Director of AmeriCorps Programs

DIRECTOR OF AMERICORPS PROGRAMS – Mountain Roots

Overview: Full time (1.0 FTE) position providing leadership, coordination, strategic development, and administration of a 25-member AmeriCorps program with a regional scope and a food systems focus. The Program Director leads program development, host site management, member placement and service term support, and administration of our federal grant. They develop and implement member training opportunities and training/technical assistance to host site supervisors. The program director works with and reports to the Mountain Roots Executive Director, and to the program officers at Serve Colorado.

Compensation: Annual Salary starting at $52,000 – $56,000, with benefits

Reports to:  Executive Director, Holly Conn, and our Program Officer at Serve Colorado.

Location: Gunnison/Crested Butte, CO     

Position open immediately, flexible start date negotiable

JEDI: To promote more diversity in outdoor education leadership and inclusivity for students from diverse audiences, we strongly encourage BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals to apply.

About Mountain Roots

Mountain Roots Food Project cultivates a resilient food system in the Gunnison Valley, Colorado by enhancing healthy connections between food, earth, and community. We foster knowledge, teach skills, and provide opportunities that ensure access to affordable, nutritious food that is regionally based and sustainably produced. As the leading local food systems initiative, we work to increase individual and community resilience and promote personal, community, and environmental health through programs in five focus areas: Food Culture & Education, Food Production, Food Security, Food Economy, and Food Policy.   We run a district-wide Farm to School program, manage two community farms and four hydroponic farms, coordinate a network of organic urban/community gardens, manage a 140-member multi-farmer CSA, and lead targeted-access food security programs including Cooking Matters and Backyard Harvest.

About the Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Program

The Mountain Roots Healthy Futures AmeriCorps Program builds social, environmental, and economic health in Western Colorado’s rural communities by placing individuals into service roles in rural organizations working in various areas of the food system, including environmental education, regenerative agriculture, and community food security. For the individuals in service, the program provides an immersive setting for on-the-job training that builds creates a bridge to careers in education, agriculture, and food security. At the same time, we are building the capacity of rural organizations across southwestern Colorado by expanding their scale and reach, and promoting collaboration to improve the food system overall.

The Director of AmeriCorps Programs is a motivated and inspired leader who can meet current goals while creating a strong future for the program to deepen the impact on our rural communities. Working with a high level of independence, you will provide essential support to members in service and to the host site organizations where they are serving. To be successful, you will grow your knowledge of the community needs around community food systems and the organizations and programs that are activating solutions, determine long-range needs, and guide the shape and activities of our program to catalyze positive change.  The Director builds effective working relationships with AmeriCorps members, partners in the community, municipal staff and elected officials, community leaders and the general public. The ideal candidate is one whose management style is input-oriented, who is a resourceful and creative problem solver, who values the development of partnerships, who works effectively as a member of a team, and who has a desire to be part of an organization that values service, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation, and team work.

The program is supported by a federal grant, so the Director must maintain knowledge of the mission and objectives of AmeriCorps and Serve Colorado, interpret and ensure compliance of federal and state grant program regulations, and have a thorough knowledge of grant application, administration, and reporting processes.  This includes maintaining confidential records and using research methodology and standard statistical procedures for data collection and reporting.

Specific Duties:

• Grant Administration: Develop and maintain sound fiscal and organizational management systems and practices compliant with federal laws and regulations, AmeriCorps and Serve Colorado requirements update our policies and procedures; write and submit federal grants, write and submit accurate and timely reports, attend annual state and regional trainings.
• Collective Impact / Strategic Program Development: Work with individuals and organizations to identify community needs, leverage community assets, and position program or project as a strategy for solving community problems, ideally as part of a collective impact model;  ensure that member placements are developed based upon a program design that represents the overall diversity of the community it serves, is reflective of community need and that member activities contribute to the program goals; define and revise a theory of change and logic model for how the program activities will lead to long term results;
• Data and Reporting: Develop and utilize appropriate data collection instruments, analyze data gathered, reports on the performance as demonstrated by the data, and utilizes this data to make improvements to the program;
• Host Site Management: Recruit and support community organizations as partners, execute host site agreements, conduct site visits /monitoring, update handbooks, conduct annual meeting/training, promote collaboration for collective impact.
• Member Management: Utilize sound human resource and inclusion practices and principles to in the program design for recruiting, enrolling and retaining member positions as detailed in the approved grant;  execute member service agreements, maintain compliant member files, onboard and train new members, support throughout the term of service, update handbooks, complete member evaluations, recognition, and exits.
• Member Training: Develop and conduct a comprehensive member training plan, designed to ensure that members receive the federal and state required trainings and have the skills and training necessary to successfully carry out their specific service activities, and maintain appropriate documentation;
• Housing: Responsible for managing Mountain Roots housing in which members are placed.  This includes ensuring deposit and rent requirements are collected, maintaining relationships between residents and landlords and assisting in any property management inquiries made by either;
• Partnerships: Develop partnerships that enable well-rounded, high quality training inclusive of adult learning strategies;
• Fiscal Management: manage the budget of the program and grant; work cooperatively with financial and leadership staff to develop practices to effectively plan for and manage program funds and provide for accurate, complete and current disclosure and documentation of the financial status of the AmeriCorps program;
• Resource Development: Develop financial and non-financial support including identifying potential sources of funds, developing funding and partnership proposals, presenting requests for assistance and securing adequate cash and in-kind match;
• PR & Marketing: in conjunction with the marketing team, develop PR strategies for highlighting AmeriCorps program success, recruiting AmeriCorps members and sponsor agencies; cultivate leaders and champions within national service network;
• Professional Development: Plan and participate in skill and knowledge-building educational opportunities that promote personal and professional growth; participate in organizational leader meetings, peer-to-peer learning, and
• Represent Mountain Roots at meetings, conferences and events.

What we’re looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) or equivalent required
• At least 2 years of government grant management experience or similar experience such as developing, writing and responding to grant opportunities; solid ability to manage related financials up to $750,000
• Demonstrated program management (preferably a multi-site program) and staff supervisory experience.
• Must be sensitive and responsive to the cultural differences in the organization’s service population.
• Proven leadership, strategy, and organizational skills (particularly while working within a fast-paced organization preferred).
• Must be highly organized with the ability to implement systems and follow-up processes, able to effectively work under pressure, use independent judgment, and produce a quality work product within tight time constraints.
• Ability to work in a team environment that requires collaboration across all levels.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in an environment that is characterized by significant growth, diversity and change.
• Strong computer skills and the ability to use existing technology to achieve desired results; proficiency in OnCorps Reporting, HR payroll systems, and eGrants a plus.
• Ability to thrive working both independently and within team settings.
• Versatility, flexibility and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities; maintains composure under stress.
• Passionate commitment to Mountain Roots mission and long-term vision of cultivating a resilient food system, including commitment to food security, sustainable agriculture, and education.