Program Assistant

Girl Vow is seeking a Program Assistant to support our outreach, group facilitation, and advocacy programs. The Program Assistant often the first point of contact for our clients, partners, and vendors. This position is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to be involved in mission-driven work that impacts our communities in a positive way. The ideal candidate will promote Girl Vow’s mission through open communication, building strong group dynamics, and utilizing a strengths-based approach.

Girl Vow, Inc. is a city-wide nonprofit organization founded on the principle of gender-focused intensive mentorship for girls and gender-expansive youth aged 12 to 24 impacted by foster care, juvenile justice, and poverty. We aim to provide girls and gender-expansive youth with the foundation and support they lack through comprehensive, intensive mentorship, crisis management and aftercare, life skills workshops, and leadership opportunities. We work with girls at any stage of the juvenile justice process, and we are currently in secure and non-secure facilities throughout NYC, including Rikers Island.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Outreach

• Understand, communicate, and promote the purpose of Girl Vow’s mission to support justice-involved girls and women/LGBTQ+ youth.
• Utilize outreach strategies to increase engagement and retention among participants.
• Be a traveling ambassador for Girl Vow by increasing the organization’s visibility and partnerships.
• Build agency networks and maintain positive business relationships with other employees, community and government agencies, and the general public.
• Develop and maintain organizational databases and assist in developing and distributing organization materials, including newsletters, advertisements, and social media.

Group Facilitation

• Facilitate discussions relevant to the participant’s needs and concerns, including surveying participants when necessary, developing training content, and evaluating service delivery and outcomes.
• Research and identify leadership development trends aligned with participants' needs and Girl Vow Inc.'s goals.
• Create safe and transparent spaces to discuss sensitive topics related to experiences of gender bias, intimate partner and domestic violence, bereavement, recidivism, trauma, and poverty.
• Identify when participants need additional support and refer participants to appropriate staff, including being knowledgeable about relevant resources and service providers.

Advocacy and Administrative

• Participate in weekly staff meetings and staff training, including external issue meetings that align with Girl Vow's mission.
• Understand the role of NYC’s government and politics and determine appropriate leverage points for Girl Vow Inc., including attending meetings with elected and appointed officials when necessary.
• Understand and identify advocacy campaigns and local advocacy opportunities that align with the program strategies of Girl Vow.
• Communicate with the Director regularly by submitting weekly attendance sheets and summary reports of workshops within 24 hours of each session.
• Responsible for occasional court reporting, testimony, and advocacy, such as speaking on behalf of criminal or juvenile court participants.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work, criminal justice, education or related field.
• Two years of experience in a non-profit setting preferred.
• Experience working in youth development programs
• Compassion for youth in foster care, incarcerated, impoverished or justice-involved
• Understanding and commitment to working in low-income communities of color
• Strong facilitation skills to lead small meetings, including creating workshop content
• Experience building networks and partnerships amongst organizations; relationship building; identifying strategic partnerships and alliances
• Experience interacting with government and agency officials
• Computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite and database management
• Ability to work independently, create work plans, and demonstrate attention to detail
• Some travel required within the five boroughs, including travel to Rikers Island
• Some evenings and weekends required

Special Requirements:

• Individuals with prior criminal justice involvement are encouraged to apply but must be able to gain clearance on Rikers Island.

Girl Vow is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Girl Vow are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social, or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Girl Vow will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on these characteristics.

LIMITATIONS & DISCLAIMER: The above job description describes the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The team member may be required to perform duties outside of their typical responsibilities occasionally, as needed.