Thursday, July 24, 2008

Program Assistant – Business Cares, Pittsburgh Cares - Pittsburgh, PA

Posted: 7/24/08

Organizational Overview
Pittsburgh Cares, a non-profit volunteer service organization, is part of the national Points of Light Institute (www.pointsoflight.org). Founded in 1992, Pittsburgh Cares is a recognized, respected leader in volunteerism and community service in the Greater Pittsburgh region. Pittsburgh Cares has an active volunteer base of over 4,000 youth and adults and provides volunteers and capacity-building support to over 150 area community-based organizations. On average, Pittsburgh Cares coordinates between 60-75 service projects per month and logs more than 45,000 service hours annually.

Pittsburgh Cares increases community engagement through volunteerism and enhances the impact of regional service partners. For more information about Pittsburgh Cares, please visit www.pittsburghcares.org.

Position Description, Duties, and Responsibilities
The Program Assistant – Business Cares position is a full-time AmeriCorps position (September 2008 – August 2009) and will report to and be supervised and evaluated by Pittsburgh Cares’ Program Manager – Business Cares. The Program Assistant – Business Cares will work a flexible 40-hour week, with evenings and weekends as needed, in a business-casual office. The Program Assistant – Business Cares is an AmeriCorps position, so the member must complete 1700 or more hours of service by the completion of his/her 12-month term with Pittsburgh Cares.

The purpose of Business Cares is to enhance corporate citizenship by enhancing the alignment among business goals, employees’ community interests, and community needs. Through greater awareness of social issues, both businesses and employees can better align their charitable resource allocation of time, talent and treasure.

The Program Assistant – Business Cares is primarily responsible for supporting relationship maintenance and growth within Pittsburgh Cares’ Business Cares program. This includes, but is not limited to, the primary and additional responsibilities listed below.

Primary responsibilities include:

Retaining Business Cares clients through effective relationship management under the guidance and supervision of the Program Manager – Business Cares
Assisting in planning and implementing Business Cares customized projects, including:

Project Management for individuals and groups:

Outreaching to nonprofit agency partners to develop mutually beneficial business – community partnerships
Coordinating the appropriate project logistics including pre-project development, food services, transportation, project supplies, etc.
Providing onsite leadership support at Business Cares projects
Volunteer recruitment and registration
Project evaluation and impact reporting
Volunteer recognition

Operational Support:

Volunteer database management
Volunteer project posting, tracking, and impact reporting
Fielding phone calls and emails from business clients, volunteers, and community partners

Participating in Pittsburgh Cares’ partnership with the United Way of Allegheny County for the annual Days of Caring campaign, including:

Outreaching to regional service partners to develop Days of Caring projects
Matching regional employers with appropriate Days of Caring projects and providing the necessary project detail to employee volunteer teams
Facilitating the distribution of Days of Caring t-shirts and project resources (i.e. paint donations)
Measuring and reporting the impact for Days of Caring projects
Recognizing Days of Caring employers, employee participants, and agency partners
Retaining Days of Caring employers

Assisting in the planning and implementation of the Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) (a Business Cares program):

Coordinating CVC logistics (meeting arrangements, food services, meeting materials, AV equipment, etc.)
Participant recruitment and registration
Post-council meeting follow up with corporate participants
Impact reporting of CVC sessions

Additional responsibilities include:

Assisting in the implementation of special events including but not limited to Holiday Season of Service (Nov-Dec), Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrate the Dream (Jan), and Hands on Pittsburgh (May):

Outreaching to regional service partners to serve as host sites for volunteer projects
Soliciting event sponsors (financial and in-kind)
Recruiting and registering volunteers
Providing on-site management of special event projects
Measuring and reporting community impact
Recognizing volunteers and agency partners

Assisting with project management as needed across Pittsburgh Cares’ three additional volunteer programs:

Project development with nonprofit agency partners
Project logistics: pre-project development, food services, transportation, project supplies, etc.
Onsite project management

Requirements
The successful candidate will have knowledge of program/project management, customer-service, volunteer management, and special event planning as well as a commitment to the mission of Pittsburgh Cares: increase community engagement via volunteerism and enhance the impact of regional service partners. Candidates must also possess proven track record of volunteering and an ability to communicate effectively to and to engage diverse audiences.

Additionally, candidates should possess the following:

1-3 years experience in nonprofit sector / related field with developed skills in:

Planning and organizational skills with multiple tasks
Management and leadership skills in developing, directing, and evaluating programs in line with strategic goals and objectives;
Building and motivating effective teams of diverse individuals
Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills

Bachelors degree in business management, corporate relations, communications, education, nonprofit management, or a related field
Outstanding analytical, interpersonal and communication skills as well as creativity, diplomacy, and skills in consensus building and collaboration
Ability to work with a diverse pool of volunteers, service partners and cultural and professional styles
Skilled use of MS Office Software Suite
Energetic, optimistic, and customer-centered personality
Strong work ethic with the ability to put personal strengths to work

www.pittsburghcares.org

TO APPLY: Please email a cover letter, resume, and 2-3 references to: jknapp@pittsburghcares.org.

Or mail to:
Jenna Knapp
Program Manager – Business Cares
Pittsburgh Cares
535 Smithfield Street, Suite 744
Pittsburgh PA 15222

No phone calls please.

Please mention that you heard about this opportunity from Dewey & Kaye Jobs Watch in your cover letter when applying for this position.

The Dewey & Kaye division of McCrory & McDowell LLC provides strategy development, planning, financial sustainability, facilitation, training and executive search services to help nonprofits, foundations, community collaboratives and government agencies address strategic, operational and administrative issues.

Founded in 1951, McCrory & McDowell LLC today ranks as one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the region, offering a wide range of services through distinct, but integrated groups that include Dewey & Kaye, Diversified Medical Management, Three Rivers Institute, and McCrory & McDowell's accounting, tax, and business consulting practices.