Sample Jewish Service Corps Position Descriptions

The list below contains examples of the different types of jobs that we offer with our partners to give you an idea of the kind of position you might find with us. This is not the full or final list of potential positions available. Position and placement descriptions vary from year to year.

National Immigrant Justice Center, NIJC

Position: Detention & LGBT Projects Fellow

Location: Chicago, IL

Mission: NIJC promotes access to justice for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through direct legal services, impact litigation, policy reform and public education.

Specific Duties:

The National Immigrant Justice Center is seeking an Avodah Corps member who would work with detained individuals in the immigration system, who are seeking services of NIJC’s Detention Project and LGBT Immigrant Rights Initiative.  The fellow would screen individual detainees for eligibility for immigration relief and would assist in the representation of clients in both projects.  The fellow would also work with these projects to document human rights abuses suffered by individuals in the immigration detention system.  The fellow will also visit jails where immigrants are detained to conduct in-person interviews with individuals.  The fellow will use NIJC’s existing database to compile this information, and the fellow will then use it to identify trends in detention conditions. The fellow will be completely integrated into the work of both projects and will participate in weekly meetings and trainings relating to immigration detention.

Characteristics and Skills Needed for the Position:

The Corps member must be bilingual in English/Spanish and have excellent written and oral communication skills. This position is ideal for individuals contemplating law school and who are interested in gaining exposure to a complicated legal system.  Applicants should be interested in learning the nuances of the law and interested in helping individuals navigate the complexities of the system.

Training Offered:

NIJC staff, including the Corps member, will participate in various in-person and web-based trainings.  He/she will also be provided an orientation, be able to participate in pro bono trainings with supervisor approval, and be provided extensive training on the spot.  There is a detailed manual for the project and case manual.

Other Important Considerations:

Because the position entails visits to detention centers, Corps members must be comfortable working with incarcerated individuals and with individuals who have criminal convictions.

The ARK

Mission Statement:

The ARK’s mission is to create a safety net for Chicagoland Jews in need by providing vital human services within a framework of Jewish values and laws; and to build bridges between volunteers and those in need.

Position Title:

Social Service Assistant

Specific Duties:

• Registering clients, conducting preliminary intakes
• Develop with intake coordinator referral to alternate resources, when necessary
• Reaching out to isolated elderly through the Telecare program,
• Developing procedures and policies for comprehensive food and household supplies pantry.
• Supervising pantry volunteers
• Planning and facilitating group experiences for clients in Intensive Day Program
• Playing key role in holiday projects, such as Chanukah Gift Wishes & Purim deliveries
• Tutoring for young adults with spectrum disorders

Characteristics and Skills Needed for the Position:

Position requires excellent problem-solving skills, basic computer skills and attention to detail, flexibility, warmth and compassion, and the ability adapt to a varying pace, and creativity; knowledge of Jewish culture and traditions a plus.

Training Offered:

Training includes in-services, one-on-one training, observation, didactic instruction, weekly staff meeting attendance and participation, weekly supervision, as well as ongoing availability of co-workers and supervisors. Training will be provided to Corps member so they can conduct financial planning.

Other Important Considerations:

Work hours are consistent (9-5 or or earlier for Avodah meetings and Fridays). The ARK observes Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Modest dress, including wearing a skirt if a woman and a kippah if male required.

DC SCORES

Position Title: Elementary School Program Coordinator

Location: Washington, DC

Mission Statement: DC SCORES empowers students in urban communities using soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. With teamwork as the unifying value, DC SCORES inspires youth to lead healthy lifestyles, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities.

Specific Duties:

• Provide training, support, technical assistance and evaluation to the writing coaches involved in the program
• Coach writing two times per week at designated school
• Organize and facilitate Starbucks poetry workshops
• Organize parent initiatives
• Assist with planning and execution of DC SCORES winter program and summer camp(s)
• Assist in developing supplements to writing curricula
• Conduct site visits and game day visits
• Coordinate Shout! special event and help with other special events as-needed
• Represent DC SCORES citywide by participating in community and/or funder forums
• Provide administrative program support including monitoring attendance, enrollment, coach information and evaluation data
• General office duties as assigned
• Contribute to DC SCORES team
• Participate in continuous learning and professional development opportunities
• Carry out responsibilities as outlined in the strategic plan

Characteristics and Skills Needed for the Position:

• Passion for urban education and youth development;
• Creative writing or soccer background a plus;
• Excellent organizational abilities and capacity to manage multiple projects;
• Computer literacy and excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Excellent people skills in a diverse environment
• A team player
• Ability to communicate and relate well with children;
• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.

