Career Opportunities

Positions Available:

  • Director of Development and Communication
  • Commonwealth Corps Member: Site and Family Outreach Coordination

*************************************************************************************************************

Position: Director of Development and Communication

The Director of Development and Communication will be responsible for overseeing the successful development and execution of the organization’s fundraising and marketing/outreach strategy. S/He will work as a member of the senior Executive Team and report to the Executive Director.

With an FYE 2013 annual operating budget of $1.2 million, Raising A Reader MA is funded by a diverse mix of foundation, corporate, institutional revenue; this is complemented by modest earned income. The Director of Development and Communication will help finalize and then implement a five-year strategic funding plan that will (a) secure funding to sustain service levels in existing Raising A Reader MA communities, and (b) identify and secure funds to support geographic expansion and programmatic improvement.

Raising A Reader MA, founded by the GreenLight Fund in 2006, currently offers a unique combination of evidence-based early literacy services to nearly 10,000 young children and their families across the Commonwealth, focused largely on meeting the needs of families living in the Governor’s Gateway Cities. Raising A Reader MA is an independent affiliate of a national organization.

Full descrption of position

**************************************************************************************************************

Position: Commonwealth Corps Volunteer

The mission of the Commonwealth Corps is to engage Massachusetts residents of all ages and backgrounds in service to strengthen communities, address unmet community needs, and increase volunteerism.

Raising A Reader MA is an evidence-based early literacy organization dedicated to closing the academic achievement gap by helping families of young children living in vulnerable communities develop, practice, and maintain habits of reading together at home. Our work, which both increases access to books and offers families tools and support for strengthening the culture of reading at home, is driven by 25 years of research that shows the single most significant factor influencing a child’s academic success is being regularly read to by a parent/caregiver before kindergarten.

We are looking to host three Commonwealth Corps Members to provide site and family outreach coordination in a specific region- Boston, Chelsea/Revere, or Tri-City (Everett/Malden/Medford). Each Corps member will be responsible for two key components of our program: ongoing site support and parent attendance at trainings. Members’ direct service will also build capacity in the organization to collect and internally disseminate best practices around parent outreach. Most responsibilities will revolve around region-specific activities, and Members will also perform some tasks that involve centralized outreach and data collection, allowing them to connect as a team and have a broader impact statewide. Commonwealth Corps members with Raising A Reader MA will serve 10.5 months in a full-time capacity.  Our Corps members will share a desire to put their talents and ideas to use in the service of their communities and the Commonwealth.

Responsibilities:

  • Attend all required corps trainings and service events held by MSA, including a new member orientation on August 15-16, 2013 and one hour of MSA-related training and supervision weekly
  • Complete minimum of 1,500 hours of service through June 28, 2014
  • Manage a caseload of classrooms/home visiting programs/playgroups/family childcare providers
    • Visit each site regularly (timing depends on implementation success)
    • Provide technical assistance as needed
    • Provide storytimes on occasion
    • Enter information into Salesforce database
    • Distribute and collect measurement materials (family surveys, staff surveys, child assessments)
  • Coordinate logistics for monthly parent trainings, including outreach, location, refreshments, materials, etc.
  • Support Regional Program Manager to perform outreach to parents for trainings through presence at partner program, phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.
  • Support Regional Program Manager to recruit and foster group of Parent Ambassadors (volunteer parent leaders in their community)
  • Assist at parent trainings at Regional Program Manager’s request
  • Participate in monthly meetings with other Commonwealth Corps Members and  weekly supervision sessions

 Qualifications:

  • Massachusetts residency and legal authorization to work in the United States
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Experience with or interest in volunteerism and community engagement
  • Ability to balance service commitment with other family/work/school/community commitments in a sustainable way
  • Deep commitment to creating high-impact opportunities for children and families
  • Direct or applicable professional or life experience demonstrating:
    • Ability to communicate effectively with early educators AND parents of young children
    • Problem solving ability, specifically related to project implementation
    • Ability to work independently
    • Strong administrative capabilities, organizational skills and ability to multitask
    • Exceptional ability to work effectively with people representing the diverse cultures
  • Familiarity and comfort with technology applications including Word and Excel
  • Car and valid driver’s license preferred
  • Bilingual in English and dominant language of the community preferred, but not required
  • Familiarity with community preferred but not required
  • Bachelor’s degree in Education, Human Services, or other related field preferred

Member Benefits:

  • Stipend of $454.55 full-time every other week while in service, up to $10,000
  • Health insurance (full-time members only, individual coverage only);
  • Completion award of up to $2,000 upon successful completion of service, minus taxes and withholdings;
  • Training and other professional development opportunities;
  • Limited reimbursement for travel to Corps-wide MSA-sponsored activities;
  • Limited travel reimbursement from their host site for certain service-related travel away from their usual service location, according to that agency’s policies;
  • The opportunity for at least 10 (full-time) days of planned absences (may include holidays)
  • Opportunity to join with others with a common sense of purpose as part of the Commonwealth Corps. 

Please note that receipt of these stipends/benefits may impact an individual’s eligibility for certain public benefits.

Term of Service:

  • Position Start Date: August 15, 2013
  • Position End Date: June 28, 2014
  • Service commitment will average 35 hours per week. Most hours will fall between 8:30-5, Monday-Friday, with some evening and weekends required.

Application Process: To apply, please email resume and cover letter to Sara Pollock DeMedeiros at sara@raisingareaderma.org by May 31st. Please include “Commonwealth Corps Application” in your subject line.

Accepted members will be required to clear a criminal offender and sexual offender background check. 

Raising A Reader MA will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, color, political affiliation, creed, national origin, marital status, or any other status as protected by federal, state, and local laws. Raising A Reader MA welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations for interviews and for service upon request.