The Organization Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) is an award-winning New York City-based nonprofit with a mission to “harness the power of technology to change the way we age.” Founded in 2004, OATS celebrates “aging with attitude” and is an innovative national leader in improving the lives of older adults by providing free access to mainstream digital technologies, free intensive and high-quality technology training, and the opportunity to join a thriving community of tech-enabled seniors who are improving their health, making social connections, strengthening their finances, engaging on civic issues, and embarking on journeys of creative expression and lifelong learning. OATS manages 23 community-based technology centers in neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs of New York, including the country’s first full-service technology-themed community center for people aged 60 and older, and publishes seniorplanet.org, a popular website focused on aging well with technology.

The Project

Beginning this summer, OATS will be a central player in a groundbreaking digital inclusion initiative at North America’s largest housing development, located in Queens, New York. In partnership with the City of New York, OATS will seek to radically transform the lives of low-income seniors who live in public housing by engaging them in dialogue about their lives; their interests, needs, and aspirations, and will then design a program that puts technology in their hands, and trains them how to use it to make positive change in their lives, the larger community, and on issues they care about.

The Position

This full-time position is a unique opportunity for an experienced, energetic, results-oriented, and highly-organized professional to make a difference in the quality of life for older adults living in public housing.

Working with the OATS executive director and key staff, the Community Project Leader will provide leadership in the following areas:

• Community Assessment and Organizing – lead a field-based needs assessment of the senior population residing at the housing development, designed to create a “concept map” of the issues, concerns, interests, and preferences of the older members of the community, and to gain an understanding of their existing level of digital literacy and technology use. In addition to the initial needs assessment, the Community Project Leader also will spearhead ongoing community outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the digital empowerment initiative, foster interest among potential participants, and enroll seniors into the program while building a vibrant and engaged community of older tech users.
• Program Planning and Delivery – using OATS’ curriculum and program approaches, establish, schedule, and oversee the delivery of all training activities and related events and ensure timely execution of all project deliverables including community outreach efforts.
• Team Building –serve as a goal-setter and motivational leader of a four-person on-site OATS staff by creating a positive and productive team environment while maintaining accountability. Open, collegial, and successful collaboration with other OATS staff, public housing staff, and local residents and organizations will also be key.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will exhibit the following characteristics:

• Culturally competent. The candidate will need the personal experience, genuine interest, and cultural skills necessary to successfully navigate and strengthen a diverse community living in NYC public housing, especially among the older adult residents.
• Well-educated. The candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree from a well-regarded college, or a master’s or higher degree, and be committed to lifelong learning and professional development.
• Outgoing and highly-organized. The candidate will be a “social entrepreneur” familiar with public housing dynamics, including its official structure and real-world sociological aspects; someone who can grasp the big picture and rally others to action, while also being detail-oriented and meticulous about quality, accuracy, and timeliness in the execution of the vision.
• Clear and confident communicator. Grammatically correct and stylistically strong writer. Perceptive listener and clear speaker. Spanish language skills are a plus.
• Strong customer service orientation. Will exhibit responsiveness and a genuine interest in serving others with continually improving levels of service.
• Account management skills. When interacting with internal and external contacts, will be focused on desired outcomes, and will attain outcomes in a well-informed, mature and diplomatic manner. The ability to motivate others to make timely decisions and deliver results is important.
• Experience with city agencies, especially experience working on publicly-funded nonprofit projects and programs, and the contract management, compliance, and reporting practices typically required.
• Experience using Salesforce, Google apps, Dropbox, and Microsoft Office applications, as well as (or including) project management/collaborative tools.
• An affinity for consumer technology (tablets, smartphones, wearables, PCs, and video gaming consoles) and the ability to learn new technologies quickly and occasionally troubleshoot common tech issues as necessary.
• OATS will provide clear guidance and consistent support of the Community Project Leader in all areas, as the leader takes charge “in the field.”
• Availability to commence full time work on June 15^th, or sooner if possible.
• The ability to work full-time with a flexible schedule.

Please send your resume and a cover letter to jobs@oats.org outlining how your experience and qualifications relate to the skills and characteristics that OATS is seeking. Email in Word or PDF format.

OATS is committed to maintaining a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Application deadline June 13, 2016