San Mateo County Libraries is hiring Community Program Specialists focused on literacy and volunteer engagement to support adult learners and volunteers in various educational programs. The role involves working with diverse communities, including incarcerated adults, to enhance learning and personal development. Responsibilities include recruiting volunteers, designing educational programs, and providing literacy support, with a requirement for bilingual skills in Mandarin, Cantonese, or Spanish.
About San Mateo County Libraries
San Mateo County Libraries have served the community for over a century, initially established in 1912 as a County Free Public Library. In 1999, the San Mateo County Library Joint Powers Authority (JPA) was formed, comprising several cities and unincorporated areas in the county. The JPA operates independently with its own Governing Board and an Operations Committee for guidance. The libraries are important centers for learning and growth, with 65% of the service population having library cards, and over 2.2 million annual visits.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:
Community Program Specialist I: Two years of experience in an organization providing social services which has included responsibility for community service program development such as planning, evaluating, monitoring or coordinating projects.
Community Program Specialist II: Four years of experience in an organization providing social services which has included responsibility for community service program development such as planning, evaluating, monitoring or coordinating projects.
Knowledge of:
Specialized technical knowledge related to assigned program area.
Monitoring and evaluating systems for community services programs.
Current social and community needs.
Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations and County and program policies and guidelines.
Computer applications related to the work.
Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
Additional Qualifications:
Age Recruitment: must be 18 years or older.
Must pass County Jail clearance and background checks if working in correctional facilities.
Possession, or ability to obtain, a valid, appropriate California driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record, which must be maintained as a condition of employment.
Responsibilities
Correctional Facility Services:
Provide literacy instruction to incarcerated individuals, focusing on reading, writing, GED preparation, and English language acquisition.
Collaborate with correctional staff and community organizations to support re-entry services and post-release educational opportunities.
Lead small group classes through instruction and engagement on a broad range of literacies: financial, digital, health, and other high interest, high impact topics.
Ensure learners in correctional facilities have access to tailored education plans, tracking progress and adjusting instruction to individual or group needs.
Volunteer Engagement & Coordination:
Collaborate with Program Coordinators to recruit and train volunteers for adult learning and ELL programs.
Develop strategies to retain and recognize volunteers, fostering long-term commitment and engagement.
Coordinate events to recognize and appreciate volunteers, ensuring their contributions are valued.
Maintain regular communication with volunteers and provide opportunities for growth and leadership.
Adult Learning Support:
Conduct needs assessments for adult learners, tailoring curricula to meet their specific literacy needs (e.g., reading, writing, digital literacy, GED preparation).
Facilitate small group tutoring sessions and workshops on topics of interest, including English Language Learning (ELL), digital literacy, and career readiness.
Build and maintain relationships with community partners to promote literacy services and reach new learners.
Provide intensive, best practices support to residents throughout the County working to attain their GED or high school diploma though such methods as Career Online High School.
Program Administration & Evaluation:
Conduct program assessments, collecting and analyzing data to improve volunteer and learner experiences.
Assist with the development of reports, recommendations, and strategies to enhance the library’s literacy and volunteer engagement programs.
Perform clerical and administrative tasks, such as answering phones, maintaining records, and supporting program logistics.
COmpensation and Benefits
Community Program Specialist I: $72,675.20 - $90,875.20 Annually
Community Program Specialist II: $81,411.20 - $101,774.40 Annually
To Apply
Please send an email with your resume and with responses to the Supplemental Questions below, to:
Nicole Cuadra, Library Services Manager at cuadra@smcl.org
IMPORTANT: You must submit the following to be considered for this opportunity:
Resume
Responses to the Supplemental Questions:
What motivated you to apply for this position and what most interests you about it?
Describe your experience in leading teams to support a project or goal.
Describe your experience working with adults. Please specifically tell us about any work you have done with incarcerated people or related to incarceration, as well as adult literacies acquisition.
What is your highest level of education?
The ability to read, speak and write fluently in English and Spanish, English and Cantonese and/or English and Mandarin is required for this position. If any, please indicate any languages (other than English) in which you are fluent.
