A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) provides leadership on issues of economic justice by advancing racial equity and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians share in the city’s prosperous future and by alleviating the immediate impact of poverty on individuals, families and communities.  CEO is Philadelphia’s Community Action Agency (CAA); CAAs are private or public agencies created by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act and federally designated to receive Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding.

Guiding Principles (We believe…)

• The people of Philadelphia deserve the opportunity to live happy, healthy, full lives. 
• City Government should both recognize its culpability in creating and sustaining inequity and aspire to its responsibility to provide opportunities, represent the best interests, and promote the well-being of all residents. 
• People can offer meaningful insights into both personal experiences and how systems around them function. 
• Poverty is a deliberately created systemic issue and city government can lead in calling for justice and dismantling the barriers that often prevent opportunities. 

Values (How we work)

• Dignity: We actively respect our individual colleagues and people in the community.
• Inclusivity: Our work is more beneficial, valuable, and valid when our full range of experiences, knowledge, and skills can contribute.
• Persistence: We recognize the challenges inherent in this work, and when we get discouraged, we find ways to be resilient, lift each other up, and push forward.
• Accountability: We are transparent and honest about our plans, our actions, and our results.
• Honesty: We create a space to have healthy, honest dialogues about systems, people, and misconceptions and then communicate truthfully.

Position Summary

The VISTA Member Experience Coordinator is responsible for planning and executing Serve Philadelphia VISTA Program’s professional development and member support experiences for the cohort, including orientation, monthly workshops, retreats, end of service celebrations. This critical role will ensure that project needs are met through member growth and retention.

This position will work closely with the Serve Philadelphia VISTA Outreach & Recruitment Coordinator, Sub-site Coordinator and Program Director to ensure overall project success.

Essential Functions

The duties of the VISTA Member Experience Coordinator include:

Onboarding members:

• Support the Serve team’s strategic efforts to increase diversity of VISTA applicants and decrease barriers to service
• Support Serve team in the logistics of the VISTA matching and selection process
• Manage pre-service support and communication with incoming VISTA members once they are selected
• Coordinate logistics for the VISTA member onboarding process, including a week-long orientation for incoming VISTA members
• Recruit, onboard and supervise VISTA Leaders

Sustained member support & engagement:

• Offer coaching, mentorship and guidance to VISTA members so that they can meet their personal & professional goals
• Address VISTA member challenges in a timely way, utilizing a trauma informed approach; collaborate with sub-site coordinator and program director to track and manage challenges to retain VISTA members
• Manage VISTA monthly reporting, compile quarterly summaries to support regular federal grant reporting;
• Plan for and prepare the trimester check-in process for members, aligned with the process for supervisors & in collaboration with the team
• Plan and coordinate monthly professional development and teambuilding for VISTA members, including the micro credential program with the NonProfit Center at LaSalle
• Support VISTA Committee and Affinity Group creation and operations
• Develop and maintain a program to support member career pipelines and post-service opportunities

Partnership management:

• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external trainers and workshop facilitators to support professional development for the VISTA Corps
• Support program expansion through relationships, training and innovative tactics
• Act as a representative of Serve Philadelphia on the National Service Task Force’s Program Council
• Other relevant duties as assigned

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to mediate and problem solve
• Ability to successfully work with others as a part of a team
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion values
• Strong presentation and training skills
• Effective oral and written communication for diverse audiences
• Clear understanding of best practices in community engagement and volunteer recruitment/retention.
• Ability to empathize with, create solutions, and coach others towards meeting goals
• Ability to identify opportunities to strengthen existing systems, create and/or enhance implementation strategies, and work with a diverse team to implement action plans.
• Action oriented; an individual not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get into the details of the operation.
• Excellent time management skills with capacity to work simultaneously on multiple tasks and projects and deliver on deadline.
• Comfort working with data and digital systems
• Excellent people-centered customer service skills

• At least 2-3 years of experience in program coordination
• AmeriCorps service experience is preferred, but not required.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $62,500

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx