Title: Digital Skills Trainer

Location: Buffalo Employment Opportunity Center 555 Ellicott St, Buffalo, NY 14203

AmeriCorps Program: Ignite Your Life (IYL)

Mission: To enhance educational opportunities and enrich lives through technology

Vision: To be the community’s leading technology resource for high-need populations and those that serve them

AmeriCorps Program Description:

AmeriCorps members are crucial personnel needed to fulfill the goals of Mission: Ignite’s programs, blending volunteer efforts with identified staff goals to serve as part of the Mission: Ignite team.

As ambassadors for the mission and as part of the Mission: Ignite team, AmeriCorps members will participate in professional development and training opportunities, learning various applicable skill sets that may be useful in future careers. The members will also participate in volunteer opportunities as part of AmeriCorps cohorts and develop a network of mission-minded people in the local region.

Digital Skills Trainer:

The Digital Skills Trainer provides individualized or small group assistance to community members who need affordable home internet service, internet-capable devices, and coaching in introductory digital skills to become effective home internet users. The Digital Skills Trainer's work is part of Mission: Ignite’s efforts to ensure equitable digital skills, device availability, and internet access for communities throughout New York State.

The Digital Skills program is an adaptation of traditional digital inclusion programming. Its goal is to ensure residents receive on-demand tech support, relevant information to secure internet access and devices, and the opportunity to build foundational digital skills, learning, and job training.

Duties and Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

• Train program participants in small groups of up to 15 people
• Sometimes train program participants one-on-one
• Plans Tech 360 Basic and Intermediate digital literacy training sessions
• Assess the community’s particular needs and tweak learning pathways to match
• Effectively implement Tech 360 training curriculum to hosting community sites’ clientele and assess progress
• Maintain communication among staff, sites, and participants
• Receive training and submit reports on activities to Site Supervisors
• Collaborate with Mission: Ignite training team to assess, design, develop, and maintain training solutions and components
• Consistently collect and analyze data and survey results from participants
• Support other departments as needed

Critical Skills and Aptitudes:

• Experience in Training or Classroom Instruction a plus
• Associates degree preferred; High School diploma or equivalent required
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license
• Proficiency in computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office (Word & PowerPoint) and the Google Suite, and video conferencing
• Ability to demonstrate a positive attitude, excellent interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a sense of humor in working with diverse customers, coworkers, and community
• Ability to embrace the challenge of learning and teaching basic technological concepts related to internet services, computer and device characteristics, and everyday online services and applications

Program Benefits:

• Living stipend of $13,800.00 for 900 hour contract.
• Education award at service completion of 900 hours of $3,447.50.
• Mileage reimbursements for qualifying travel
• A desktop computer to keep after the service experience
• Training on topics including computers, technology, and Microsoft products
• Loan deferment and interest forbearance on qualified student loans
• You may also be eligible to receive a childcare benefit if you have children under the age of 13
• Many government agencies, higher education institutions, and other employers provide benefits to AmeriCorps alumni
• For more details, https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/your-benefits

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, appointment times vary per site, weekends possible for some positions

This position's contract has an end date of 11/30/24 at the latest.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract

Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Buffalo, NY 14203: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person