Employment Opportunities
We currently have an opening for a Refugee Youth Mentor Impact Associate
AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring Program
Refugee Youth Mentor Impact Associate
About AmeriCorps:
AmeriCorps is a national community service program that gives people an opportunity to apply their skills and ideals towards helping others and meeting critical needs in the community. The AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring is an AmeriCorps Program where members serve in mentoring programs across Massachusetts.
Organizational Description:
Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is fueling the movement to expand empowering youth-adult relationships across Massachusetts. MMP serves hundreds of program partners statewide supporting thousands of youth in quality relationships. We work with mentoring programs and youth development organizations to assess programmatic needs and organizational capacity to provide customized strategies that strengthen youth, families, and communities.
Host Site Description:
Founded in 1915, Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts is a nonsectarian, nonprofit regional agency that provides exceptional social services to individuals and families from diverse religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Throughout its history, JFSWM has provided assistance to low-income and underserved clients, steadily expanding to include a range of services that reflect the region’s changing demographics and needs.
Grounded in secular Jewish values, JFSWM programs strengthen the community by strengthening the individual. JFSWM resettles refugee families and supports New Americans to become self-sufficient citizens; counsels and educates families and young adults through life’s transitions; equips and protects older adults so that they can age well; and provides a range of professional support in the area of behavioral health. JFSWM is a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic agency in both staff and client composition, serving clients from more than 25 countries. JFS is proud to serve as a dynamic public advocate for those in need in our region.
Position Description:
JFSWM seeks a Refugee Youth Mentor Impact Associate to shape and lead a mentorship program for refugee youth in Springfield, MA. Refugee youth are resilient, and arrive to the U.S. with strong communication and coping skills; however, youth need tailored support as they learn how to pivot their experience to an American context and navigate their new lives in the U.S.
The Impact Associate will examine the existing structures to support volunteers and mentors and take on a leadership role in developing and growing JFSWM’s volunteer program. The Member would build systems to enable JFSWM to utilize the welcoming and supportive energy of the community in Springfield to support refugee youth as they adjust and succeed in the United States. The Impact Associate will focus on the four following areas during his/her year of service:
- Volunteer Program Development, including developing new program initiatives to serve refugee youth.
- Mentor and Mentee Training to develop and strengthen mentor training and orientation and develop mentee training.
- Mentor Support to expand JFSWM’s ability to support mentors and mentees following their match.
- Mentor Recruitment and Marketing to strengthen and develop new strategies to grow mentor recruitment from Hampden County communities.
Currently, JFSWM does not have staff dedicated to volunteer or mentor recruitment. The Impact Associate will focus on volunteer and mentor capacity and ensure refugee youth mentorship is prioritized.
From day-to-day communication with an exceptionally diverse staff who speak more than a dozen languages to more formal trainings on structures of social services and adjustment processes of New Americans, the Impact Associate will learn soft and hard skills such as communication, empathy, presentation, and critical thinking. The Member will complete his/her year of service with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a career in social service and refugee resettlement.
Program Summary:
Twenty-Five AmeriCorps Ambassadors will complete a year of service from August 2019-June 2020. These members will be placed at one host site organization to build the capacity of youth mentoring programs and organizations in the areas of match support; marketing and mentor recruitment; mentor/mentee/parent training; and program development, evaluation and start up.
All AmeriCorps Ambassadors of Mentoring will focus on volunteer mentor recruitment efforts in their host organization as well as work with other Corps members to complete a statewide community service project that benefits the field of mentoring in Massachusetts. AmeriCorps Ambassadors will be supervised by their host organization and the Mass Mentoring Partnership AmeriCorps Program Manager.
Basic Requirements:
- Passion for working with diverse youth and families
- Passion for working with refugee youth and families
- Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Flexible schedule/Ability to work occasional evenings/weekends
- Motivation and aptitude for networking and outreach
- Committed to actively recruiting, selecting, on-boarding and managing mentors
- Ability to plan, execute and document site-based group activities and off-site field trips
- Flexibility, patience, and a good sense of humor!
Additional Skills:
- Experience/skill in effective group behavior management preferred
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word applications
AmeriCorps Service Requirements:
- You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident alien of the U.S. to be an AmeriCorps member
- Complete a minimum of 1700 hours of documented service to complete host site project
- Complete all required AmeriCorps documentation and monthly reporting
- Complete as a team one community service project to benefit the field of mentoring
- Maintain a service portfolio
- Commute to all corps-wide trainings and events to cultivate future non-profit leaders. (Reimbursements available for qualifying members)
- Responsibilities include attending pre-orientation session, orientation, monthly corps meetings, a fall and mid-year retreat and two Program Day service planning sessions – Meetings located in Greater Boston
- Effectively manage time, projects, and meet competing demands
- Complete all professional development requirements as part of member contract
General Program Qualifications:
- BA/BS strongly preferred or equivalent experience
- Experience with and/or commitment to youth development
- A passion for volunteerism and community service
- The desire to work with diverse people, organizations and communities
- Strong writing and editing skills
- Some experience with marketing – material design, blogging and social media preferred
- Public speaking
- Interest in nonprofit organizations and their development
- Excellent organization and communication skills
- The ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Proven leadership and project management abilities
- Flexibility, adaptability, and a good sense of humor
- Positive attitude
Position Benefits:
- A $5920 educational award upon completion of service
- A Bi-weekly stipend
- Graduate certificate in Youth Development and Social Equity from Boston University
- Additional transportation reimbursement for qualifying members
- 250+ hours of professional training and networking opportunities in the mentoring field and the non-profit sector
- Free health care coverage
- Loan deferment and interest accrual payment for qualifying loans upon completion of service
- A nation-wide Alumni network
- A built-in network of AmeriCorps members and colleagues - with the potential to make lifelong friends!
To Apply:
If you are interested in applying please submit on our online portal here. More information about the program can be found on our webpage at www.massmentors.org/ambassadors including our full list of current open positions. Note that 1 application is required PER each organization if you are applying to more than one.
All applications require a resume that outlines how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the Ambassador of Mentoring position and a cover letter stating how you heard about this opportunity and why you are interested in serving as an Ambassador, either in Word / PDF format and a list of 2 references.
We are interested in recruiting AmeriCorps members who call Massachusetts home. MMP is committed to building a culturally diverse staff and strongly encourages applications from persons with a disability, males, and minority candidates. Note: Positions are contingent upon continued CNCS grant funding.
For more information or questions:
Contact, Thomas McGee, Program Manager, tmcgee@massmentors.org
Mass Mentoring Partnership and its site partners are equal opportunity employers.
Mass Mentoring Partnership makes reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities for interview as well as service term.
All positions acceptances are contingent upon a successful background check.
