Senior Services Program Coordinator - City of Newton

Job Description

Primary purpose:
The Program Coordinator is responsible for the development, coordination, implementation and funding, promotion and oversight of programs, services, and volunteers that provide daily and long-term educational, cultural, physical and mental health opportunities for Newton seniors. Performs all other related work as required and directed.
 

Supervision:
Supervision Received: Under the direction of the general direction of the Director of Senior Services and/or their designee.
Supervision Given: Recruit, orient, supervise, discipline and terminate over 100 program volunteers.
 

Essential Functions:(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)

•  Develops, coordinates, and implements daily and long-term programs at the Senior Center and through partnerships in community-based settings. Develops monthly calendar of diverse program activities. Arranges for and schedules program instructors and guest speakers. Coordinates a variety of educational, cultural, special and intergenerational events, activities and programs for senior citizens according to need and space availability.
• Develops promotional literature for senior programs. Prepares news releases, newsletter articles, flyers, and posters of program offerings and special events. Prepare, edit, and distribute monthly newsletter and publicity. Maintain Department website. Use social media technologies to publicize programs and services.
• Directs, instructs, assists and checks volunteers, contractors and staff as to schedules, methods and procedures, standards of performance, City and department rules and regulations or other matters affecting their work. Creates and updates a volunteer manual. Recruit, orient, supervise, discipline and terminate program volunteers.
• Encourages informal activity of seniors at the center, such as cards, crafts, and table games.
• Use a software system customized for use in the senior service network that maintains statistical records of participant attendance and communications. Develop survey tools that evaluate programs and services to assist Senior Services Director with budget, grant, and resources development.
• Coordinates the materials and facilitators necessary to the implementation of various programs. Coordinates room usage in the senior center and uses Calcium ( a centralized calendar) to communicate schedule to other staff
• Attentive to the needs of senior citizens visiting the center; listen to their concerns and help resolve issues concerning programming and related social service needs. Maintains client confidentiality. Coordinate orientation tours for new senior center participants.
• Observes participants and communicates with staff regarding participant behavior, its appropriateness for participation at the Center.
• Provides Information & Referral to participants as requested, directs participants to appropriate programs and services as needed. Updates Senior Center bulletin boards and other directive signs.
• Provides back-up building and phone support.
• Attends and participates in staff, department, and other meetings.
• Maintains contacts to keep abreast of developments in field or areas of interest or expertise.
• Follows progress of work, investigate causes of inadequate performance, and take corrective action within limits of City and department policy to alleviate problem areas.
• Follows and adheres to department, City and other government rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Prepares and/or maintains records of work performed, time sheets, accounting transactions or other data, reports as required. Maintains established quality and quantity standards.
• Performs other duties as required.
   

Qualifications:
(To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions. We encourage all candidates who feel they are capable of successfully performing the responsibilities as outlined in this position description, regardless of the qualifications listed below to apply.)
 

Education, Training and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree and three to five years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience. Broad knowledge of a discipline such as behavioral science with an emphasis on senior services and programming. A strong commitment to public service is required. Valid Massachusetts Driver’s License required. CPR and AED certification is required (will be provided).
 

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, government and agency policies, and legal procedures. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to present information effectively, which may be controversial in nature, to clients, outside agencies, groups of clients, or employees of the City.
 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions and percentages. Ability to apply basic concepts of algebra.
 

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to use judgement in the analysis of facts and circumstances to solve practical problems and deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
 

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. There is an expectation of flexible work hours. When required this position is expected to work some night and weekend hours
 

Work Environment and Physical skills and effort
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. There is an expectation of flexible work hours. When required this position is expected to work some night and weekend hours
 

Performance Standard
Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change, subject to collective bargaining obligations, where applicable.)

Company Description

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus.  The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller was sworn in on January 1, 2018 after serving on the City Council. She ran on a platform of providing Newton’s children with a top-notch education in an inclusive environment where empty nesters, seniors, young families, and people of diverse incomes can live together in vibrant villages and neighborhoods. Mayor Fuller is committed to keeping Newton safe, improving the city’s infrastructure, addressing climate change, providing excellent and responsive city services, and fostering art, culture and community life. The first female Mayor of Newton, she is a tireless advocate for all the city’s residents and is committed to making sure the city is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset.  To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits.  We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities.  We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings.  We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees.  And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.

Human Resources Diversity Statement

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

•   Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
•   Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
•   Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
•   Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
•   Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
•   Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 457 Deferred Compensation plans
• Metro Credit Union
• Verizon Wireless discount
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous paid leave time benefits and paid holidays.
• City Retirement (Mandatory)
• Weekly Direct Deposit
• Opportunity to serve the public and join a dynamic team of dedicated employees