Access Center Program Assistant

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VOLUNTEER CENTER - ACCESS CENTER PROGRAM ASSISTANT Lighthouse Guild is the leading not-for-profit healthcare organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss. Our mission is to provide exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals. With Lighthouse Guild, people who are at risk for, or affected by, vision loss have access to all the resources necessary to lead full, independent, and productive lives. We provide services, research and education, and advocate to help people with low vision and blindness. Our vision is a world in which no person is limited by their visual capacity. The Stephen T. Pearlman Volunteer Center administers the volunteer recruitment, screening and interviewing, orientation, training and education, placement and referral, retention, and recognition processes for Lighthouse Guild. Our current corps of volunteers consists of 600 volunteers who contribute to the success of the organization and carry on the legacy of service of the organization’s founders. The Reading Service Program connects a visually impaired person with a reading volunteer who aids in accessing otherwise often inaccessible written or electronic materials. The Access Center, the next generation of volunteer executed programming will also provide support when people with vision impairment require sighted assistance traveling for medical appointments, etc. or for companionship.

Location: 250 West 64th Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10023

Volunteer Opportunity: This position will help engage more volunteers to assist people with vision impairment gain access to in accessible printed and electronic materials, provide support as they navigate unfamiliar or complex environments, or support their mental health goals with reliable and regular human interaction. The ideal candidate will help create the structure for the two new programs and recruit, screen, and place volunteers for all programs, (reading, escort, companionship). They will evaluate potential clients for the programs and match them with volunteers. They will coordinate schedules, receive clients and volunteers and otherwise ensuring the smooth running of the program. The candidate will create new ways to meet the needs of isolated clients in need of volunteer support.

Principal duties and responsibilities:

· Recruit and manage volunteers.

· Create the structure for the two new volunteer executed programs.

· Manage the pairing of clients and volunteers.

· Receive volunteers and clients.

· Manage cancellations and makes appropriate notifications.

· Identify volunteer readers to fill vacancies.

· Escort visually impaired clients if needed.

· Distributes assistive devices for reading.

· Other administrative duties as assigned, including identifying new volunteers.

· Visit sites for reading sessions to evaluate for suitability.

· Identify partnerships that will support reading opportunities in the outer boroughs and or hard to fill locations.

· Manage volunteers who will assist with the duties necessary to operate the program.

Qualifications:

ü Entrepreneurial spirit

ü Strong verbal and written communication skills.

ü Able to handle confidential information.

ü Willingness to supervise others, experience in supervision is preferred.

ü Able to arrive on time and be ready to work.

ü Willing to work as a team.

ü A strong customer service orientation, good interpersonal skills and math aptitude.

ü Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Access required.

ü The ability to take and follow instruction and apply critical thinking skills.

Details of the Opportunity: The ideal candidate is available during business hours 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. We are flexible with establishing your schedule during these hours and request your presence in the office at least 4 hours per day. Please submit a resume to volunteer@lighthouseguild.org . Please include the hours you are available to work in your cover letter. This is an in-person opportunity. Masks are optional but recommended while on site at our headquarters when interacting with clients. Direct all questions to the Stephen T. Pearlman Volunteer Center (646) 874-8688.

Attire: Business/ Business Casual (no jeans or sneakers)