Training Offered:

• Citywide youth development training (30-hour course) required for all program staff;
• Soccer coaching / licensing training (elementary soccer and middle school specific);
• Curriculum development and evaluation;
• Personal staff development – bi-weekly staff meeting topics are centered on personal and job-related growth (ex. how to create a budget; the interview process; managing personal finances)
• DC SCORES staff retreats
• Annual America SCORES Conference

Gay Men’s Health Crisis

Position Title: Community Organizing Coordinator

Location: New York, NY

Mission Statement: Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. GMHC fights to end the AIDS epidemic and uplift the lives of all affected. In fulfilling this mission, we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians.

Specific Duties: Direct the recruitment, training and mobilization of a network of clients, community members and staff in support of science-based prevention, treatment and care at the city, state, and federal levels of government. Build support for the world’s oldest AIDS organization’s city, state and federal policy agenda. Work closely with GMHC Action Center clients and volunteers to build a broad-based movement for comprehensive sex education, expanded health coverage and treatment, and other policy priorities of GMHC and the HIV/AIDS movement.

• Work closely with Program Directors, other GMHC staff, clients, volunteers and community partners, to develop and promote policy and funding agendas.
• Conduct original social science research, research and write literature reviews, and analyze policy options. Use this research and analysis to advance science-based HIV prevention, treatment and care.
• Work closely with the Community Health Department to advocate for effective, science-based prevention and care for the populations most at-risk for HIV infection in the U.S., including: gay and bisexual men; women, particularly Black and Latina women; youth and young adults; intravenous drug users; transgender people; people with criminal justice histories; sex workers; and some immigrant populations.
• Work with the Community Health and Legal Departments, and external partners, to critically analyze current prevention strategies, including the need to incorporate structural factors into individual- and group-level behavioral interventions and the need for concrete structural interventions that address homophobia; racial, gender and economic inequality; mental health issues; stigma; lack of access to health care; lack of sex education and contraceptives in schools and institutional settings; unstable housing and homelessness; substance use; incarceration; and other structural drivers of the epidemic.
• Manage the participation of GMHC Action Center participants (including GMHC clients, volunteers and staff) in public education activities.  Coordinate leadership development and mobilization program engaging GMHC Action Center participants in various issue and political campaigns.
• Represent agency in community organizing activities, including coalition development and participation within the agency and in the greater community. Build alliances with faith-based groups, civil rights groups, and others to fight homophobia, racism, sexism, stigma, poverty and other structural drivers of the HIV epidemic.
• Work closely with Public Policy Director and Communications Director, to coordinate, develop and maintain community education and organizing materials, including public policy department web content, press releases, policy briefs, newsletters, flyers and alerts.
• Coordinate Voter Registration/Get-Out-the-Vote campaigns, including event tabling, and voter guides.
• Perform other department or agency related duties or special projects as directed by supervisor.

Characteristics and Skills Needed for the Position: Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Urban Studies, Social Work or related studies or equivalent experience preferred. Proven experience in community education and mass communications.  Proven experience recruiting, supervising and deploying volunteers. Excellent public speaking, presentation, training and writing skills. Strong willingness and proven ability to exhibit leadership in coalition with other community partners. Strong organizational skills, and ability to develop and conduct trainings.  Familiarity with government budget and policy-making process. Knowledge of HIV policy issues, and ability to work with diverse communities.

Training Offered: Various training opportunities.

Ruth U. Fertel Tulane Community Health Center

Position: Project Assistant

Location: New Orleans, LA

Mission: To improve the health of our New Orleans neighbors by providing high-quality, accessible, community-centric care.

Specific Duties: The project assistant provides support to the neighborhood populations served by the Tulane Community Health Centers by coordinating outreach and in-reach efforts in order to most effectively improve the value of the clinic for the community. The project assistant will work closely with the Community Outreach Coordinator to coordinate health and wellness outreach and in-reach efforts and events including computer literacy classes and exercise events; coordinate strategic planning meetings with the clinics’ team leaders; standardize patient education materials and monthly health topic across all sites; coordinate patient advisory council activities; and work with clinic leadership to advertise and market the clinic to the community. The project assistant will also act as health advocate within the clinic, working one-on-one with patients and alongside providers to get the word out about community events, community resources and healthy options for exercise, nutrition and other determinants of health throughout the city.

Characteristics and Skills Needed for the Position: Independent thinking, self-motivated, organized, leadership and teamwork experience, and excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Strong commitment to the New Orleans community and its members preferred.
• Ability to use various standardized word processing and spreadsheet software; working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access software preferred.
• Familiar with operation of electronic office machines (phones, copier, fax).
• Ability to work in a culturally diverse, patient-centered, holistic atmosphere.

Training Offered: HIPAA (patient privacy), learning different roles of staff and providers