This position is part of our Community Engagement team and is is responsible for programming off-site, in Muskegon, MI.

OUR CULTURE:

Guiding Principles describe our behaviors to support our organization’s work throughout its life in all circumstances, irrespective of changes in goals, strategies, and leadership. Our Guiding Principles are as follows: We CULTIVATE-We grow staff and volunteer leaders who will be stewards of the Y mission, resources, and opportunities. We OWN-We think long-term and act on behalf of the organization, beyond our own team. We WELCOME-We are inclusive of all people and all communities. We SERVE-We provide timely and excellent service to members, volunteers, community, and each other. We LEARN - We are curious about new possibilities and act to explore them.UNITE-We work together to achieve big goals and speak as one voice. We RESPECT-We treat others with kindness and speak positively about other people in all situations. We PLAY-We celebrate, appreciate, and have fun!

The YMCA of Great Grand Rapids utilizes a Membership By Design framework, which is a member involvement and community building model for YMCAs across the country. All staff members—front-line, management, full- and part-time—and volunteers have a role to play in member engagement. These responsibilities can be broken into six steps:

• Staff and volunteers encourage potential members to enroll in programs and activities that meet their needs.
• Staff and volunteers ask members continually about their satisfaction with a program or activity, track responses, listen to suggestions, and respond promptly in a manner consistent with the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
• Relationship Building: Staff and volunteers are open, friendly, and approachable to all YMCA members and participants. Staff and volunteers initiate interaction with and between members.
• Education and Conversion: Staff and volunteers know about and share their knowledge of the YMCA, its programs, its policies, its mission, its values, and how it benefits members and the community.
• Volunteerism and Leadership: Staff and volunteers create opportunities for members to volunteer in their areas of interest, and they ask members to do so whenever appropriate.
• Staff and volunteers encourage members to “own” the YMCA, using words such as “we,” “us,” and “our association” (and actions that match those words) to include members as well as staff and volunteers.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Nutrition in Action program promotes healthy eating habits and a physically active lifestyle to individuals eligible to participate in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Nutrition in Action Educator is responsible for teaching and promoting nutrition education lessons to students and their care givers, living in areas and attending low income elementary schools within Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Counties. The responsibilities of this position include execution and evaluation of a nutrition education and physical activity curriculum series, adult cooking classes, engagement at community events. The educator would also have additional responsibilities that include building community collaborations to create change in policies, systems and environments. The Nutrition in Action Educator must stay current with nutrition, wellness, and personal well-being trends; and must be highly motivated, engaging, and have a flexible schedule. This position requires face-to-face interaction with community members, curriculum delivery, and offers flexible hours, with occasional nights and weekend required. This position is based on a one-year federal grant with a strong history of successful renewal.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Educational Function

• Delivery of nutrition education lessons which are consistent with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Delivery of Adult Cooking classes which are consistent with current Dietary Guidelines for Americans
• Work closely with schools/Food Pantries/select corner stories to encourage and support health changes in polices, systems and environments
• Build and maintain relationships with key members of schools/pantries/communities that will enable healthy changes in polices, systems and environments

Administrative Function

• Execution of evaluation plan consistent with program policies and procedures
• Maintains a system to record mandatory grant documentation such as attendance, time logs, program contacts, and expense forms
• Cross-collaborates with other YMCA departments and community partners
• Initiates and maintains partnerships with community organizations that support the mission and work of the Activate Department

Performs any other functions deemed to be necessary for the smooth and efficient operation of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids

COMPENSATION

$14.61 - $18.26 hourly; Full Time; Non-Exempt (40 hours/week)

BENEFITS

• Free YMCA Family Membership!
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off, begins at 3 weeks per year
• Paid Holidays
• Up to a 10% retirement contribution upon eligibility
• The YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. More information can be found here .
• Community Discounts, and more!

QUALIFICATIONS

A Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS). 1-3 years’ experience teaching elementary aged children and/or adult groups, training, or experience in the fields of nutrition or health and wellness. Spanish speakers encouraged. Teaching certificate highly preferred. ServSafe Certification encouraged (will be required upon hire). Strong communication skills and the ability to interact with people of all ethnic backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles is critical. Must have reliable transportation to travel between off-site locations on a regular basis. Must be available Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and possible weekends.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATION

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• First Aid Certification required within the first 60 days
• Blood Borne Pathogen training
• State of Michigan criminal background clearance (ICHAT)

YMCA LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

Functional Expertise

• Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
• Uses best practices, guidelines, and industry standards as a framework to improve performance.

Communication & Influence

• Interprets messages and body language effectively.
• Listens with the intent to understand the perspective of others by using appropriate communication methods, including open-ended questions.
• Responds to the individual needs of the other person.

Developing Self & Others

• Supports members, participants, or project teams in achieving their goals.
• Reflects on and learns from successes and mistakes.
• Proactively shares information, experiences, lessons learned, and suggestions to help others be more successful.
• Volunteers for challenging tasks or projects in an effort to grow and develop.
• Solicits and is open to informal learning opportunities to gain insight (e.g., performance feedback, coaching, and stretch assignments).

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work environment and 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.

TRAVEL

80% of local travel within the state of Michigan; occasional out-of-state travel may be required for educational conferences or training.