CivicSpark Fellow (Three-Quarter Time) CA

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The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 “Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For” by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

PROGRAM SUMMARY & POSITION OVERVIEW

CivicSpark, a program of the Public Health Institute (PHI), is an award-winning and evidence-based AmeriCorps program in which Fellows focus on planning and policy support to build local government and community capacity to address resilience challenges and create lasting impact in communities across the United States. In 2024-25, we continue to offer fellowships in California, Colorado, and Washington state. In January 2025, we will expand to offer fellowships in twelve new states: Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

CivicSpark AmeriCorps Fellows focus on projects in partnership with local governments, such as:

• Climate mitigation, adaptation, and decarbonization
• Water policy and management
• Affordable housing and sustainable mobility
• Community engagement and planning
• Equity and environmental justice

While projects vary, Fellows can expect to work on tasks, including research, meeting facilitation, community outreach, data collection and analysis, and report writing. Fellows also lead volunteer engagement projects and attend regular training to build professional and technical skills. Fellows will complete their service year with a strong understanding of working with local governments as well as experience in using critical tools used in the local government and/or non-profit space.

Fellows are spread regionally throughout the states and territories listed above. Each region has an assigned CivicSpark program staff person who oversees the various Fellows in their area, providing guidance, mentorship, and support for the Fellows’ professional development goals. Site Supervisors are the Fellows’ on-site contacts, who work with Fellows on a day-to-day basis, assist in project work, and support the Fellows’ professional growth in the workplace.

This is a time-limited fellowship with an expected start date of January 13, 2025 and expected end date of September 5, 2025. The Fellows are expected to commit to the full term of service which is minimum 1200 service hours over about 7.5 months.

This fellowship will be based in one of fifteen states: Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, or Washington. Fellows are required to live within a 50-mile radius from their service site’s office and must live within a region no more than 50 miles from their service site’s office. Essential duties and responsibilities of the individual Fellow and their service site location are dependent on the specific project the Fellow will work on.

Benefits and Compensation

The allowance for three-quarter time Fellows serving 1200 hours over about 7.5 months, before taxes and other deductions, is as below:

• Living allowance:
  • Up to $24,675 for fellows placed in California.
  • Up to $23,970 for fellows placed in Arizona, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, or Washington.

Benefits may include the following:

Administered by AmeriCorps:

• $5,176.50 Segal Education Award
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance
• Student loan forbearance
• Qualifies for time served toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Childcare assistance
• AmeriCorps alumni support

Administered by PHI / CivicSpark:

• Health insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional development training
• Professional Network development
• CivicSpark alumni support

Minimum Qualifications

AmeriCorps Requirements:

• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States*
• Be at least 17 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• Ability to pass FBI, state, and NSOPW background checks prior to service and if the need arises after hired.

*At this time, we are unfortunately unable to accept applicants with student visas (such as F1 or F2 student visas, J1 or J2 exchange visitor visas, G series visas, etc.), or those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.

CivicSpark Requirements:

• 2-year Associate degree from an accredited college or university.

Other Required Qualifications

• Commitment to the full term of service (minimum 1,200 service hours over about 7.5 months).
• Ability to serve in a professional setting.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to racial equity, strong communication (both verbal and written), and teamwork skills.
• Must maintain a professional attitude at all times and show respect toward site supervisor, co-workers, CivicSpark staff, and all other individuals the Fellow engages with during service hours.
• Must be able to adapt to change in a work environment, accept constructive feedback, effectively handle multiple tasks and competing demands, work cooperatively in a group, actively resolve conflicts, and work independently.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively handle multiple tasks.
• Ability to be committed to a high standard of safety and willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all of the program’s safety policies and rules.
• Be aware of safety protocols and report and issues to appropriate supervisory or management personnel.
• Must have access to reliable transportation to commute to the regular worksite(s), as well as for travel to meetings, events, and/or other project sites if required.
• For Fellows who drive their own vehicle for traveling to sites that are not their regular worksite(s) for meetings, events, and/or other service activities, they must meet the following requirements:

1. Have the ability to drive to the locations required by the projects.
2. Maintain a current Department of Motor Vehicles driver’s license, vehicle registration, and minimum statutory insurance liability coverage as required by the state law in which the vehicle is registered.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences/studies, urban planning, public policy, or other related field.

*Although a degree in a related field may be leveraged to support project completion, it is not required to participate in the program.

• One year of relevant experience including volunteer, internship, or work experience supporting project-related tasks including:

1. Past service experience (e.g., volunteering, community service, etc.)
2. Experience with, or training in, outreach, facilitation, and/or education
3. Experience with project implementation
4. Experience with local government operations and structures
5. Comfort with quantitative work, including data collection and analysis

• Being local to the community you will serve in.

EEO Statement

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are offered employment and employees are treated during employment without regard to these characteristics.

For further information regarding Equal Employment Opportunity, copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

ADA Statement:

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.

To apply for any position, you must create an account on the Public Health Institute’s job application site. After creating your account, you may search the open positions and apply for the specific position that interests you. Please note, mailed and emailed applications will not be accepted.

We’re so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

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