Intern, Great Philly Schools Project

Posted by on April 09, 2012

URBAN AFFAIRS COALITION
JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION:         Intern, Great Philly Schools Project
DEPARTMENT:     Youth Division
REPORTS TO:     Director of the Youth Division/ Program Management

SUMMARY:   Temporary, part-time internship positions (approx. 30 hours weekly) available for a short-term project. Interns will perform web-based research, and community outreach and visits to assigned schools to administer and collect a range of qualitative survey data. The purpose is to compile and disseminate both web and printed directories of all Philadelphia preK-12 schools that will inform the school selection process for youth and families citywide. Interns may be required and should be comfortable with using various methods of data collection including web-based surveys, surveys administered by phone and in person via a standardized questionnaire. This position functions as part of a larger multi-agency collaborative initiative to increase parental access to school choice options and promote quality in all Philadelphia schools.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/ SCOPE OF WORK:
•    Meet with school administrators and other pre-identified leadership to introduce the project, ensure participation, and that the team meets project timelines and stated deliverables
•    Conduct outreach and collect surveys from school personnel. Update/verify data from select schools as needed.
•    Maintain and update an Excel spreadsheet on a range of data to be collected e.g. school history, Principal’s length of service, information on accreditation and special course offerings, etc.
•    Attend all project management meetings and provide written project update reports to the Project Director (Youth Division Director/ Program Management) upon request
•    Website research & Photography: Search for media stories on Philadelphia schools; create pdfs and title each story appropriately. Position may also require taking photos of all schools assigned.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
–    Must have excellent oral and written communication skills and be customer-service oriented
–    Interest in school choice and educational quality and equity advocacy  highly desirable
–    Must possess excellent organizational and time management skills with ability to meet and adhere to strict, non-negotiable project deadlines
–    Must have strong team and collaborative skills combined with the ability to work independently;
–    High energy level, creative problem solving, and sound judgment
–    Demonstrated personal initiative with a high degree of flexibility, adaptability, drive and persuasiveness; diligence and tenacity with follow-up activity to solicit information and troubleshooting
–    Technical expertise in Microsoft Office programs and web-based research
–    Knowledge of SEPTA routes or having own car highly desirable; positions may require frequent travel to and from school sites throughout Philadelphia

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:
–    Associate Degree preferred; H.S. diploma allowed with relevant work experience
–    Minimum of 2 years of administrative support experience preferred
–    Minimum of 2 years of research, qualitative data collection and entry experience required
–    1-2 years of photography experience- professional or recreational- highly desirable
–    Familiarity with navigating and interacting with Philadelphia school administrators highly desirable but not required

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands of this job are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary responsibilities of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk and hear.  The employee is frequently required to walk.  Close vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception are required for this position.

Send cover letter and resume via email to: Farrah Samuels, Director- Youth Division/ Program Management at fsamuels@uac.org

UAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer