AmeriCorps Leader (VISTA)
START/END DATE: 8/17/2020 - 8/16/2021
To be eligible for this position, candidates must have completed at least one full term of service (including AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other extended service positions) prior to the position start date and commit to serve full-time for one year with United Way. *flexibility for a later start date is available
Notice to Applicants: Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote operations and will reopen pending public health guidance. As such, be prepared to partake remotely in interviews, training, and other service responsibilities should we move forward with your candidacy. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org for accommodations.
Should we move forward with your candidacy, members will start their AmeriCorps service working remotely. Per United Way and public health guidance, all AmeriCorps members must be able to transition from working remotely to commuting to their site to serve 40 hrs. per week at any time during their service year.
Program Description
United Way brings caring people together to ensure that in our community people have homes, students graduate, and families are financially stable. United Way deploys AmeriCorps VISTA members with partner agencies to expand their capacity to end homelessness, give all kids an equal chance to succeed, and meet the basic needs of our community’s most vulnerable.
Reporting to the National Service Manager, the VISTA Leaders will provide member support to the National Service programs (VISTA and AmeriCorps) at United Way and partner organizations. As a second year service member, the VSITA Leaders will be responsible for recruitment, coordinating training, mentoring, resource acquisition, and ongoing support for all national service members serving with United Way AmeriCorps Program.
Responsibilities include:
- Help develop and facilitate high-quality monthly team meetings to support VISTAs’ professional development and team building through trainings, service projects, team celebrations, and networking events
- Lead and coordinate recruitment efforts for all national service programs
- Provide technical support to VISTA and AmeriCorps member applicants and staff throughout the recruitment process
- Counsel VISTA and AmeriCorps members during exit and transition planning
- Educate staff and community members about national service programs and their benefits
- Provide ongoing support and mentoring for VISTA members to increase their success and impact
- Develop resources to support VISTA professional and personal skill building
- Create and implement a formal mentoring program for VISTAs to explore potential career pathways
- Increase the United Way VISTA team’s presence on social media
Desired Qualifications
- Commitment to United Way’s mission and to national service.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking skills.
- Strong people skills, with ability to form effective working relationships with a wide range of people. Experience recruiting or managing volunteers, planning events, and/or serving as a peer leader desirable
- Strong organizational skills and ability to drive multiple simultaneous projects to completion.
- Excellent organizational and creative problem solving capabilities, emotional intelligence, and project and time management skills
- Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing workload
- Proficiency with MS office programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint & Excel
- Ability to work remotely
- Willingness to maintain a strong work ethic in the face of challenges such as living within the means of the VISTA stipend
- Must be able to lift 35 pounds
Eligibility
- Has completed at least one year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps NCCC, PeaceCorps, and other CNCS programs
- Be at least 18 years old upon entering VISTA training. There is no upper age limit.
- Be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status. F-1 visas are not sufficient.
- Not be listed in the National Sex Offender Registry database as having been convicted of sex-related crimes.
- Be willing to submit fingerprints for a criminal history background check. AmeriCorps assesses criminal history on a case-by-case basis when determining applicant eligibility.
- Be in a position to offer full-time service for one year without regard to regular working hours.
- Understand that VISTAs serve on a full-time basis from August 17, 2020 to August 16, 2022. Therefore, VISTAs cannot enroll in school except in limited circumstances or be subjects of legal proceedings (civil or criminal) that may consume time needed for VISTA assignments. VISTA service cannot be used to satisfy service requirements of parole or probation. VISTAs may have additional employment outside of AmeriCorps but this employment should not interfere with the VISTA project.
Compensation & Benefits
- Monthly Stipend: $2034.48/month (before taxes)
- Monthly Housing Allowance: $500/month (paid directly to landlord)
- End of Service Award: $6,195 Education Award or $3,000 cash stipend (By law, only VISTA members who are either: US citizens, US nationals, or lawful permanent resident aliens (sometimes referred to as “lawful permanent residents”) are eligible to receive an education award. Persons legally residing in a state, but who are not US citizens, US nationals, or lawful permanent residents, are only eligible to receive an end-of-service stipend.)
- Minimum Health Coverage
- Student loan deferment or forbearance on eligible loans
- Childcare Assistance
- 10 days of sick leave, 10 days of vacation leave
- Professional work and leadership development experience
- In-service training resources
- Non-competitive eligibility for federal jobs
- Unlimited Orca (bus) Pass
To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal or click here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=84397