Housed within the United Way Association of South Carolina, the South Carolina Service Commission, commonly referred to as “AmeriCorps SC”, is the state’s lead agency on volunteerism and administers AmeriCorps subgrants. The current portfolio includes 20 subgrant recipients, which encompasses over $5M federal dollars and is paired with local matching dollars. AmeriCorps subgrants are managed by the federal AmeriCorps agency, formerly known as the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The mission of AmeriCorps is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteerism.
The State Lead for Civic Engagement is responsible for advancing statewide efforts in civic engagement and volunteerism at large. This role will engage in project efforts, as well as lead best practices development, training and technical assistance on volunteer recruitment and retention, volunteer engagement at scale, and volunteer recognition. The role will also emphasize disaster preparedness and response, particularly in connection within the broad scope of the SC Emergency Operations Plan ESF-18. A key output of this role is to build capacity within and across the nonprofit and public service sector to improve the scale, scope, and fidelity of civic engagement through volunteerism and service efforts.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Civic Engagement: Training and Technical Assistance – approximately 30%
Builds capacity for nonprofit and public sector to recruit, retain, and productively deploy volunteers and civic service participants by performing the following:
Leads training workshops and provides 1:1 advising through nonprofit and public sector networks on both conventional and novel approaches to volunteer and service participant engagement and administration.
Convenes, facilitates and participates in learning communities and communities of practice on volunteer administration and civic engagement.
Civic Engagement: Communication – approximately 30%
Communication- leverages all mediums and methods including public speaking, social media, online and print outreach, and reciprocal storytelling to elevate the power and importance of civic engagement through service and volunteerism. Reaches audiences that include nonprofits and public sector service frontline providers, nonprofit and public sector organization executives, funders and decision-makers, and current and prospective volunteers and service participants themselves.
Articulates the short and long-term multiplicity of benefits of volunteerism and civic engagement at-large.
Emphasizes the importance of and opportunity for engaging historically underrepresented communities in service and volunteerism, as well as to improve community leadership from within.
Emphasizes the importance of and opportunity for greater youth engagement in service and volunteerism.
Emphasizes the importance of and opportunity for greater senior engagement in service and volunteerism.
Civic Engagement: Systems Coordination – approximately 15%
Responsible for collaborative governance of a statewide online volunteer management portal to connect South Carolina’s many civic efforts to one another and to a base of ready and willing volunteers, including:
System design, build-out, and maintenance, including vendor relationship management.
System outreach, network-building, adoption and utilization by both organizations as well as individual volunteers and service participants.
Enhances system capability to be effectively leveraged for disaster-related volunteer management needs according to agency commitments in South Carolina’s Emergency Operations Plan ESF-18s
Leverages systems coordination as an opportunity for nonprofit and public sector to adopt contemporary technological solutions, automate and unify historically analog processes, and generally to be connected.
Civic Engagement: Disaster Preparedness and Response – approximately 15% (up to 100% during declared disasters)
At all times – Improves organization readiness and response to disasters and in doing so fulfill the agency’s commitments in ESF-18 of South Carolina’s Emergency Operations Plan “Donated Goods and Volunteer Services”.
At all times – Encourages greater nonprofit and public sector capacity, readiness, and response to disasters through roles in communication, systems coordination, and training and technical assistance.
At all times – participates in emergency preparedness training, collaboration and coordination functions led by AmeriCorps, the State of South Carolina (SCOR, SCEMD), South Carolina statewide VOAD, and related functions.
At all times – Encourages greater nonprofit and public sector capacity, readiness, and response to disasters through roles in communication, systems coordination, and training and technical assistance.
During disasters – Leads (in a direct service capacity) AmeriCorps SC and UWACS ESF-18 role in coordinating unaffiliated volunteer response as needed and in accordance with South Carolina’s Emergency Operations Plan.
May involve travel to and extended stay at an on-site, state-led emergency response center.
Support projects and operational efforts of SCSC and for UWASC – approximately 10%
Serves as a liaison to external groups, community partners, and associations as the need arises.
Performs general project management and grant administration duties as the need arises.
Assists with promoting AmeriCorps and the field of service and volunteerism across the state.
Participates in local, state, regional, or federal AmeriCorps trainings and conferences, including events hosted by the AmeriCorps federal agency, SCSC, and America’s Service Commission.
Works collaboratively across the organization to accomplish the broader goals of the SCSC and UWASC, including supporting Commissioners and/or Board members as well as playing a support role for AmeriCorps and/or community volunteers during disaster/crisis response.
Additional Duties:
Maintains regular and sustained attendance.
Performs other appropriate duties as assigned.
For questions about this role, please contact:
Mark Weller, Executive Director – South Carolina Service Commission
As a believer in the power of committed volunteers to positively impact communities, the United Way Association of South Carolina is a proud Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer:
South Carolina Service Commission / AmeriCorps SC / United Way Association of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment at our organization is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service.
How To Apply:
HOW TO APPLY (TIMELINE):
(Friday July 19, 2024) Applications must be submitted by EoD
Note: Only “complete” applications will be considered. See below
(July 22-26) Live interviews (via zoom)
(July 29-31) Reference checks and any needed follow-up interviews.
(By July 31) Offer notice will be provided.
(By/Before September 1, 2024) Incumbent expected to begin in role.