Teen Tech Center Coordinator

TITLE: Teen Tech Center Coordinator
DEPARTMENT: Operations

REPORTS TO: CEO

LOCATION: In-person, Admin Building

POSITION STATUS: Exempt, Full-time

ABOUT THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS

Boys & Girls Clubs has served youth in Southwest Michigan since 1998. The Club provides after school and summer programs promoting academic and career development, character and leadership skills, and healthy lifestyles for nearly 1,500 youth and teens each year at two Benton Harbor legacy sites: the Fettig Youth Campus and Joel E. Smilow Teen Center, as well as community-based locations in Benton Heights, St. Joseph, Bridgman, and Sturgis. Learn more at www.bgcswmi.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION:

In partnership with Best Buy the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest MI seeks an individual to run an innovative program called The Teen Tech Center. The Tech Center, established with the support of The Clubhouse Network, offers young people the opportunity to work on projects they find meaningful to their lives, using state of the art technology. The program provides support and resources for young people to pursue their interests and build upon their talents.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge, Education, Experience & Skills

·        Proven track record working with youth, in particular young people from disinvested communities

·        Work experience facilitating in formal and informal learning environments.

·        Experience with computers and interest in technology as a creative and empowering tool, with potential areas of expertise including music studio/production, 3D printing, Adobe Creative Cloud, and digital art design.

·        Interest in learning about new technologies regularly.

·        Demonstrated ability to reach out to youth, parents, educators, and community leaders.

·        Interpersonal skills, including an ability to get along with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities and a talent for making people feel welcome and included.

·        A passion for learning and helping others to learn.

·        Excellent organizational skills, including but not limited to inventory management.

KEY ROLES:

Competency Areas

Operations

1.     Oversee the daily operation of the Teen Tech Center, including supporting youth in project creation, maintaining the technology in the space, and managing relationships with Teen Tech Center stakeholders.

2.     Connect members to wraparound services and additional support from the host organization and other local resources as needed.  

3.     Provide basic technology and space maintenance, including file management, technology trouble-shooting, and technical support to Teen Tech Center youth and mentors.

4.     Provide administrative support for the Teen Tech Center program, including tracking membership, demographic information, and youth attendance and sharing reports with Best Buy and The Clubhouse Network

5.     Partner with other Staff for the Teen Tech Center (Pathways Facilitator or Assistant Coordinator for example) to enrich lives through technology in an open and safe environment, with youth-based learning as the cornerstone.

Strategic Planning

1.     Help Teen Tech Center members develop projects (e.g., help members with ideas, gather materials, get started, locate mentors to work with them, and support ongoing work) and teach them a basic understanding of the different types of technology available in the space.

2.     Support youth in planning for the future, including pursuing academic and job opportunities that leverage their Teen Tech Center skills and experience.

Partnership Development

1.     Provide community outreach to recruit a diverse group of young people, and partner with parents, teachers, and community leaders in the program. 

2.     Recruit, train, and support volunteer mentors, ensuring they work effectively with youth, including partnering closely with local Best Buy employees.

3.     Participate in The Clubhouse Network and Best Buy conferences and meetings, including but not limited to monthly emails, on-site site assessments, and reports sharing ideas and issues, and supporting collaborative projects across sites.

4.     Travel at a minimum twice a year to professional development conferences hosted by Best Buy and The Clubhouse Network

Resource Management

1.     Assist "parent" or “host” organization in fund-raising and publicity for the Best Buy Tech Center, communicating the Clubhouse learning philosophy, goals, and results to external sources.

The information presented in this document indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this position. It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees in this position.