Manager, Resilience Corps

About the Organization:  

Do you love libraries and want to work at one of the most well-known buildings in San José? The San José Public Library is proud to be one of the nation’s best public library systems with 25 branches across the city. Part of its success is owed to the dynamic and committed Library Foundation, which is a separate 501(c)3 established in 1987 by a group of community volunteers who understood that a great library system needed more than public funding. The San José Public Library Foundation (SJPLF) has raised more than $45 million to enhance the Library above and beyond what tax-based funding provides for buildings, programs, collections, and services. The Foundation takes its fundraising direction from the Library’s identification of persistent and emerging community needs. Our mutually respectful and collaborative work will result in more students being prepared for success from kindergarten to college and career; more adults being fully informed and able to participate in civic life; greater access to information in print and digital forms; and for everyone to find the spark that ignites their curiosity, imagination, and wonder. 

Purpose: 

In March 2021, Mayor Sam Liccardo initiated the Resilience Corps, a program designed to provide young adults with employment opportunities while addressing five critical areas of community resilience. One of these areas is mitigating the educational setbacks faced by struggling students. To address this, the San José Public Library spearheads a project aimed at accelerating learning progress among high-need K-12 students in San José. This initiative will employ up to 50 qualified part-time Resilience Corps Associates who will work in cohorts across six expanded learning programs. 

The Resilience Corps Manager plays a pivotal role in this initiative. Key responsibilities include coordinating and administering the program, acting as the employer of record, and collaborating with the Library’s Expanded Learning Unit. The focus of this role is on workforce development, career support and coaching, and facilitating career placements within the educational sector. Essential skills for this position include relationship management, program organization, prioritization, and effective time management. 

The Manager will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with the 50 part-time Resilience Corps Learning Pathways Associates and their respective host organizations, as well as with the Library and recruitment partners. This role involves implementing work plans, managing timesheet entries, meeting deadlines, and supporting communications and data collection for key stakeholders. 

A crucial component of the Resilience Corps Associates’ year of service is professional development tailored to their career aspirations. The Manager will collaborate with the Library to provide oversight and recommendations for the professional development curriculum and ensure active participation from the Associates in these developmental opportunities. 

Responsibilities and Objectives: 

Program Implementation (75%) 

• Onboarding and Training: Assist in the hiring and onboarding process for Resilience Corps Associates. Participate in interviews, support in-person orientations, help manage HR documents, and coordinate with EquityHR. Ensure new Associates receive the necessary training and resources to succeed at their partner sites. 
• Support and Development: Provide regular coaching and encouragement to Associates, focusing on enhancing their academic and social impact on students. 
• Monitoring and Support: Conduct regular check-ins with Associates and worksite placement liaisons to monitor progress and address any issues that arise. 
• Policy Adherence and Workload Coordination: Ensure Associates follow program policies and practices. Help manage their responsibilities, workloads, and schedules to meet program commitments. 
• Professional Development Assistance: Work with external partners and the Director of Resilience Corps to support the planning and coordination of professional development activities. Assist with logistics and help build relationships with new professional development resources and service providers. 

Program Administration (15%) 

• Documentation and Tracking: Developing and maintaining comprehensive project trackers and necessary documentation for Associates and partner organizations. 
• HR and Timesheet Management: Managing Associates' timesheet entries, monitoring work hours, and addressing any HR-related inquiries. 
• Record Keeping: Creating and maintaining detailed program records and data collection systems. 

Program Expansion Support (10%) 

• New Program Development: Assisting the Director in creating and managing new Resilience Corps pathways, such as AB 540 and SJ Access, in collaboration with the San Jose Public Library. 
• Associate Recruitment and Training: Support the recruitment, training, and onboarding of Associates for new pilot programs, ensuring they are adequately prepared. 

Behavioral Competencies Expected: 

Interpersonal Skills 

• Uses a variety of techniques, as appropriate, to connect with others to build and nurture positive relationships 
• Has internal desire and ability to form connections and cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships 

Performance Management 

• Sets clear goals and expectations, tracks progress against the goals with feedback, and addresses performance problems and issues promptly 

Motivates others and enhances their commitment to the work 

• Can engage in difficult conversations, focused on the main issues, and prioritize accordingly with strong solutions 

Initiative 

• Proactively creates and follows through on new ideas and strategies 
• Anticipates and notices needs (long and short term) and acts to creatively address them 
• When faced with obstacles, deepens resolve, adapts, and persists with optimism 

Teamwork & Cooperation  

• Able to follow or lead based on the organization’s needs 
• Approachable and committed to building the spirit of the team 

Communications 

• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communications to multiple audiences 
• Commits to handling all relationships professionally, confidentially, and with a personal touch 

Requirements: 

The ideal candidate must have at least two years of experience coaching, developing, or leading adults with a demonstrated ability to establish new processes and nurture mutually beneficial partnerships. Outstanding interpersonal and time management skills are required as well as the ability to handle confidential information and multitask in order to accomplish duties in an efficient and timely manner. Must be able to function independently to complete tasks. Candidate must be computer literate and experienced in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Candidate must be a collaborative thinker with an innovative, positive, and self-directed attitude – interested in figuring out solutions and able to work under pressure to meet deadlines. 

Helpful Experience:  

• Knowledge of workforce development leading practices 
• Cross-cultural competence and experience working with community constituents of diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds 
• Spanish or Vietnamese bilingual fluency, written or oral 
• Previous work in youth-oriented collaborations 
• Knowledge of K-12 education in Santa Clara County 
• Previous work in a diverse, team-oriented, and fast-paced environment 

Working Conditions:  

The physical demands described here are representative of those 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 position requires the ability to sit for sustained periods of time, close vision, frequent spoken communication, and regular travel throughout the city of San José to visit workplaces. 

How to Apply:  

Applicants must include a cover letter and resume, via sjplf.org/careers webpage link. If you have questions or need special accommodation to apply, contact 408-808-2081 or email info@sjplf.org. Early submissions encouraged; candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will remain open until filled and removed from SJPLF’s website.      

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