RIVA Corps Program Coordinator

To Apply: Send Cover Letter and Resume/CV to hello@rivaiowa.org.

RIVA Corps Program Overview:

The RIVA (Refugee & Immigrant Voices in Action) AmeriCorps Program was launched in 2015 to expand its unique peer-to-peer, train-the-trainer, “Navigator” social learning model to newly arrived refugees statewide. RIVA places AmeriCorps members across urban and rural communities in Iowa to address unmet needs that create cycles of poverty in refugee and immigrant communities.  

A majority of RIVA Corps members are from Iowa’s refugee communities.RIVA Corps members serve 11-month service terms, receive bi-weekly living stipends for their service, and upon completion of their AmeriCorps service term, earn an education award. Members also receive ongoing leadership training and are placed with mentors to support their personal and professional development goals throughout their service term. 

Job Summary:

The RIVA Corps Program Coordinator will coordinate member recruitment and retention, training, and development efforts. The Program Coordinator is responsible for:

• Daily support and supervision of RIVA Corps members at the RIVA Des Moines office.
• Recruitment and outreach for new RIVA Corps members
• Oversight and management of RIVA Corps Communications
• Logistics and management of RIVA Corps Member training, including orientation and Life after AmeriCorps Training
• Management and liaison for the RIVA Corps budget process
• Operational support such as mail, filing, timesheet management
• Data Management support

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Organizational Culture

• Participates in a team based approach to service delivery and problem-solving.
• Promotes and maintains agency culture, standards, and systems.
• Plans and participates in skill and knowledge-building educational opportunities that promote personal and professional growth.

Member Experience

Outreach, Recruitment, & Retention

• Leads recruitment efforts, ensuring that all program slots are filled prior to program start.
• Collaborates with RIVA Corps staff to implement a strong, year-long outreach, recruitment and retention plan.
• Utilizes sound human resource and inclusion practices and principles to recruit, enroll and retain member positions as detailed in the AmeriCorps grant following all RIVA Corps Recruitment policies and processes.
• Reviews all candidate files, interviews all members, decides on offer status.
• Supervise RIVA Corps members involved in recruitment.
• Maintain all recruitment websites including RIVA webpage, Handshake, Indeed, LinkedIn, Facebook
• Ensure consistent communication between RIVA Corps staff, Communications and Recruitment
• Identifies opportunities to improve retention through monthly member calls, training, and development. 

Performance Management

• Provides support for AmeriCorps members in conjunction with other RIVA Corps staff and site supervisors.
• Serves as the primary contact for questions, concerns, and/or issues related to member timekeeping; discipline; exits and terminations; and benefits, bonuses, and resources.
• Directs escalated member issues to the Program Manager.
• Assists the Administrative Coordinator with issues related to member enrollment and exit.
• Ensures completion and assessment of mid-term (as applicable) and end-of-term performance evaluations with members.

Orientation and Training

• Provide member orientation and other compliance trainings such as Life After AmerICorps.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of all professional development training and program required trainings
• Ensure proper implementation of Resource Navigator training, including guest speakers as ended
• Implement Day at the Capitol preparation, training and logistics.

Alumni Network Development

• Develop Alumni network

Program Support

Data Collection Support

• Ensures the integrity and consistency of data collection systems across all RIVA Corps host sites through regular audits and system maintenance.
• Implements and manages standardized data collection instruments to ensure all member and program performance records are complete, accurate, and ready for reporting.
• Performs regular data cleaning and validation on client-level databases, resolving discrepancies in monthly impact reports to maintain a "single source of truth" for service delivery.
• Deploys and updates technical data collection tools, ensuring all digital infrastructure is functioning correctly to capture member performance metrics.
• Executes quarterly data hygiene protocols and system updates to strengthen the program’s technical foundation and reporting reliability.
• Directs the implementation of impact reporting workflows and provides hands-on technical training to members on proper data entry and maintenance procedures.

Communications

• Ensure weekly and monthly RIVA Corps communication goals through supervising members or completing the work yourself
• Onboarding and supervision of RIVA Corps member Basecamp Communications and Newsletters
• Onboarding and supervision of RIVA Corps member responsible for photography or videos
• Monthly updates and maintenance of RIVA website
• Executing social media planning and posts

Budget

• Actively manages the program budget and works cooperatively with RIVA financial and leadership staff to develop practices that effectively plan for and manage funds and provide for accurate documentation.
• Maintain claims folders on Google Drive and assist CFO in completing claims as needed 

Other Programmatic Support

• Attends monthly check-ins with Volunteer Iowa (VI), the commission office, and weekly RIVA Corps team meetings and provides feedback for continuous improvement.
• Attends annual AmeriCorps Training Conference (as budget permits) and other conferences as identified by the Program Director.
• Administrative Coordinator backup

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position will supervise all RIVA Corps members serving in the Des Moines office . Supervision may include project management and coaching as needed.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to work 8am-5pm in person at the Des Moines office each day.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills 
• Able to learn new applications, use computers for email communications, reporting, and data collecting and analysis 
• Must pass state and federal criminal background checks.
• Ability to communicate effectively and tailor messaging to the audience and maintain professionalism in speaking and writing
• 1 or more years managing or leading a team
• Experience working in a school, educational, or youth-support setting
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and present ideas with clarity, credibility, humility, and tact
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate and plan for questions, listen carefully, provide constructive feedback, and remain open and responsive to feedback from others
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects effectively
• Flexible team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and weekends, and travel throughout Iowa
• Commitment to excellence and to the mission of RIVA

Desirable Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field
• Experience in coordinating and facilitating working groups
• Prior experience with an AmeriCorps program.
• Bilingual
• Demonstrated interest in social justice, education, environmental conservation, and community sustainability.
• Strong interpersonal skills with people at all levels, and in all settings.
• Ability to relate to a highly diverse environment including the Executive Director, Board of Directors, staff, neighborhood and community leaders, and volunteers.
• Demonstrated success working in multi-cultural teams and a diverse constituency.
• A self-starter, total team player with strong organizational skills.
• Diplomacy and patience, along with a sense of humor!