ITWorks Coordinator, NPower PA

Posted by on December 19, 2010

Do you want the opportunity to change lives and get in on the ground floor of a growing program that has already been featured in CIO Magazine, on Fox News, and NBC10? Here is your chance. NPower PA is seeking a dynamic individual with stellar communication ability, and entrepreneurial ambitions, to instruct the Philadelphia ITWorks program.

ABOUT ITWORKS
In southeastern Pennsylvania, more than 70,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are neither in school nor employed. Currently workplace internships and opportunities to gain job skills and experience are available to only a fraction of these young people.

ITWorks offers a free, 16-week immersive IT training program to disadvantaged young adults and then places graduates in full-time employment in Philadelphia’s nonprofit, business and public sectors. ITWorks students develop IT skills leading to professional certification and practice their new skills while giving back to their communities through 5-week service internships.

The program’s goal is to lift participants out of poverty and put them on track to a career in technology. Throughout the program students are mentored by professionals in the field and are taught the “soft” skills they will need to compete in a modern workplace. Mentorships are enabled through NPower’s deep corporate relationships visa vie The NPower CIO Council. These interactions put these students on the fast track to possible employment within these corporations upon graduation.

NPower’s objective is to create a system in which nonprofits thrive and young people have opportunities to improve their income potential. Graduates leave the program with a marketable skill set, improved confidence, leadership abilities, and a broad understanding of the nonprofit community and its interactions.

ABOUT THE CURRICULUM
NPower PA utilizes The Cisco IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course. It is designed for students seeking career-oriented, entry-level hardware and software skills. We then add industry-leading curriculum in job readiness, professional development, and interviewing skills. Wrap-around services are provided by a licensed psychologist.

ABOUT THE POSITION: ITWorks Instructor
Full Time (40 hours a week, year round) with Benefits
Salary is negotiable

The ITWorks Instructor is critical to the success of the program. We are seeking a dynamic individual with stellar communication ability, and entrepreneurial ambitions, to help grow the ITWorks program.

This position requires the candidate to be comfortable and familiar with a wide spectrum of technology, from basic computing including hardware and software, to setting up & maintaining networks, database administration and basic web development. Experience is preferred but we will train the right candidate.

The instructor is responsible for curriculum delivery as well as continuing to improve it. The instructor will lead a training class that prepares students to enter the workforce with the skills to be a junior technology professional. Expect to work closely with the students, maintain an environment of trust and nurture, and engage with them on a daily basis in ways that contribute to both the students’ and the organization’s success.

The instructor will be responsible for the following:
• Daily instruction of the IT Essentials Cisco A+ Curriculum.
• Increase critical thinking, analysis, and problem solving skills of students
• Provide guidance and structure for self-directed and life-long learning
• Be able to impart real-world scenarios that are outside of “core” course of study
• Produce and instruct high-quality, well-prepared classes where students learn, are challenged and enjoy the learning process
• Ensure students’ technical skills meet needs of internship partners, job placement requirements, and certification requirements

This program is rapidly growing and is receiving the support of world class partner corporations. Nonprofit partners include Christiana Care Health Systems, Independence Blue Cross, ECS, UAC, and The PA Horticultural Society. Our corporate partners include Comcast, Sunoco, ING DIRECT, SAP America, Bank of America, Cephalon, IBM, CSC, Arkema, Tyco, CAI, The Judge Group, Fannie May, Keystone Foods, ConocoPhillps, NASDAQ, Tasty Baking, Philadelphia Newspapers, and Reed Technology. These individuals provide us with opportunities to place students at entry level tech positions in their companies and provide us with feedback as to the skills they are seeking and the trainings most valuable to them.

You will get to interact with Fortune 500 companies, get in on the ground floor of a growing program, and you will get an opportunity to change the lives of these young adults forever.

THE RESULTS
Here is the story of one recent graduate of the program: Lila, Age 24. Her internship was at PriceWaterhouse Coopers. “I am a single parent and my son’s life depends on my success. ITWorks gave me hope when I thought there were no more chances. I now know that I can be a role model for my son and not just “mom, the pizza girl.””

Please check out this video first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezv8rqs76ho
And our website: http://www.npowerpa.org

Then apply to:
Anthony Pisapia
Director of Fundraising and Communications
NPower PA
anthony@npowerpa.org