Call for Applications: AmeriCorps Program Director, UCIMC

The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center is a grassroots organization committed to using media production and distribution as tools for promoting social and economic justice. We foster the creation and distribution of media, art, and narratives emphasizing underrepresented voices and perspectives and promote empowerment and expression through media and arts education.

To this end, the UCIMC owns and operates a Community Media and Arts Center housed in the historic downtown Urbana post office building. The center is home to a dozen different projects and includes a stage, radio station, production studios, art studios, library, and meeting spaces.

Program Director Position Description:

The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (IMC) seeks a Program Director for our State AmeriCorps program.  The Serve Illinois Commission, responsible for all state AmeriCorps programs in Illinois, has awarded the IMC 8 AmeriCorps members.  The Program Director will work to coordinate, support, and oversee AmeriCorps workers assigned these 8 different projects: news media coordination, technical support, performance venue management, community center property management and maintenance, books to prisoners outreach, bike cooperative volunteer coordination, School for Designing a Society program development, Gesundheit! Institute development and communications coordination.

The Program Director will be responsible for all administrative requirements related to the AmeriCorps program as well as making sure all members receive the structure and support they need to perform their roles effectively through daily oversight.  In addition, the Program Director will be responsible for strengthening, documenting, and streamlining the volunteer process at the IMC.

The Program Director will be responsible for overseeing the AmeriCorps program as a whole, working closely with volunteer project supervisors who willl help outline needed project tasks for the AmeriCorps members.

The Director will orient and enroll selected AmeriCorps members and in future years, be responsible for recruiting and hiring new members.  The Director will plan professional development opportunities and trainings, as well as travel to meetings and conferences (in particular, AmeriCorps Opening Day, October 15, 2009 and the National Conference on Volunteer and Service June 28-30 in NYC). The Program Director will also provide a structure in which AmeriCorps members can focus on the importance of Civic Engagement, both for themselves and for their community.

Throughout the year, the Program Director will provide Performance Measure Reports and will work with the AmeriCorps to ensure these goals are met.  S/he will also provide support to the IMC’s bookkeeper and treasurer in submitting monthly financial reports to the Serve Illinois Commission.  The Program Director will develop a calendar to assist AmeriCorps and IMC staff with reporting and event requirements. 

As the Program Director, this person will serve as the primary liaison between the IMC and the Serve Illinois Commission.  The IMC has the opportunity to serve as an AmeriCorps site for at least the next three years, though many organizations have hosted AmeriCorps for up to ten years.  The Program director will play an important role in maintaining the IMC’s status as a program site.  Therefore we are ideally looking for a multi-year commitment.  

 Qualifications and Requirements:

The ideal candidate:

• has leadership experience, management skills, and the ability to work with a diverse group of people. 
• can demonstrate the ability to build a team environment for 8 AmeriCorps doing very different jobs. 
• is an effective communicator who can resolve conflicts and inspire volunteers.
• has experience with detailed managing of budgets, timesheets, reporting and progress tracking requriements.
• has computer skills, as most of the grant reporting (budget, financial, timeline, progress reports, etc.) will be done online. 
• demonstrates an interest in fostering community involvement in independent media as tools for promoting social and economic justice.

Salary and Benefits:

This position runs from October 2009-October 2010, with the possibility for renewal with the AmeriCorps grant.  This is a 25 hour/week position at the hourly wage of $12.   Health benefits are provided.  We offer 4 weeks or 80 hours of unpaid vacation in a year.  Some evening and weekend work, as well as travel to several out of town conferences, will be required.

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Nicole@ucimc.org by Tuesday September 15th.