicants for this program must have an undergraduate degree; must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
Applicants should have the following
Interpersonal and Cultural Competency Skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to work well with youth and adults, both one-on-one and in group settings.
• Experience working with at-risk youth a plus.
• Able to work well with diverse groups of people and be sensitive to cultural differences.
• Willingness to learn more about your own cultural and ethnic identity and about other cultures.
• Able to work well in a team setting that is casual, collaborative, highly interpersonal.
• Willingness to resolve conflict when conflict arises.
• Willingness to learn from others.
Organizational Skills
• Be highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Able to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Experience in event planning, project management, program planning, community organizing or fundraising a plus.
Leadership and Entrepreneurial Skills
• Be a self-starter who is entrepreneurial, hard-working, and willing to learn and adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to take initiative and work proactively with minimal direction or structure.
• Have a positive, can-do attitude no matter the circumstances.
• Be flexible when things don’t work out as planned or expected.
• Able to mobilize and lead people and programs well.
• Experience and comfort with public speaking
Commitment to Social Justice and Vineyard Community Offerings
• Committed to social justice and interested in the issues of community development.
• Committed to the mission and values of Vineyard Community Offerings.
• Willingness to help fundraise for VCO, including asking friends and family members to donate to the organization.
• Experience working with non-profits or faith-based organizations a plus.
Benefits
This position will provide health insurance and a basic living stipend of $11,100 for the year. Child care benefits are available if needed. Also, the Greater Boston Vineyard will provide a monthly MBTA transit pass. After completing the year, the AmeriCorps member may be eligible to receive an educational award of $4,725 to pay off past student loans or future schooling. In addition, repayment of Federal student loans may be put on hold for the duration of the year that you are an AmeriCorps member. AmeriCorps benefits do not affect eligibility to continue receiving government benefits based on need (e.g. food stamps, WIC, welfare, veterans benefits, and HUD subsidized housing).
Application Instructions
If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to Stephanie Acker:
Vineyard Community Offerings at the Greater Boston Vineyard
15 Notre Dame Ave.,
Cambridge, MA 02140
stephanie@bostonvineyard.org.
Email is preferred. Please no calls. Deadline is Friday, August 13, 2010.
Interviews will take place the last two weeks in August. If selected for an interview, you are required to turn in a writing sample and two letters of reference.
More information about Vineyard Community Offerings can be found at www.bostonvineyard.org/communityofferings, the AmeriCorps program at www.americorps.org and TechMission at www.techmission.org
