Current Openings
Landscape Horticulture Instructor, Green Teen Program
Position Summary:
Under direction of the GCYC Garden Manager, the landscape horticulture instructor will instruct and lead youth ages 13-18 to maintain campus grounds and educational gardens at the Gary Comer Youth Center. The youth will be participating in a 10-week summer job-readiness program focused on green careers. The GCYC network of gardens includes an award-winning rooftop garden, a 1.75 acre youth education garden with extensive vegetable production, an environmental education garden and the GCYC grounds. This is a part-time (20 hours/week), seasonal position starting in Mid-May/June through August.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
• Teach and lead youth in the organic maintenance of GCYC educational gardens, which feature vegetables and herbs, along with mixed borders of conifers, trees, shrubs, turf, perennials, annuals, sedges and grasses.
• General landscape maintenance tasks will include weeding, watering, dead-heading, grooming, planting, removing debris, pruning, edging, mowing and mulching.
• Demonstrated knowledge of how to maintain conifers, trees, shrubs, perennials, turf, sedges and grasses
• Ability to organize tasks and time to ensure timely completion of all projects
• Ensures safety, cleanliness and order of working environment
• Manage daily program operations, including grant requirements, recording keeping and administrative duties
• Provide leadership and supervision of youth
• Work collaboratively with all GCYC departments, including volunteers and external partners
• Attend mandatory trainings and meetings as required
• Performs other duties as assigned
Education and Qualifications:
• B.S. degree in horticulture, agriculture, teaching or related field.
• Two years working with youth ages 13-18
• Note: A comparable combination of education, experience or training that would provide the level of knowledge, skills and ability required may qualify individual.
• Physical requirements: Ability to lift 25 lbs.; Ability to frequently bend, stoop, reach and climb. Ability to work in all weather conditions.
• Knowledge of youth development and programming principles
• Demonstrable cultural competency with a dedication to working with youth, families and community members
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to multi-task, troubleshoot and problem solve effectively
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Work Environment: Hours will include some evenings and Saturdays
Salary: Hourly wage dependent upon qualifications and experience.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume and references:
via e-mail (preferred) to Marji Hess, GCYC Garden Manager email: mhess@gcychome.org by May 6, 2013
or mail to Attn: Marji Hess
Gary Comer Youth Center
7200 S. Ingleside Avenue | Chicago, IL 60619
Visual Arts Coordinator
Position Summary:
Develops and implements traditional arts and crafts programming as well as manages the operations of all visual arts offerings and services. Reports to Associate Program Director.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
• Develop and implement cultural arts program that enable youth to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing. Program focused on traditional arts and craft projects.
• Provide visual arts programming for youth of various ages (providing programs for teens and elementary school aged youth). Programming includes visual arts programming for school clients.
• Maintain current and accurate statistical documentation of programs offered and participant outcomes.
• Serves as lead for supplying candidates for part time instructors and partners (contracted workers) .
• Management of volunteers and part time instructors/contracted instructors.
• Deliver and/or design general youth development programs (i.e. group development, leadership, etc.)
• Serve as lead for field trips for the visual art department as well as for organizational field trips
• Participate in weekly staff meetings and conferences. Assist other staff when needed.
• Responsible for all of the execution of visual arts related tasks related to community holiday events including but not limited to Halloween (haunted house) and December holiday arts party.
• Assists with the search and submittal of grant applications for visual arts programs.
• Responsible for assigned grant compliance activities.
• Administrative tasks related to management of visual arts programming.
• Secures supplies and materials in cooperation with supervisors and other program staff.
• Maintains an organized and clean art room.
• Other duties as assigned.
Education and Qualifications:
• Bachelors’ degree with a major in arts education, youth development, or related subject.
• Minimum Two(2) year’s demonstrated youth development experience
• Demonstrated arts program development and facilitation experience with youth
• Previous experience creating and developing visual arts curriculum
• Previous social service experience a plus
• Flexible schedule for evening (at least two nights a week) and some weekends.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of youth development/programming principles.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of guidance and discipline principles as well as conflict resolution strategies.
• Must demonstrate cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care.
• Competency in MS office applications.
Work Environment:
• Program room for 15-25 youth
• Multi-task fast-paced work environment
• Collaborative programming
• Ability to shop and make purchases for the department/organization
Physical Requirements:
High energy and sincere desire to work with youth ages 6 – 18. Some lifting and working outside of program area required.
Salary: Hourly wage dependent upon qualifications and experience.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume and references:
Monique Turner Associate Program Director mturner@gcychome.org
Assistant To The Executive Director
Position Summary:
The Assistant to the Executive Director coordinates both routine systems and special projects in order to support efficient operations of the Gary Comer Youth Center. This position manages the administrative office, providing both internal and external support functions.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
• Manage day-to-day operations of assigned projects and facilitate team meetings to advance strategic priorities of the Executive Director.
• Preparation and editing of reports, materials, and presentations, including periodic support of development efforts.
• Lead effective utilization of Sharepoint site amongst the leadership team.
• Manage scheduling and correspondence for the Executive Director.
• Coordinate follow up assignments among the managers and organization partners, including pre and post meeting logistics.
• Facilitate effective data management amongst the leadership team.
