Project Associate for National Service-Learning Partnership School and Community Services

Posted by on February 24, 2006

Position: Project Associate
National Service-Learning Partnership School and Community Services

Supervisor: Partnership Director/Senior Program Officer

Grade: 5

Starting Salary: Within the Grade 5 salary range and commensurate with education & experience (eligible for overtime)

Project Duration: The duration of this project will be 02/01/2006 to 01/31/2007

Project Summary: The Academy for Educational Development is the organizational host and fiscal agent for the National Service-Learning Partnership (Partnership). The Partnership?s mission is to advance service-learning as a core element of the educational experience for every elementary, middle, and secondary school student in the United States. To ensure that every school integrates service fully into its curriculum, the Partnership functions as a catalyst for mobilizing and supporters the stakeholder groups that are critical to institutionalizing service-learning. The Partnership?s individual and organizational members include practitioners, administrators, policymakers, researchers, community leaders, parents, young people, and opinion shapers in business and other sectors.

Position Summary: With guidance from the Partnership Director, the Project Associate is responsible for coordinating the Partnership?s efforts to expand and sustain the practice of service-learning within school districts across the United States. The Project Associate coordinates the implementation, promotion, leveraging and ongoing assessment of two innovative service-learning initiatives in collaboration with State Farm Insurance Companies (Good Neighbors and LISC Initiatives), as well as additional activities related to service-learning at the school district level, including consultations, conferences, publications, and general communications and network-building support for the Partnership?s over 8,000 members.

The Project Associate is also responsible for coordinating the Partnership?s efforts to build the skills and increase the capacity of service-learning leaders and organizations, particularly those engaged in State Farm Initiatives. The Project Associate organizes and supports affinity groups and/or learning communities to engage the Partnership?s members and affiliates in leadership development, networking, and innovative pilot initiatives.
This position is based in Washington, DC.

Essential Job Functions:

? Coordinate and work with the Director to expand State Farm-sponsored service-learning district initiatives and other regional support activities, including ongoing contact and collaboration with funders, collaborating partners and participants to conceptualize needed services, activities and products (print, web-based, on line, conference-centered, etc ).
? Continue the collaborative process for implementing these initiatives, as well as the requisite strategic, operational, and financial infrastructure to carry it out.
? With guidance from the Partnership Director, seek review and approval by key stakeholder groups including the Board of Directors, work and advisory committees, and funders.
? Contribute to an external communications plan, using outside vendors as needed, to advance the Partnership?s work, particularly work related to school district efforts, emerging leadership, and grassroots organizing.
? Connect the initiatives’ purposes and findings to the Partnership’s broader agenda and related regional and community-level pilots and network-building efforts.
? Contribute to Partnership resource development planning with funders.
? Contribute to the Partnership’s participation in the annual National Service-Learning Conference.
? Contribute to the Partnership’s organizational development planning and implementation.
? Contribute to the Partnership’s efforts to make service-learning an integral part of like-minded school and instructional reform efforts.
? Represent the Partnership at relevant meetings.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with a job.

Education: Bachelors required.
Experience: 3 year(s) of relevant experience required
Specific Knowledge Requirements:

Knowledge of classroom teaching methodologies and practice, including service-learning.
Project management experience helpful.
Knowledge and experience with non-profit, community-based, and/or for-profit business organizations.
Understanding and/or experience involving youth organizations, youth and/or young professionals.