Join the Words Alive Team

Employment Opportunities - Detailed Description

POSITION:  Program Innovation Fellow

COMPENSATION: $19.50/hour; eligible for paid time off/holidays; not eligible for benefits and no moving allowances are available.

STATUS: 12-month temporary position, Part-Time, Non-Exempt

HOURS:  20-24 hours a week, nights and weekends as needed.  Not to exceed 1,248 hours over the course of the 12-month position. 

LOCATION: Office and community-sites (based in San Diego); requires in-person/in-office work; may be eligible for some hybrid/remote work as determined in coordination with supervisor.

REPORTS TO:  Program Director

NOTES:  Words Alive is an at-will employer and this position can be terminated at any time.   In addition, there is no guarantee or implication of extended employment beyond this 12-month position.

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. During the 2021-2022 academic year, we served over 5,000 children, teens, and families facing extraordinary life circumstances through family 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 using technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness of Words Alive’s programming

  • Is excited about helping to create highly effective, well-run organizations;

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

  • Has a nonprofit heart and a business mind;

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

  • Is motivated by the power of reading!

POSITION OVERVIEW: This is 12-month fellowship, aligned with Words Alive’s priorities for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, is focused on using technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Words Alive’s programming.  This fellowship provides a practical opportunity to exercise skills learned in graduate-level study of educational theory, learning design, and/or educational technology, while gaining experience working with a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency focused on developing a love of learning for children facing extraordinary life circumstances in the United States.

 In addition to a robust onboarding and ongoing training, the Fellow will participate in professional development workshops, trainings, seminars, informational interviews, or meetings specifically curated to the fellow’s academic field of study and professional pursuits so as to better address the roles an responsibilities outlined below.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Improve Extended Learning Opportunities for Participants (50%)

The Fellow will focus on developing, deploying, integrating, improving, and/or evaluating the efficacy of three platforms designed to extend learning opportunities for participants in Words Alive’s programming:

  •  Talking Points, a multilingual text messaging software to reinforce key learnings and messages to families actively participating in programming.

  • Let’s Read, a proprietary app designed to support families learning together beyond the conclusion of formal programming.

  • Novel Ideas, a web-platform to showcase student work and amplify under-represented voices.  

For all three platforms, the Fellow will be responsible for:

  • Learning, managing, and creating robust documentation on each system

  • Creating or curating content to be shared/presented.

  • Integrating the model into existing program operations.

  • Promoting to, and increasing adoption of, intended participants.

  • Tracking, measuring, and developing strategies to improve use.

  • Creating a continuity plan for ongoing maintenance, improvement, and management.

Solve a Significant Organizational Issue (30%)

The Fellow will choose at least one major issue Words Alive is facing and create a sustainable technology-based solution:

  • Improved Volunteer Communication. Words Alive’s programming is delivered by nearly 100 volunteers who work in classrooms, directly with children, teens, and families.  Critical to sustaining highly effective programming is clear, seamless communication between volunteers, partner teachers, and staff.   Currently, this communication is managed through disconnected and one-off actions, usurping significant staff time and creating lags in communication and interruptions in scheduling.  The Fellow will understand the needs of all stakeholders, evaluate current methods, and develop, test, deploy, train, and evaluate new technology-based system(s) to improve communications.

  • Improved Evaluation Data Collection.  Words Alive measures the efficacy of programming through quantitative and qualitative interviews with participants, developed in collaboration with third-party evaluators. Currently, data is only collected at the conclusion of programming, creating lags in data tracking, reporting, and program improvements.  There is also opportunity to improve participation rates in surveys and interviews. The Fellow will understand and document the full evaluation cycle, evaluate current methods, and develop, test, and deploy new technology-based systems to improve the efficiency of data collection.

  • Improved Visual Documentation of Programming.  Words Alive has a long history of collecting significant quantitative and qualitative data to measure the efficacy of programming.  We struggle capturing our programming through video, pictures, and stories that could be used as additional methods to evaluate impact, develop new partnerships, entice new participants, and document effective models.  A significant component of this challenge includes navigating and tracking photo/video releases and waivers of minors. The Fellow will understand the needs of the organization across departments to document programming, develop technology-based methods to collect approved visual documentation, catalogue and annotate for use, and work cross-departmentally to integrate new assets into programming/communications.

  • Another project may be considered.

Participate in Trainings & Professional Development (10%)

In addition to a robust onboarding and ongoing training from supervisors and fellow employees, the Fellow will participate in at least 120 hours of professional development workshops, trainings, seminars, informational interviews, or meetings specifically curated to the fellow’s academic field of study and professional pursuits, intended to develop the skills necessary to complete the tasks outlined above. 

The Fellow will document and track participation, and coordinate with their supervisor accordingly.

Provide Organizational Support (10%)

As with all staff, the Fellow will provide administrative support for programming or organizational operations which could include: responding to/routing inquiries from participants or volunteers, supporting and/or attending events, supporting material deliveries to program sites/partners, data entry, data collection, tracking financials, etc.

Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate has/is a(n):

  • Graduate degree and/or graduate level education in educational theory, learning design, educational technology, instructional technology, data science/analytics, education innovation, or related field.

  • A goal to practically apply learning from their graduate program in support of a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency focused on developing a love of learning for children facing extraordinary life circumstances.

  • Experience and familiarity with leveraging technology for extended learning, deeper engagement, and to improve systems and operations.

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

  • 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.

 We strongly prefer:

  • Current students or recent graduates from an aligned graduate-level program

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

  • Experience in instructional design and/or curriculum development.

  • Experience working with volunteers, teachers, or families.

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

  • Written or verbal language skills in language(s) in addition to English.

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

This position requires:

  • 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform essential functions.

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

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

 

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

 The Fellow will be evaluated and assessed through:

  • Verbal feedback during weekly 1:1s with their supervisor.  These meetings are intended to provide feedback, guidance, and training to support ongoing growth and development.

  • A mid-year informal written evaluation will be conducted during the 6th month of the fellowship.

  • A formal end-of-fellowship evaluation using the standard personnel evaluation document used by the agency

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: June 29, 2023 Start Date: As soon as possible