• Prepare and receive guests visiting the Center or calling with inquiries.
• Various other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.
Education and Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree and 3+ years of professional experience.
• Excellent organizational, communication skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task, troubleshoot and problem solve effectively.
• Strong computer and writing skills, especially with the creation of presentations and MS Office Suite.
• Demonstration of cultural competency, dedication to working with youth, families and community members in our care.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume and references:
To apply: E-mail cover letter, resume, salary history and references to: apply@gcychome.org
Applicant letters may be addressed to: Gary Comer Youth Center 7200 South Ingleside Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60619
Landscape Horticulture Instructor, Green Teen Program
Position Summary:
Under direction of the GCYC Garden Manager, the landscape horticulture instructor will instruct and lead youth ages 13-18 to maintain campus grounds and educational gardens at the Gary Comer Youth Center. The youth will be participating in a 10-week summer job-readiness program focused on green careers. The GCYC network of gardens includes an award-winning rooftop garden, a 1.75 acre youth education garden with extensive vegetable production, an environmental education garden and the GCYC grounds. This is a part-time (20 hours/week), seasonal position starting in Mid-May/June through August.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
• Teach and lead youth in the organic maintenance of GCYC educational gardens, which feature vegetables and herbs, along with mixed borders of conifers, trees, shrubs, turf, perennials, annuals, sedges and grasses.
• General landscape maintenance tasks will include weeding, watering, dead-heading, grooming, planting, removing debris, pruning, edging, mowing and mulching.
• Demonstrated knowledge of how to maintain conifers, trees, shrubs, perennials, turf, sedges and grasses
• Ability to organize tasks and time to ensure timely completion of all projects
• Ensures safety, cleanliness and order of working environment
• Manage daily program operations, including grant requirements, recording keeping and administrative duties
• Provide leadership and supervision of youth
• Work collaboratively with all GCYC departments, including volunteers and external partners
• Attend mandatory trainings and meetings as required
• Performs other duties as assigned
Education and Qualifications:
• B.S. degree in horticulture, agriculture, teaching or related field.
• Two years working with youth ages 13-18
• Note: A comparable combination of education, experience or training that would provide the level of knowledge, skills and ability required may qualify individual.
• Physical requirements: Ability to lift 25 lbs.; Ability to frequently bend, stoop, reach and climb. Ability to work in all weather conditions.
• Knowledge of youth development and programming principles
• Demonstrable cultural competency with a dedication to working with youth, families and community members
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to multi-task, troubleshoot and problem solve effectively
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite
Work Environment: Hours will include some evenings and Saturdays
Salary: Hourly wage dependent upon qualifications and experience.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume and references: via e-mail (preferred) to Marji Hess, GCYC Garden Manager email: mhess@gcychome.org by May 6, 2013
or mail to Attn: Marji Hess Gary Comer Youth Center 7200 S. Ingleside Avenue | Chicago, IL 60619
Development Associate
Position Summary:
This position is responsible for supporting the strategic implementation of development activities for the Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC). Specifically, this includes external affairs and outreach, special events management, constituent communication management, donor services management and daily office administration. This position reports to and works under the Director of External Relations.
Having opened its doors in June 2006, the state-of-the-art Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC) offers positive extracurricular alternatives in a welcoming and safe environment. The mission is to provide the support for all members to graduate from high school, prepared to pursue college and careers. Located on Chicago’s South Side, the Gary Comer Youth Center serves as the home of the South Shore Drill Team and began a dynamic partnership with the Noble Network of Charter Schools to open Gary Comer College Prep (GCCP) in 2008. GCCP has since expanded its campus to serve middle school in addition to high school.
For more information: www.gcychome.org and www.garycomercollegeprep.org
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
• Work closely with Development team to support Development Department goals and annual fund development plan
• Implement donor and prospect communications, community outreach activities, social media and direct mail campaigns
• Coordinate all aspects of fundraising/special events
• Assist with expansion of organization’s online presence including managing the blog, Facebook, web content and e-communications
• Develop stewardship program, including systems to track and manage cultivation and solicitation activities
• In collaboration with management team, assist in expanding corporate volunteer programs
• Administer prospect research activities and ongoing identification of corporate, foundation and individual donors
• Maintain systems, marketing databases, software, and donor/prospect records, as well as providing timely and thorough reports to the Director
• Utilize donor database systems for processing all activity within department, including donation reconciliation and acknowledgement activities
• Assist in managing the day-to-day functions of the Development Department
Education and Qualifications:
• Ability to multi-task, problem solve and strongly collaborate
• Demonstrated passion for community based services
• Demonstrated social skills to effectively engage community members, business leaders, civic and corporate philanthropists, as well as active and prospective donors
• Demonstrated ability to implement strategic fund development plans in a team environment
• Ability to gather, analyze and effectively communicate data, including financial statements, budgets, and social media analytics
• Undergraduate degree required, Master’s degree is a plus, and a minimum of 3-5 years of progressive experience
Salary: Dependent upon qualifications and experience.
To apply: E-mail cover letter, resume and references to: apply2@gcychome.org
Applicant letters may be addressed to:
Administration
Gary Comer Youth Center
7200 South Ingleside Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60619
