Youth Program Specialist
Employer: Urban Roots
Position: Youth Program Specialist
Location: Austin, TX
Website: http://www.urbanrootsatx.org
Contact: leigh@urbanrootsatx.org
Who We Are: In 2008 Urban Roots was born as a program of the non-profit organization, YouthLaunch, and is now emerging as its own independent agency. Urban Roots is a youth development program that uses sustainable agriculture as a means to transform the lives of young people and to increase the access of healthy food in Austin. On 3 ½ acres of urban farmland, Urban Roots’ Core Youth Program provides thirty Austin teenagers with paid internships, leadership and service opportunities, and teaches them important life skills. Urban Roots engages young people to learn about hard work, to connect with the land and food, and to serve their community. Through additional programming we engage hundreds of volunteers through team-building farmwork days on the land, provide educational tours to school and community youth groups, and donate thousands of pounds of farm-fresh produce to local hunger relief agencies.
Job Summary: The Urban Roots Youth Program Assistant will be responsible for coordinating and facilitating aspects of the Core Youth Program, Alumni Program and Community Programming, organizing and leading aspects of educational tours on the farm. The Youth Program Assistant will work closely with and, provide support to, the Director of Operations.
Primary Responsibilities: • Program Set Up - Assists with Program Set-up - Assists with Youth Intern Recruitment and Interviews • Core Youth Program & Youth Graduate Internships - During the Fall Winter & Spring Sessions: Every Saturday and some weekday evenings - During the Summer Session: 2-3 days between Tuesday and Saturday - Transport youth in a 15-passenger van - Facilitate some workshops - Support the personal growth of youth through sharing feedback • Coordinate Field Trips to the Urban Roots farm - Schedule school and community groups to visit the farm as a part of the Educational Tour Program and School to Farm Initiative - Track data for Field Trips and lead some field trips • Coordinates Alumni Program • Admin - Submit youth payroll - Work to secure in-kind donations - Manage UR photo system Applicants must have prior experience working with teenagers and an interest in community service, the environment, and multicultural teambuilding. Key attributes include the ability to motivate a group of young people while fostering their potential, being open to one’s own personal growth, and the capability to uphold the standards of the community. We are looking for people who enjoy working on a team as well as independently, who are dependable, organized, flexible, and have a sense of humor. We are seeking individuals whose own background and experiences reflect the rich diversity of the youth who participate in the program.
Job Requirements • A completed bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent professional experience in the areas of social work, youth services, and/or education • Two or more years working with teenagers in a school or non-profit setting • Ability to work independently • Demonstrated organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously • Ability to work independently • Ability to work with diverse groups of people in the community • Strong communication skills; written and verbal • Responsible, independent and open to feedback and personal groth • Ability to perform manual labor and lift 40 lbs. • Ability to maintain a positive attitude and work effectively in the midst of difficult weather and environmental challenges • Ability to motivate others cultivate a positive attitude and work hard • Willingness to work a flexible schedule as dictated by the needs of the program • Basic knowledge of, and experience with computer program including Microsoft Office • Driver’s license and good driving record
Term of Position: This is a part-time, year-round position. The Program Specialist will work 20 hours each week. The exact schedule will vary seasonally and with the program needs.
Compensation: The Program Specialist will earn $12 per hour.
To Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter to leigh@urbanrootsatx.org. No phone calls, please. Please reference Urban Roots Youth Program Specialist in the subject line. We will review all submissions, identify viable candidates and contact ONLY those individuals selected to continue in the interview process. The position will be filled when the desired candidate is found. People of color, bilingual persons, and applicants with experience working with low-income communities of color are strongly encouraged to apply. To learn more about Urban Roots, go to www.urbanrootsatx.org Urban Roots is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to creating a multicultural organization. We actively seek a diverse pool of candidates for this position, especially candidates of color. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We will not discriminate in our hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
Submitted by Urban Roots on Mon, 08/06/2012 - 10:40am
