Benefits Hub Coach
Benefits Hub Coach

START/END DATE: 9/1/2022 - 8/31/2023

Program Overview

Community and technical colleges are an affordable way for people to get a higher education, yet fewer than half of community college students earn a credential. Further, the COVID-19 crisis demonstrated the importance of a college education. So far during the pandemic, the unemployment rate for those with a high school diploma has been roughly twice that of those with a bachelor’s degree at 9% and 4.8% respectively, disproportionately impacting black, indigenous, and people of color individuals. Benefits Hub helps students stay in school and complete their education by offering financial tools and resources through coaching, workshops, and grants. In the 2022-2023 school year, Benefits Hub will provide 30,000 interventions to 7,000 students and target our efforts toward students of color, parenting students, and first-generation college students to take steps towards undoing systemic inequities.

As a Benefits Hub Coach your role will be meet with students individually that connect students to critical financial and emergency resources and information that aid students in achieving their educational goals, as well as build the capacity of the Benefits Hub program by developing strong partnerships and referral pathways that increase awareness and use of Benefits Hub services. This position will offer opportunities to further develop your skills and understanding of direct services and outreach in higher education and non-profits.

Locations

Bellevue College
Green River College
Highline College
North Seattle College
Renton Technical College
Shoreline Community College
South Seattle College
University of Washington, Bothell/Cascadia College

Member Roles & Responsibilites

Provide coaching to assess financial needs and eligibility for potential resources and services and encourage financial literacy
Provide resource navigation to connect with campus and community resources, emergency resources when needed, making appropriate referrals, and assistance enrolling in those services
Provide coaching to assess financial needs and encourage financial literacy
Ensure on-going assistance to students by responding to emails and phone calls during service hours
Effectively manage your weekly schedule to accommodate drop-in hours, student appointments, data entry, campus outreach, and other service tasks
Deliver workshops on financial literacy topics and tailor content to meet the needs of students
Outreach and engage students for the purpose of strengthening relationships or helping students access resources through Benefits Hub or other United Way/campus opportunities
Develop and maintain on-campus partnerships to increase awareness of Benefits Hub services and referrals, including campus departments, staff & faculty, student groups, etc.
Maintain confidential and accurate files in our online database (Apricot)
Coordinate on-site logistics for quarterly stakeholder convening, workshops, and events to increase student, staff, and faculty engagement
Participate in ongoing trainings, apply learnings, and implement racial equity strategies to reduce racial disparities in homelessness and poverty for community and technical college students
Campus specific responsibilities that further support student needs, including data management, special projects, staffing food pantries, etc.
Position Length: 12 Months

Benefits & Compensation

Bi-weekly stipend of $1158 (pre-tax)
$6495 Education Award upon successful completion of service
Additional $1000 completion bonus from UWKC upon successful completion of service
Loan deferment and payment of interest accrued during service year on qualified student loans (loans must be federally-backed; personal/private loans not eligible)
Noncompetitive eligibility for federal jobs for up to one year after completing service
Health benefits that meet the minimum standards of ACA compliance
Unlimited free transportation with a pre-paid ORCA Card
Childcare assistance
10 days sick leave, 10 days personal leave plus 11 federal holidays
Enrollment in an assistance program with 24-hour access to phone counseling
Access to emergency assistance program to mitigate unforeseen financial emergencies that put your continued participation in AmeriCorps service at risk
Monthly team meetings, high-quality training, professional development, and networking opportunities
Lifelong friends and colleagues who are passionate about service!
Professional Development Benefits

Robust professional development to support your personal, professional, and service goals and growth
Skills to be gained include but not limited to: Interpersonal and Intercultural communication, community outreach, adaptability, relationship building, conflict management, customer service, resource navigation, data entry, knowledge of WA public benefits, knowledge of inner workings of non-profits and community college systems
One time $100 Professional Development stipend
Optional career development trainings provided by UWKC AmeriCorps team
Previous trainings include: How to Network, Resume Workshops, Mock Interviews, How to make your LinkedIn Profile Shine
Networking opportunities within United Way, Campus Departments, and Community Partners
Optional Certifications: Mental Health First Aid, Food Handler’s Permit (Required by sites with Food Pantries)
What We’re Looking For:

We believe that the communities we serve must be centered in the work we do therefore people of color, first generation college students, and community college graduates are highly encouraged to apply
Second language skill is highly desirable so that we can offer connections to students in their preferred or native languages
Understanding of systemic racism and commitment to anti-racist work to ensure outputs are relevant and accessible to students
Flexibility and quick problem-solving skills to balance the variety of service activities and any potential shift in student/program priorities
High emotional intelligence to be able to manage stress and emotions of your own and students
Experience working on multiple projects at once and ability to self-manage
Ability to communicate clearly with staff members, partners, and community members
Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with team, partners, and the campus community
Preferred Knowledge and Experience:

Familiarity with Washington State, especially communities most greatly impacted by food & housing insecurity
Strong computer skills and experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and social media sites
Experience as a tutor, mentor, or resource navigator
If you do not have the preferred knowledge, experience, or qualifications, please do not be discouraged from applying.

As a member of this cohort, you will be supported with a robust orientation, ongoing professional development opportunities, training, check-ins, and the tools and resources you need to succeed.

This is a full-time position and members will serve approximately 40 hours per week for the duration of their service term


AmeriCorps Program Eligibility:

Must be over 18 years old on the first day of service
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Unfortunately, F1 visas are not sufficient.
Must be available 40 hours per week through August 2023. Exact hours may vary by site placement, but will primarily be Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Must undergo a Washington State Patrol background check, FBI background check and National Sex Offender Registry Check, plus state of residence background check if not currently living in Washington
Per United Way of King County Policy, AmeriCorps members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the first day of service. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. If you are a selected candidate, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination. Please reach out to ------------ if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

To Apply: Create an application on My AmeriCorps Portal here: http://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=93504
No resume or cover letter is required.
The application process moves quickly, please expect a response within 1-2 days.
Please contact ------------ with any questions.