Summer Specialist Position, PowerCorpsPHL

Posted by City of Philadelphia on April 20, 2015

PowerCorpsPHL is accepting applications for Summer Specialists to work with our crews across the city to provide peer mentoring, life skills coaching, and career planning support to our corps members. In the process, Summer Specialists will both serve alongside corps members to assist on the crews’ green infrastructure improvement projects and conduct one-on-one or small group sessions to address corps members’ needs.

Overview
PowerCorpsPHL, launched in September 2013, is an AmeriCorps program designed to support Mayor Michael A. Nutter’s environmental stewardship initiatives, as well as the City of Philadelphia’s youth violence prevention and workforce development priorities. Annually, PowerCorpsPHL enrolls 136 Opportunity Youth (ages 18 to 26) in a 6-month AmeriCorps program that provides participants the opportunity to develop the skills required to become environmental stewards, secure meaningful work, and become civically engaged members of society.

During their AmeriCorps term of service, participants work with partner City departments to tackle pressing environmental challenges, including the need for improved storm water management, increased tree coverage, and revitalized public land. Upon completion of their service term, alumni receive intensive transition support designed to enhance their success in career-track employment, post-secondary education, and/or national service.

Responsibilities
Summer Specialists will provide critical support to corps members during the second half of the service term as corps members prepare to transition to the next step in their career path and beyond. Specifically, Summer Specialists are expected to:

• Mentor, coach, and support PowerCorpsPHL corps members
• Serve with a PowerCorpsPHL crew to complete environmental service projects
• Model professional behavior, work ethic, and habits
• Assist corps members with goal setting, career planning, resume writing, and immediate next steps for a successful transition from PowerCorpsPHL

Schedule
Summer Specialist will serve on existing PowerCorpsPHL crews from Monday to Friday (and occasional Saturdays) in sites around the city for a minimum of 450 hours over the 13-week term (approximately 40 hours per week). Summer Specialists are expected to be available starting Monday, June 1st through Friday, August 28, Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and an occasional Saturday half day.

Benefits
Summer Specialists will receive a living allowance of $484 every two weeks, before taxes. In addition, Summer Specialists who complete their service term will receive an education award of $1,387.50. This award, which is subject to taxation, can be applied to any federally backed loan or used to pay tuition in the future. Finally, Summer Specialists will receive a weekly SEPTA transpass.

Application Process
Please submit a cover letter and resume via email to Toni Lemons, PowerCorpsPHL Program Director, at PowerCorpsPHL@phila.gov no later than Friday, May 8.

Applicant Requirements
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 26 years old, be currently enrolled or recently graduated from college, and have strong written communication skills. Applicants with mentoring, tutoring, or counseling experience, especially with diverse groups, are strongly preferred.