Program Associate, AmeriCorps Workforce Development

National Council on Aging • Wheeling, WV

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Associate, AmeriCorps Workforce Development plays a key role in supporting the planning, coordination, and implementation of workforce development initiatives within the Center for Economic Well-Being (CEW). This includes providing program, participant, and operational support for the AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program (SDP) activities in Wheeling, West Virginia. Working both independently and collaboratively, the Program Associate partners with internal staff, community organizations, employers, training providers, and volunteers to support successful program implementation and advance workforce development goals. Working closely with the AmeriCorps program team, the Program Associate supports AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers throughout the West Virginia Northern Panhandle, western Pennsylvania, and eastern Ohio by coordinating participant recruitment, volunteer service, training, mentoring, and employment readiness activities for adults age 55 and older. The Program Associate builds relationships with the local business community to expand workforce opportunities for older adults and support participants in obtaining permanent employment. This position emphasizes providing quality volunteer experiences and specialized training that prepare older adults for permanent employment.

About the AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program (SDP):
The AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program (SDP) is funded by AmeriCorps Seniors and supports older adults in obtaining permanent employment in skilled labor and professional careers. Grantee organizations—including NCOA—provide: Training and/or certification for employment, and support such as mentorship, coaching, transportation, and other forms of support. Mentoring and/or coaching in regular increments, including during pre- and post-employment placement. A competitive stipend to remove barriers for older adults’ service.

Positions at this level typically report to an associate director or director and require experience supporting projects and managing tasks or deliverables. Incumbents are required to exercise judgement within their scope of work based on defined guidelines. Incumbents generally have one or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent, as well as substantive experience at this level. Graduate level degrees may be considered in lieu of experience.

This grant-funded position is a short-term, temporary position that is funded through June 30, 2028, and designed to be filled by a W-2 employee.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1-3 years of relevant experience in program coordination, program support, or a similar role required
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate projects, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines while maintaining strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with participants, employers, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to provide participant-centered case management and support, maintain ongoing participant engagement and follow-up, and respond effectively to individual participant needs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience learning and utilizing web-based data management systems, such as Salesforce or similar platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the service area to volunteer stations, partner sites, and community locations as needed, including occasional same-day or time-sensitive travel.
• Complete required annual National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) training and other trainings as required by AmeriCorps and NCOA.

Nice To Haves

• experience in workforce development, employment and training, human services, job readiness, or a related field preferred.
• Experience supporting nonprofit or grant-funded programs, including tracking deliverables, organizing reports, monitoring activities, and assisting with day-to-day program operations, preferred.
• Experience working with older adults, diverse communities, minority populations, low-income communities, or other underserved populations strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with workforce development resources and employer networks in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, eastern Ohio, or western Pennsylvania, including experience networking with public agencies and community organizations at the local level, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day implementation of the AmeriCorps Seniors Workforce Development Senior Demonstration Program (SDP) to support participant success and achievement of grant objectives.
• Serve as a case manager for enrolled AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to provide a path to successful program completion.
• Recruiting volunteers and matching them to the appropriate volunteer station.
• Ensuring accurate data collection and entry into the database.
• Conducting weekly check-ins with AmeriCorps volunteers.
• Supporting volunteers who need additional digital literacy training by providing them access to standard curriculum.
• Enrolling volunteers in appropriate specialized training courses and coordinating any certification testing needed to support their employment objectives.
• Identifying job opportunities for AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who have completed their training, curriculum, and volunteer service experience and supporting their transition to permanent employment.
• Maintaining contact with volunteers who have exited the program to follow up on and track their employment status and income.
• Support the development and implementation of participant recruitment strategies to maintain consistent enrollment levels and a pipeline of prospective volunteers.
• Identify appropriate volunteer training sites and maintain communication with partner organizations to support positive training and volunteer experiences for AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.
• Work with volunteer station partners to identify service opportunities that meet organizational needs while supporting volunteers’ employment and training goals, including opportunities for job shadowing and skill development.
• Customize volunteer opportunities to meet the employment training needs of each volunteer and create an individualized training plan for each volunteer.
• Monitor assigned program activities, participant data, and progress toward performance measures to support quality service delivery, achievement of grant objectives, and compliance with applicable grant and program requirements.
• Collaborate regularly in-office with other AmeriCorps Workforce Development and Program Evaluation team members to coordinate program activities, share information, and support successful grant implementation.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with all applicable AmeriCorps and NCOA program standards, procedures, and data security requirements.
• Serve as an ambassador for NCOA’s mission, programs, and social impact goals by building and maintaining positive relationships with employers, community organizations, public and private agencies, and other external stakeholders to promote awareness of AmeriCorps Seniors, workforce development initiatives, and older worker issues.
• Participate in team meetings, work planning, trainings, community events, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement activities to support program and departmental goals.
• Conduct site visits, attend conferences and community events, participate in partner meetings, and engage in other business travel as needed to support participant services, partner relationships, program implementation, and organizational priorities.
• Complete required annual National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) training and other trainings as required by AmeriCorps and NCOA.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive stipend to remove barriers for older adults’ service.
• Competitive and equitable compensation.
• Geographic differentials are established using regional labor market data to ensure competitive and equitable pay across locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree