Ubuntu Center Coordinator

POSITION PURPOSE AND SUMMARY:

As the Ubuntu Center Coordinator at The Hidden Genius Project, you will play a crucial role in creating and sustaining an empowering and dynamic learning environment within our Ubuntu Centers. These centers are designed to be teen-led, project-based safe spaces where young individuals can immerse themselves in technology, collaborate with peers and mentors, and cultivate the skills essential for their future career, college pursuits or just to have fun. Your leadership and coordination skills will be instrumental in ensuring the success of these transformative spaces, where area youth can harness their potential and drive positive change. Additionally, they co-coordinate and oversee a team of Youth Educators to teach the tech, entrepreneurship, and leadership components in our Ubuntu Centers. The Hidden Genius Project seeks to effect a radical transformation in the pedagogy of computer science, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and the Ubuntu Center Coordinator will serve as a fundamental strategist toward this end. Accordingly, it is vital that they continually exercise ingenuity, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to continual learning within an exciting expanding environment. Finally, the Ubuntu Center Coordinator works as part of a dynamic, communicative, and supportive team of staff, Youth Educators, and Executive team members committed to their success. This is the consummate role for the educator with a creative and community-centered spirit.

MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

• Ubuntu Center Leadership: Oversee the overall operation, coordination, and management of the Ubuntu Centers, ensuring that they align with the organization's mission, vision, and values.

• Program Development: Collaborate with the Curriculum Team to design, refine, and implement the project-based curriculum and activities that foster technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills development in alignment with the organization's goals.

• Teen Empowerment: Create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers area youth to take ownership of their learning journey. Foster a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and self-expression.

• Mentorship and Guidance: Recruit, train, and support mentors who will engage with participants in meaningful ways, offering guidance, inspiration, and real-world insights to help them succeed.

• Project Management: Facilitate the implementation of project-based learning initiatives, guiding participants through the process of conceptualizing, planning, executing, and presenting their projects.

• Community Engagement: Develop partnerships and collaborations with local organizations, educational institutions, and industry leaders to provide participants with valuable resources, networking opportunities, and exposure to real-world applications of their skills.

• Participant Support: Provide individualized support to participants, including academic guidance, career exploration, and personal development, to ensure their holistic growth and success.

• Evaluation and Reporting: Establish assessment mechanisms to measure the impact and effectiveness of the Ubuntu Centers. Compile regular reports on participant progress and program outcomes for internal and external stakeholders.

• Safe and Inclusive Space: Create and maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where participants feel valued and empowered to express themselves.

• Maintain the Ubuntu Center in the following areas:

• Technology maintenance

• Educator Training

• Managing the Ubuntu Center/s during open hours

• Supporting members with projects

• Running guided workshops

• Space preparation and cleaning

• Creating reports

• Project planning

• Community Outreach

• Volunteer/mentor engagement

• Youth outreach & recruitment

• Fund-raising support (data collection, stories, tours, etc.)

• Attending meetings

• Other responsibilities as assigned.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as an exceptional role model and mentor to The Ubuntu Center participants.

• Communicate effectively (via email, phone, and/or postal mail) and in a timely manner with all relevant constituencies, including participants and their parents/guardians.

• Act as a dynamic ambassador to The Hidden Genius Project within the community.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Desired

• Bachelor's Degree

• Experience teaching problem-solving and/or math skills

• Experience teaching or studying computer science, and/or programming languages, i.e. Python, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, Swift, Flutter, etc.

• Experience working in the technology industry

• Commitment to achieving The Hidden Genius Project's mission and vision

• Excellent writing, communication, presentation, and group facilitation skills

• Ability to work more than 40 hours per week, and during the evenings and weekends, as needed.

Required

• Excellent leadership abilities

• High comfort level with technology

• Experience working and communicating effectively with POC youth, underrepresented youth, and/or low-income youth

• Intense commitment to the life success of Black males and boys and men of color

• Experience mentoring and working closely with Black male youth

• "Can do" attitude and ability to work as part of a team

• Willingness to develop differentiated learning experiences

• Ability to prioritize, organize, and delegate effectively

• Ability to receive feedback and engage in continuous self-improvement

• Ability to adapt to a dynamic, rapidly changing work environment

• Ability to build positive relationships with all important constituencies

• Ability to work collaboratively and across teams and sectors

• Strong knowledge of the youth development field and models

• Firm belief in personal accountability, producing measurable outcomes, and sustaining high expectations

ROLE OVERVIEW:

• Role Location: Oakland

• Reports to: Ubuntu Innovation Educator/CBO (headquarters based in Oakland, CA)

• Status: Exempt

• Schedule: Full Time (minimum 40 hours per week)

• Must be able to navigate various virtual platforms such as Zoom, Hopin, Microsoft Teams and Google Suite

BENEFITS OF THE ROLE:

• Dynamic, fun work environment.

• Paid professional development

• Excellent opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of numerous underserved youth.

• Entrepreneurial organization; Implement your own ideas and immediately see the effects.

• Opportunity to meet and interact with multifarious individuals in the technology industry.

• Opportunity to play a fundamental role in building an international program.

• Opportunity to innovate in building effective models for holistic technology instruction

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• The employee may occasionally climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; the employee may frequently stand, walk, or sit; the employee may regularly grasp objects, talk, and/ or hear.

• The employee will occasionally lift up to 50 pounds; the employee will regularly lift up to 20 pounds

• This job requires vision abilities that ensure the safety of operating and programming spaces for all stakeholders

• Travel and supervise the transportation of students as needed

• National (and possibly international) travel