AmeriCorps Customer Service & Technology Coordinator, YouthBuild Charter School

Posted by YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School on May 25, 2015

The AmeriCorps Customer Service & Technology Coordinator serves a 12-month term (August 12, 2015 to August 5, 2016) at YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, an alternative 12th-Grade-only, diploma-granting high school for high-school dropouts ages 18 to 21.

To apply, send letter of interest and resume to Frederick Bader, Human Resources Coordinator at fbader@youthbuildphilly.org with the words “Customer Service Coordinator” in the subject line.

No phone calls, please.

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School
1231 North Broad Street, 5th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19122
http://www.youthbuildphilly.org

YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School is a 12th-Grade-only charter school for young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 who have dropped out of high school. Programmatically, the School spans two years. During the first year, approximately 220 students alternate between sixweek sessions of academic instruction and one of an array of vocational-training programs, including building trades, business administration, child development and healthcare. The students earn a competency-based high-school diploma, work toward a certification in their chosen vocational area, and serve as part-time AmeriCorps Members. In the second year, the new graduates receive organizational support as they pursue their postsecondary goals.

Mission
Our mission is to provide out of school youth in Philadelphia with the broadest range of tools supports and opportunities available to become self sufficient, responsible and productive citizens in their community. The emphasis is on transitioning them successfully so that they will succeed in top-quality training schools, colleges, union apprenticeship programs, other careers and the competitive world beyond.

Core Values
* Excellence * Perseverance * Respect

Job Description
The ideal candidate for this AmeriCorps position will have the desire and skills to work with young adults as they grow their skills through a rigorous customer-service and digital-literacy vocational-training track that ultimately prepares them for customer-facing employment as well as post-secondary education. This position is housed within the Business Administration
Scholars (BAS) vocational track which is designated a ‘pre-college’ track, preparing students to handle work-school-life balance after graduation from YouthBuild. With the support of a team of individuals, the Customer Service & Technology Coordinator will facilitate service, mentor, and coach students, as well as coordinate extracurricular activities.

This is a full-time, year-long service position paid through a bi-weekly AmeriCorps stipend of $500.00. Regular hours for this position will be approximately 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. However, please note that some irregular hours are expected for this position as events demand. Upon completion of the 12-month term of service, AmeriCorps Members are
awarded an educational award.

Benefits
 A living allowance of $13,000 for the one-year term
 Reimbursement of monthly premiums for your individual medical/health insurance policy, up to $100.00 per month
 15 personal days, plus week-long Winter and Spring Breaks, as well as School Holidays
o Members are requested NOT to use personals days in critical August-September and May-June periods
 Childcare coverage (if applicable)
 Loan forbearance with interest-accrual payment, and
 An education award of about $5,550 upon completion of the full term of service (the exact amount of the award is tied to the amount of Pell Grants, which has yet to be determined).

Qualifications

YouthBuild Philadelphia requires the following qualifications for this position:
 Experience with customer service; retail or other customer-interfacing position preferred;
 Strong ability to use the latest versions of digital literacy tools including, MS Office, Email, Internet, Google Drive & relevant docs, blogging applications;
 Basic understanding of the college application process;
 Associates Degree required, bachelor’s degree preferred;
 PA, PA Child Abuse, and Federal/FBI (Acts 24, 34, 114 and 151) criminal background clearances;
 Experience working in a team setting;
 Ability to work enthusiastically with young people who have not completed high school
 Strong communication skills, with the ability to present information to groups;
 Ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly flexible work—often highly intense—work environment;
 Ability to travel to locations, organizations or events in the City of Philadelphia and surrounding counties;
 Creativity in developing strategies that lead to students’ success;
 High level of professionalism and customer-service skills;
 Respect for the intelligence and experiences of young adults;
 Strong commitment to helping young adults succeed in reorienting their lives, nurturing their leadership skills, and enabling them to make a difference in their community

Qualified candidates of all skill-levels are encouraged to apply. Training will be provided for all successful candidates.

Duties and Responsibilities
 Work on a team to create an engaging service project (with our community nonprofit partner) for our students that is focused on alleviating food insecurity in Philadelphia and the surrounding the region.
 Customer-Service Training
o Under the guidance of a lead teacher, facilitate and coach students in the basics of customer service using an established customer-service curriculum
o Provide feedback to students on their work and meet with them to discuss their progress in developing professional skills.
 Technology Support
o Support students using an established coursework to build foundational skills for digital literacy that will prepare them for post-secondary education and employment
o Work with all students in the school as they develop Digital Portfolios.
 Pre-College Support
o Guide and support young adults in the process of post-secondary educational exploration process.
 Vocational Leadership
o Believe deeply in the mission and values of YouthBuild Philadelphia
o Model professional behavior for students at all times
o Exhibit consistent positive rapport with students
o Develop teamwork and leadership skills of students
o Demonstrate creativity and flexibility in identifying locations and settings of professional-work opportunities, as well as in the teaching tools used in the career-readiness preparation.
 Program Involvement
o Attend weekly all-staff and department meetings, as well as any other meetings as required by the BAS Manager and Director of Vocational Training;
o Participate in the School’s Mentoring Program;
o Participate in community-service projects in keeping with the service ethic of the School;
o Support the overall climate and culture of the School, including but not limited to, the utilization of restorative-practices for disciplining students, support of leadership development, participation in events, and visits to worksites/internships, as
appropriate;
o Support fundraising and related development efforts for the School.
 Professional Development
o Continue to develop professional skills through trainings and professional development activities offered both at the School and identified external trainings;
o Attend retreats, workshops, and conferences, as required.
 Physical Demands
o Normal demands of a food inequity service site/warehouse space including but not limited to:
o Carrying boxes and supplies
o Stooping & standing on your feet for long periods of time
 Other duties as assigned by the BAS Manager or Director of Vocational Training