Join the Words Alive Team

Employment Opportunities - Detailed Description

POSITION:  Program Coordinator

STATUS: Regular, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

HOURS:  40 hours/week, nights and weekends as needed. Must be available at least 4 days/week. Time is negotiable based on programming needs.

LOCATION: Office and community-sites (based in San Diego and Orange Counties); requires in-person/in-office work at office in Downtown San Diego; eligible for limited hybrid/remote work as determined in coordination with supervisor.

COMPENSATION: $21-$22/hour; medical, dental, vision; generous PTO and holidays; 403(b); flex spending accounts; flexible/family-friendly workplace. NOTE: This is a grant-funded, 12-month position to support our early childhood programming.

REPORTS TO:  Associate Program Director / Program Manager

WHO WE ARE: Words Alive connects children, teens, and families to the power of reading.  We serve students of all ages and their families throughout San Diego County. Each year, we serve 5,000 children, teens, and families facing extraordinary life circumstances through family literacy workshops, read alouds in classrooms, and teen book clubs. Words Alive is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

WHO YOU ARE: Our ideal candidate:

  • Is energized by people, processes, and programs — and how they all fit together;

  • Loves efficiency, often imagining how they could tinker with a process or an event to help it flow more smoothly;

  • Is excited about capturing data in digital platforms and then using it to inform programming and communications;

  • Is a stickler for accuracy and quality;

  • Is comfortable communicating (verbal and written) with parents/caregivers, teachers, volunteers, principals, and the general public;

  • Is seeking a mission-driven workplace that values efficiency, impact, flexibility, and growth;

  • Approaches their actions, words, and work with a keen focus on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility; and

  • Is motivated by the power of reading!

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Program Coordinator is responsible for supporting the successful delivery of programs in partnership with schools, childcare providers, community centers, and other organizations. This role ensures that programs run smoothly by coordinating with volunteers, participants, and partners, and providing logistical and operational support to program managers. The Program Coordinator serves as the primary liaison for volunteers, helping to foster their engagement and connection to our mission. NOTE: This is a grant-funded, 12-month position to support our early childhood programming. Continuation of employment beyond the grant will be reliant on availability of funding.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Delivery Support (50%)

  • Collaborate with Program Manager(s) to coordinate the delivery of programs, including scheduling, preparing print and digital materials, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

  • Support the day-to-day implementation of program sessions, ensuring smooth communication with participants and volunteers.  This may include attending programming at schools/community partner sites throughout San Diego County/virtually, multiple times per month.

  • Act as liaison for schools, childcare providers, and community organizations, maintaining strong relationships to support successful programming.

  • Facilitate day-to-day program operations, including organizing data, preparing materials, coordinating schedules, delivering materials, responding to inquiries, and troubleshooting logistical issues as they arise. 

  • Contribute to the development of tools and processes to enhance program and volunteer engagement.

Volunteer Coordination (30%)

  • Recruit, onboard, and train volunteers, ensuring they are prepared and supported to contribute to programs.

  • Ensure volunteers meet eligibility requirements including background checks, trainings, etc.

  • Communicate with volunteers regularly regarding scheduling, updates, and program-specific needs.

  • Foster an inclusive and supportive environment for volunteers, addressing any issues, and celebrating their contributions.

  • Track and manage volunteer service hours and engagement data, providing reports as required.

  • Manage inquiries from prospective and current volunteers.

  • Collaborate with corporate and community engagement initiatives to connect volunteers with program-specific needs.

  • Recognize and appreciate volunteer contributions through formal and informal channels.

  • Represent the organization at community events or volunteer fairs as needed.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

EXPECTATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate has/is a(n):

  • Experience (1+ year) in educational, nonprofit, or creative youth development setting.

  • Highly organized and can coordinate many moving parts of processes, programs, and calendars successfully.

  • Familiarity with leveraging technology to improve processes, efficiency, and effectiveness of programming and learning.

  • Self-starter who takes ownership of projects, with strong time management skills and ability to navigate many priorities simultaneously.

  • Enthusiasm for improving operational and programming processes, including creating creative solutions to allow for a wide array of people to volunteer

  • Capable communicator – verbal and written.

  • Good interpersonal skills and an ability to work with a diverse variety of individuals.

  • Accountable with a strong sense of responsibility.

  • Resourceful and can take initiative and gather information to work through a project independently.

  • Comfortable asking questions and clarifying directions.

  • Ability to respect and uphold confidentiality.

  • Optimistic, positive, welcoming, thoughtful, gratitude-driven, and professional demeanor.

  • Unwavering commitment to the mission and population served.

Educational and Technical Requirements

  • High school diploma or equivalent, required.

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred. Certificate programs, degrees, or equivalent experience are also perfectly acceptable.

  • Ability to navigate various technologies while continuously improving processes.

  • Confident computer skills. Including the ability to use virtual platforms such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), remote working platforms (Teams, Zoom), apps (Asana, AirTable, Canva), and search engines.  

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with project or program coordination, communications, and data management systems.

  • Experience working with volunteers, teachers, and families.

  • Experience coordinating groups and individuals.

  • Prior experience volunteering with or working for a literacy, education, creative arts, or nonprofit organization.

  • Written or verbal language skills in Spanish is a plus.

  • Lived experiences aligned with the organization’s mission, participation in Words Alive programming.

Physical Demands, Travel & Availability

  • This position is responsible for maintaining the physical goods for our programming and regularly includes bending, lifting, twisting, carrying, and moving materials and equipment regularly weighing 30 lbs. or more. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals to perform essential functions.

  • This position is also responsible for supporting the delivery of books and program materials throughout the San Diego metro area.  This may include operating a leased vehicle (e.g. cargo van) or to support deliveries, as necessary. 

  • Ability to work on a computer and phone for at least 50% of the workday. 

  • Ability to travel to and from events, activities, and meetings mostly in the San Diego metro area but occasionally throughout Words Alive’s service area.

WORDS ALIVE VALUES & CULTURE
At Words Alive, our programs and impact made in the community are driven by our core values, which represent the motivation, dedication, and focus of our Words Alive staff and volunteers. Our values include:

  • Commitment: by pledging to make reading matter for everyone

  • Equitability: by working to level the playing field

  • Empowerment: by investing in lifelong learners

  • Responsiveness: by listening to community needs and developing innovative solutions

  • Collaboration: by partnering with the community

  • Connectedness: by creating a familial environment that includes all Words Alive participants and support

TO APPLY: Carefully review this job posting, expectations, compensation, and criteria to ensure it is a good fit. Submit 1) a brief cover letter or introductory video sharing why you’d like to work with Words Alive, and 2) a resume or summary of experiences qualifying you for this position via email (only) to: [email protected]. 

Posted: February 19, 2025 Start Date: As soon as possible