Americorps Vista Literacy Leader

JOB SUMMARY:

AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) is a national service program founded by the federal government in 1965, as a domestic equivalent to the Peace Corps. AmeriCorps VISTA members dedicate 12 months of full-time service to the community to lead anti-poverty projects, and are provided a living allowance, benefits, and an education scholarship upon completion of service.

Partnering agency, Literacy Minnesota, is supporting AmeriCorps VISTA members to build capacity in nonprofit and public agencies to increase literacy programs and services for low-income communities. The Peoria Housing Authority has been announced as an award recipient for the 2023-24 Literacy Leadership AmeriCorps VISTA program, and will be supported with a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA Associate, to design and implement local youth literacy program, “Literacy PHA,” to support literacy initiatives for all PHA students, grades K-12.

JOB SUMMARY

The AmeriCorps VISTA Literacy Leader will report to PHA’s Resident Services Team in supporting the implementation of Literacy PHA. The Literacy Leader will work behind the scenes to put infrastructures in place to develop program content and to help secure resources to ensure long-term sustainability of local literacy programs and services for the benefit of PHA families. PHA will provide the vision, project plan, and day-to-day management of the project and on-site supervision of the AmeriCorps VISTA Associate.

This position is an AmeriCorps-paid, 1-year role, with a starting date of July 31, 2023 and ending July 30, 2024.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manage all grant reporting and data tracking, per AmeriCorps and Literacy Minnesota standards; ensure accurate and timely reporting using the appropriate software, and that the project is meeting program outcomes.
• Evaluate program benchmarks and progress; developing innovative strategies to enrich program engagement, recruitment, and execution.
• Implement a new educational resident services program that encourages literacy in the community.
• Identify local barriers to literacy and support an increase in grade-level proficiency, improvement of literacy skills, and family participation in literacy success.
• Develop and implement a volunteer recruitment program strategy.
• Design a literacy program curriculum, including student modules and volunteer training manuals, train staff and volunteers on the program curriculum.
• Develop an engaging and sustainable literacy achievement model that helps area youth achieve academic success.
• Expand partnerships to scale the program service delivery and attract regional monetary support to sustain the program.
• Other Literacy PHA duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIECNE REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, public Administration, education or related field, and related experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated performance in youth development and tutoring or education-based workforce.
• Demonstrated experience with literacy initiatives and federally funded programs and grant management.
• Experience in community organizing.
• Must possess excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills are required.
• Knowledge of basic office operations, including, but not limited to, Word Processing and Spreadsheets, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams, is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The Physical Demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to provide in-person, phone, and electronic correspondence. This position involves extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and/or kneeling.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an indoor environment with routine exposure to outdoor temperatures, cold, dirt and dust, hot and humid conditions during outreach endeavors. These environmental characteristics are representative of employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EMPLOYMENT EXPECTATIONS

Every employee shall know and agree to adhere to the Peoria Housing Authority’s Core Values (See attached sheet). It will be the responsibility of the employee to practice these basic principles of service both inside and outside the agency. Each employee will be held responsible for conducting their behavior in accordance with these values. An employee violating any of these values will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination depending upon severity of the violation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an indoor environment with routine exposure to outdoor temperatures, cold, dirt and dust, hot and humid conditions during outreach endeavors. These environmental characteristics are representative of employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EMPLOYMENT EXPECTATIONS

Every employee shall know and agree to adhere to the Peoria Housing Authority’s Core Values. It will be the responsibility of the employee to practice these basic principles of service both inside and outside of the agency. Each employee will be held responsible for conducting their behavior in accordance with these values. An employee violating any of these values will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination depending upon severity of the violation.

MARIJUANA

Although marijuana has been legalized under Illinois law, it is a Schedule I controlled substance and is illegal under Federal law. In accordance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the Peoria Housing Authority, as a recipient of federal funds, must maintain a drug free workplace. Any applicant for employment who tests positive for marijuana during a pre-employment drug screening or advises PHA that he/she uses any form of marijuana, shall be ineligible for employment with the Peoria Housing Authority.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Peoria Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 - $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $16