Program Specialist - Learning Buddies

Do you want to make a difference in the community by fostering intergenerational connections between older adults and students? DARTS is hiring a Program Specialist to maintain and grow the Learning Buddies and Pen Pals programs. In addition to program management, this emerging leader position involves volunteer management, strong relationship building skills, and a growth mindset to build community awareness of programs and increase the number of schools and students served in the southeast metro.

Benefits:

• $23.00 - $25.00 per hour
• Mileage reimbursement
• Generous paid time off
• 10 paid holidays
• Competitive medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Agency-sponsored retirement savings plan with immediate vesting
• Hybrid work options available after 90-day review period

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management

• Maintain two programs using best practices for program management, process improvement, and data measurement and reporting.
• Develop process and procedures; maintain electronic files; conduct meetings; represent department at internal and external meetings.
• Ensure strong data metrics and accurate reporting procedures are in place.
• Develop teacher and principal surveys to assess overall school satisfaction.
• Maintain program stats and stories to assist with basic grant writing to secure program funding.
• Manage some budget and program expenditures.

Volunteer Management

• Recruit, place, and support volunteers for Learning Buddies and Pen Pals programs.
• Ensure volunteer success by:
• Incorporating an effective interview process, including reference and background checks.
• Providing adequate orientation, ongoing trainings, and support.
• Matching volunteers with schools aligned with volunteer location, skills, and interests.
• Connecting regularly with volunteers to monitor satisfaction of schedule, teacher, and tasks assigned.
• Ensuring provision of a variety of volunteer recognition, including thank-you cards, holiday postcard, and annual volunteer celebration event.
• Maintain accurate records of volunteer/school matches.
• Manage school and volunteer expectations and relationships.
• Conduct annual program satisfaction and evaluation surveys.

Program Development

• Assist the Director of Advancement to:
• Develop long-term program goals and objectives reflecting DARTS' mission and strategic plan.
• Explore opportunities to expand the reach of the current program and adapt to diverse community needs.
• Identify and maintain partnerships and secure sponsorship funding.
• Ensure successful delivery of organization’s mission to meet Service Enterprise Certification and NQMS Assessment through leveraging of volunteers and their skillsets.
• Engage in professional development by attending conferences, workshops, networking groups, and memberships, e.g., HandsOn Twin Cities, MAVA, and Mentor Minnesota.

Awareness Building

• Represent Learning Buddies and Pen Pal programs internally and in the community.
• Conduct ongoing community outreach, relationship building, and recruitment to sustain ongoing engagement of volunteers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, volunteer management, or related field.
• A minimum of 2 years of program management or volunteer management experience.
• Demonstrable experience with public speaking, presentation skills and database management.
• Experience working with older adults preferred.
• Experience working with students or teachers in classroom setting preferred.
• Experience writing grants a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Effective interpersonal, organizational and communication skills – written and oral
• Ability to successfully recruit, interview, place, train, and supervise volunteers
• Ability to work independently and with a variety of departments
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize, and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and volunteer database software

Licenses and/or Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet DARTS’s driving record requirements.

ORGANIZATION SUMMARY: DARTS is a community-based nonprofit that connects people to services and partnerships that improve their quality of life, help them age well, and enable them to engage in their community. DARTS provides a network of valuable information and resources to people of all ages and fosters the health of the community by helping people remain active and connected to one another.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of DARTS. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQI and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements. Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or a protected veteran’s status.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the recruiting process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

DARTS participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. See E-Verify’s official poster at https://e-verify.uscis.gov/web/media/resourcesContents/E-Verify_Participation_Poster_ES.pdf.

Salary : $23 - $25