18 Reasons, in partnership with AmeriCorps, is seeking a full-time Program Coordinator.  The Program Coordinator will serve with 18 Reasons for 1 year. We would like the Coordinator to start in September 2020.

The Program Coordinator will coordinate our Cooking Matters program. Cooking Matters helps over 3,500 low-income families each year learn the skills they need to make healthy food choices on a budget. We also work to expand access to CalFresh (food stamps), offer a peer educator training program that expands our pool of instructors, and engage hundreds of volunteers each year in our programs.

We are hiring a Program Coordinator through the AmeriCorps program to support our Cooking Matters program.
 

Responsibilities may include the following tasks**: 

• Cooking Matters series and store tour coordination
• Manage communications with Cooking Matters host site agency staff
• Work with host site agency staff to schedule classes and carry out shared expectations and responsibilities for hosting Cooking Matters classes 
• Identify, recruit, and train peer educators 
• Identify, recruit, and train volunteers
• Manage Cooking Matters instructors, including peer educators and volunteers, in their roles as chef educators, nutrition educators, and class assistants 
• Collect and prepare materials for classes and tours, including food, cooking equipment, and course paperwork
• Administer participant and volunteer course evaluations
• Teach cooking and nutrition lessons as needed
• Community outreach to recruit new host site agencies and increase community support

**COVID status:

Due to COVID, our Cooking Matters programming has gone virtual. Depending on the status of COVID and shelter in place orders during the next AmeriCorps program year (2020-2021) the Program Coordinator responsibilities may vary to include virtual programming and assisting in food distribution efforts in the community.
 

Minimum qualifications:

• Passionate about food
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, including the ability to speak in front of a class
• Valid driver’s license and a car you can use for work
• Ability to work individually in a self-directed manner and as part of a team in group projects
• Excellent organizational skills, proven ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks, and to meet deadlines 
• Willingness and ability to work with people from a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, with various lifestyles, sexual orientations, and of all ages, including professional chefs, social service providers, volunteers, and low-income participants
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for the purposes of conducting classes and attending community meetings
• Not required, but helpful: Fluent or conversant in Spanish

Physical requirements:

This position requires being in the field 65% of the time, driving 15% of the time, and working in an office setting 20% of the time. While in the field, frequent lifting, moving, or carrying supplies up to 50 pounds, including use of stairs, is required. General office duties include: computer work, filing, phone communication, copying. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable any qualified person to perform the essential job duties.  
 

Time commitment:

This is a one year full-time position. You are expected to work at least 35 hours per week with 18 Reasons. Many part-time school schedules and part-time work schedules can be accommodated. 

Note: You must be a US citizen to accept an AmeriCorps position.
 

Program benefits:

• $1800 monthly living allowance, paid biweekly 
• Segal Education Award ($6,195) at the end of the service year
• Health benefits
• Opportunity to forbear qualifying student loans while in service 
• Relocation assistance (if applicable) 
• Childcare assistance (if applicable)
• One year non-competitive status for federal government positions 
• A network of over 180,000 AmeriCorps members and alums