Mercy Home for Boys & Girls

The Coordinator - MercyWorks assists in all aspects of operating and managing the MercyWorks Volunteer Program, a program for 16 young adults (21 years of age or older) who commit to one year of volunteer service, faith-based community living, and personal and faith formation. The Coordinator - MercyWorks performs a mixture of office-based work as well as engages in regular interaction with prospective, current, and former volunteers of the MercyWorks Program.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, preferably in Social Work, Ministry, Social Service, or Social Justice-related area.
• Full-time volunteer experience, preferably an alumnus/alumna of a faith-based volunteer service program.
• Willingness to work flexible schedule, generally involving daytime hours with one evening a week and occasional weekends.
• Willingness to travel—both locally and nationally—to recruitment fairs, retreats, conferences, program meetings, etc.
• Knowledge, understanding, and skill in recruiting and relationship building.
• Experience with, and aptitude for, group facilitation, counseling, mentoring, and ministry with young adults. 
• Experience in sales, marketing, community relations or public relations.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Access, and Excel, as well as the ability to become proficient in other software packages and programs.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as an active team member.
• Maturity and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.
• Regular and predictable attendance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assist Director – Volunteer Programs with recruiting, screening, and interviewing applicants, including arranging program visits and program interviews for prospective and accepted volunteers. 
• Design and carry out an annual volunteer recruitment plan, including representing or arranging representation for MercyWorks at colleges, universities, parishes, Newman centers, and other agencies and organizations. 
• Oversee marketing efforts for the recruitment of volunteers; regularly update marketing materials. 
• Assist Director with the development of the MercyWorks program, including the coordination of educational, spiritual and professional development opportunities for the volunteers during the year.
• Support the volunteer community by providing assistance with group facilitation as needed, in the spirit of the mission of the MercyWorks program. 
• Provide informal supervision to the volunteers.
• Assist with the planning and facilitation of the opening orientation, seasonal retreats and weekly community nights. 
• Update the volunteer community about MercyWorks program news and events through a weekly bulletin.
• Provide on-going support to former volunteers who have completed the MercyWorks program, including regular correspondence and organizing a quarterly liturgy and brunch for alumni.
• Write and edit a seasonal newsletter to be sent to MercyWorks alumni, parents, prospective volunteers and recruitment contacts.  
• Oversee all areas of MercyWorks’ participation in the CVN/AmeriCorps Education Awards program.
• Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with Youth Programs and other departments relative to volunteer placement.
• Assist with office management, including copying and distributing program mailings and application materials; managing finances and weekly petty cash reimbursement for volunteer community; creating, reviewing, and updating policies; and completing necessary paperwork as it relates to the program’s role with the Catholic Volunteer Network.
• Assist the Director—Volunteer Programs with managing the MercyWorks residence and vehicles used for volunteer housing and transportation. 
• Oversee CQI measurement and reporting for the MercyWorks program, including regularly collecting data and facilitating quarterly meetings.
• Work collaboratively with other volunteer program staff inChicagoand theUnited Statesto plan joint activities with other faith-based volunteer programs, to advocate for faith-based volunteer service and social justice issues related to faith-based volunteer service, and to develop broader resources in support of MercyWorks volunteers and alumni. 
• Develop and sustain college contacts and relationships for the purpose of strengthening the existing recruiting program.
• Supervise summer interns for the MercyWorks program, when applicable.
• Report weekly to the Director—MercyWorks to discuss program updates and planning.

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is an equal opportunity employer.

The Coordinator-Spiritual Development assists in all aspects of managing and operating the Spiritual Development Program, particularly as it relates to the planning, oversight and facilitation of spirituality, justice and service initiatives.  The Coordinator, in consultation and cooperation with the other Spiritual Development staff, will develop, execute and evaluate programming that creatively involves, nurtures and deepens the spiritual and personal growth and social justice awareness of the youth and coworkers who make up the Mercy Home community. This is a part time opportunity.

 ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:   

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Theology, Social Work, Ministry, Social Service, or Social Justice-related area.
• 2 years of professional experience in a youth or campus ministry setting, preferably in a college or school environment.
• Possesses a strong commitment to Catholic and Ignatian spirituality with knowledge of Catholic social justice teachings.
• Nourishes faith through active participation in a Catholic or Christian community.
• An understanding, acceptance and lived experience of Vatican II ecclesiology in order to empower youth and coworkers to minister to one another in their campus community.
• Openness to walking with people from other faith traditions as well as those from their same faith tradition, whose views are different from their own.
• Experience with planning and facilitating spiritual retreats and service experiences for youth and adults. Experience in implementing different retreat models.
• Experience with, and aptitude for, group facilitation, counseling, mentoring, theological reflection and ministry with youth and adults. 
• Experience working with young people, with an awareness of their developmental stages and knowledge of how to adapt to these stages.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate the Catholic faith through preaching, teaching, writing and spiritual direction.
• A valid Illinois driver’s license, ability to drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and retain driving approval through the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Understands roles in a collaborative ministry and deals with conflict directly and maturely.
• Ability to handle confidential matters appropriately and with discretion.
• Willingness to work flexible hours as determined by the rhythm and demands of the ministry.
• Willingness to travel—both locally and regionally—to retreats and conferences.
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Maturity and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point as well as the ability to become proficient in other software packages and programs.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.
• Regular and predictable attendance.

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Communicate vision of common purpose and set clear plans and priorities for Agency’s spiritual development program. 
• Develop and lead programs, activities, services and sacramental life that respond to the religious and spiritual needs of the Mercy Home community.
• Develop and maintain a collaborative relationship with Youth Programs, the Academy and other departments relative to youth involvement in campus ministry programming.
• Oversee the planning, coordination and facilitation of retreats, faith sharing groups, days of reflection, faith and justice workshops, service trips and volunteer experiences for youth and staff.
• Integrate theological reflection, prayer and liturgical worship with service and justice experiences.
• Lead others in connecting events of their daily lives to Scripture and Tradition, particularly with Catholic Social Teaching.
• Serve the pastoral and liturgical needs of the Mercy Home community by coordinating the regular celebration of mass and Eucharistic adoration and other opportunities to engaging with the sacraments.
• Embrace and employ the Agency’s conceptual framework of care, particularly when interacting with youth and planning retreats, reflections and activities.
• Engage comfortably with youth and staff in conversations related to Church history, scripture, sacraments and liturgy, social teachings, ethics and morality, traditions of the Church, pastoral counseling or spiritual direction, world religions and interfaith dialogue.
• Assist youth and staff with discerning next steps in their life journey and learning how to become active participants in their faith life and moral leaders in their careers.
• Educate for justice and help to form the consciences of youth and coworkers by providing service opportunities and developing partnerships withChicagochurches, other places of worship and service organizations.
• Call forth gifts of the Mercy Home community and develops youth as leaders.
• Support the personal development of youth and coworkers by providing spiritual mentoring and guidance.
• Serve as a pastoral presence to youth and staff in both every day and crisis situations.
• Work collaboratively with local service organizations, non profits, colleges and universities, churches and the larger Catholic and Christian community to develop broader resources in support of Mercy Home youth and the spiritual development program.
• Create a viable budget plan, control costs, and operate within established budget. Monitor and approve all program expenses.
• Assist with office management, including: copying and distributing retreat and reflection materials; evaluating the effectiveness of the spiritual development program; collecting data for CQI measurement system; managing finances; and creating, reviewing, and updating policies.
• Oversee CQI measurement and reporting for the MercyWorks program, including regularly collecting data and facilitating quarterly meetings.

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is an equal opportunity employer.