Program Coordinator

Background

VOCAL - the Volunteer Outreach for Community Action in Literacy - is an AmeriCorps program funded by the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois) through funding from the federal AmeriCorps agency. The goal of the program is to assist community and faith-based agencies in providing increased literacy services to adults within their communities through the recruitment, placement and training of AmeriCorps members to serve as literacy specialist at their sites.

Function

Under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director or designee has responsibility for the day-to-day activities of the VOCAL*AmeriCorps program.

Representative Duties

• Conduct recruitment activities, as needed, for AmeriCorps members;

• Interview candidates and facilitate placement of members at host sites;

• Manage the member on-boarding process from application to enrollment;

• Manage and maintain paper and electronic member files, as required by funding bodies;

• Review and approve members’ service records keeping track of members hours;

• Serve as the point person for members and host site supervisors and conduct regularly scheduled site visits (can be virtual);

• Plan and/or assist with the planning of member training and development activities – First Friday sessions and quarterly member meetings;

• Coordinate all activities relating to in-person member meetings and training sessions (notice, handouts, evaluation, refreshments - current sessions are virtual)

• Serve as the contact for Serve Illinois and attend monthly meetings and annual training sessions;

• Assist with grant writing, report writing and data collection, as requested or required;

• Serve as a representative of LVI as requested, at coalition meetings and those called by organizations associated with the VOCAL AmeriCorps program;

• Provide written reports on all meetings attended;

• Contribute articles to and assist with the publication of VOCAL News;

• Assist as needed with administrative and capacity-building activities of LVI;

• Provide monthly reports on activities conducted; and

• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

A good understanding of volunteerism and a commitment to the philosophy, mission and work of the Literacy Volunteers of Illinois. A bachelor's degree in human services, education or related field; 1-3 years of program-related workforce experience; AmeriCorps or other volunteer-service-oriented experience, a plus; good interpersonal and writing skills; computer-proficient; and, an ability to relate to people of different socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and age groups.

This position is primarily office-based at LVI's downtown location (100 S. State) with some remote work allowed.