Civic Engagement Program Manager, City Year Greater Philadelphia

Posted by on May 30, 2011

Civic Engagement Program Manager, City Year Greater Philadelphia

Posted on: May 26, 2011

Organization’s Mission and Goals
City Year was founded in 1988 on the belief that young people can change the world. The organization unites 17-24 year olds of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors, and role models, these diverse young leaders make a difference in the lives of children, and transform schools and neighborhoods in 20 U.S. locations and internationally in London and South Africa. This year, more than 1,550 City Year corps members are serving on diverse teams in schools and communities. City Year received more than 7,000 applications for 1,550 corps member positions for the 2009-2010 program year.

City Year is committed to engaging community members, corporate partners, and civic leaders in this work, and together we’re building a citizen service movement that is larger than our organization, our lifetime, and ourselves. City Year’s vision is that one day the most commonly asked question of a young person will be, “Where are you going to do your service year?”

City Year Service
At City Year’s 22 locations diverse young people serve full time for 10 months. These diverse and dedicated leaders put their idealism to work for children and communities through school-based service, as well as youth leadership programs and community transformation.

City Year is focused on significantly reducing the high school dropout rate in each of our target cities. Through City Year’s Whole School, Whole Child service model, City Year deploys diverse teams of full-time corps members in schools to help students stay on track – and get back on track – to graduate. Corps members serve in schools as tutors, mentors, role models and leaders of after-school programs. As near-peers, corps members are uniquely able to help improve student attendance, behavior and coursework – which research confirms are indicators of a student’s likelihood of graduating from high school. This school-based service is at the heart of City Year’s approach to helping students and schools succeed.

Another important way corps members share their belief in service and their commitment to helping children is by leading programs that teach elementary, middle school and high school students about how to be active citizens in their communities and make a difference. In addition to helping schools and students succeed, City Year corps members engage community members, corporate partners and civic leaders in transformative physical service such as painting murals, planting gardens, creating playspaces, renovating schools and refurbishing community centers.

City Year Greater Philadelphia (CYGP) is one of the largest sites in the City Year network, with 225 corps members serving in more than 20 schools.

Position Overview:
City Year Greater Philadelphia is seeking a CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT MANAGER (CEPM) who serves as a member of the Civic Engagement Department. The CEPM will directly manage a team of AmeriCorps members responsible for achieving all AmeriCorps and site service goals regarding Volunteer Management and Civic Engagement. The CEPM will supervise the team, oversee the service projects, ensure a strong service impact, create opportunities for engaging outside volunteers/visitors, and support the overall efforts of City Year’s mission statement. The goals of City Year’s volunteer and civic engagement efforts are to increase the participation and involvement of individuals and organizations in the communities we serve, and by doing so to create new partnerships and build social capital.

The CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT MANAGER (CEPM) supervises one team of corps members. The team is based in City Year Greater Philadelphia’s Headquarters and organizes volunteer and service opportunities. The CEPM reports directly to the Deputy Director of External Affairs, however h/she must work closely with all departments.

Responsibilities:
Manage and develop corps members
• Supervise and develop 5-10 corps members through performance management which includes observations and coaching for performance improvement, weekly/bi-weekly 1-on-1 meetings, mid-year and end-of-year reviews.
• Inspire the team to embrace a culture of power and idealism using City Year leadership tools, team building exercises, rituals and best practices
• Coach and manage corps members on team to meet performance standards for service excellence, service goals and inspirational standards that are expected of all City Year members.
• Support corps member training and professional development through established training and development tracks and identify additional team training and development needs.
• Effectively translate information and messages from various stakeholders (the school, City Year, the Community) to CMs in a timely fashion so they understand and are empowered but not overloaded
• Attend a two-night retreat in August for incoming corps members.

Ensuring high impact service
• Ensure that the vision and goals of AmeriCorps, the School District of Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia, service partners, funders, communities and City Year are met. This includes working with the team to regularly monitor clear and measurable monthly and weekly deliverables for corps members to meet and/or exceed goals related to volunteer generation, service outcomes, and engaging stakeholders.
• Work to collect, document, and review data related to service delivery both accurately and by established deadlines while using results to make service and program decisions and improvements.
• The CEPM has a strict calendar of events to adhere to including the site’s Serve a thon in October, MLK Day of Service in January, and National Youth Service Day & Comcast Cares Day in the spring. Additional events may come up.
• The CEPM serves as the counterpart to City Year Headquarters based national service team, CareForce, and supports all CareForce activities in the Philadelphia region.
• City Year’s large scale service projects are one of the best ways to present the organization’s impact to external audiences. The CEPM is responsible for leveraging those events so they are maximized. This includes working with other departments to ensure all needs are being met.

Relationship management
• The CEPM is responsible for building relationships and collaborating with Philadelphia city offices such as the Department of Recreation and the Mayor’s Office of Community Service, as well as the Philadelphia School District, United Way and community-based organizations to create high energy service days.
• The CEPM will also work with CYGP’s Development Department to solicit sponsorships for the service days and to coordinate volunteer recruitment.
• Identify leaders and resources in the community, and develop partnerships that support the ability of the team to implement its school-based and community-based service objectives.
• Work with Development Department and the team to manage relationships with corporate partners
• Work with team to develop/maintain relationships with local community organizations, neighborhood councils, and elected officials and direct team’s community engagement activities.
External Relations and Site Support
• Devote time to corps member recruitment, including outreach and interviews.
• Assist with or lead on the planning and implementation of special events throughout the year, including Serve a thon, MLK Day, National Youth Service Day, Annual Tribute Dinner, and more.
• Attend overnight conferences including Academy, which is a minimum one week-long training conference for all City Year Staff held in Boston, and additional engagement and training activities.

Qualifications:
Key Capabilities
• Bachelor’s degree or adequate years of relevant experience
• Experience coaching young people and working with diverse populations
• Experience working in a school setting a plus
• Previous City Year experience as an effective team leader a plus
• Passion for working with urban youth and developing young leaders, Living the values of Idealism, Integrity, Perseverance, Inclusiveness, Empathy and Flexibility and National Service and City Year’s Mission
• Previous experience building successful partnerships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes
• Ability to work in a fast paced and diverse team environment
• Excellent problem solving, communication, interpersonal skills required

Competitive salary and benefits: Great benefits including health/dental/vision insurance, vacation days, holidays, parental leave, a matching 401K, Flex Spending Accounts, Commuter Benefit Accounts, T-Mobile Blackberry phone/service, and more. Staff members are eligible for increases yearly based on performance. Compensation commensurate with experience.

Start date is July 5th, 2011.

Qualified applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and salary requirements, with “CE Program Manager” in the subject line, to: Kelly Batiancila, Human Resources Director at cygpjobs@cityyear.org

No Phone calls please