Healthy Community Initiative

Status: Full-time, hourly/non-exempt
Location: On-site in Northfield, MN (travel in area)
Reports to: TORCH Sr. Program Manager
Pay: $21.00 – $25.00 per hour

About Healthy Community Initiative (HCI)
Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) is a dynamic nonprofit organization based in Rice County, MN. HCI co-creates innovative community partnerships and provides direct services to create healthy communities where all children, youth and families can thrive.

HCI partners with the community to identify needs, build coalitions, secure funding, and implement projects to impact urgent social needs. HCI’s unique model has gained national recognition.

HCI is committed to social justice, equitable opportunity, diverse representation, and creating a healthy, inclusive organizational culture.

About the Role

TORCH is seeking a Program Coordinator for our middle school program to support TORCH students’ engagement in school; provide academic advising, tutoring and homework help to students; and connect TORCH students with eligible supplementary programs/resources, including out-of-school-time activities. The coordinator will plan and lead programming with eligible students and communicate with families regarding progress toward applicable goals. The coordinator will assist with fulfilling the collective goals of TORCH and Northfield Public Schools, ensuring that barriers to consistent school attendance and family engagement are removed to promote students’ positive academic outcomes and social-emotional health.

Program Overview

Founded in 2005, Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes (TORCH) is a collaborative school-community partnership to address disparities in education. Originally TORCH served exclusively Latine students, but because of the program’s success, TORCH is now available to all traditionally underserved students, including youth who would be first-generation college students and young people from low-income homes. TORCH works with more than 500 Northfield youth in grades 6-12 (plus alumni) each year, providing academic advising, tutoring, social-emotional support, postsecondary access, career exploration, and connections with community opportunities and resources.

Responsibilities:

• Provide academic advising, tutoring, and homework help for eligible students either in the TORCH study center or via a “push in” support model, collaborating with classroom teachers as needed for student success and engagement
• Track student progress, including attendance, missing assignments, and grades, and conduct individual academic counseling sessions with each TORCH student in their cohort at least twice per month
• Work with each student to create an individual plan that identifies areas of need, interventions, goals, and aspirations
• Communicate with parents to discuss students’ academic and social-emotional development
• Communicate with teachers, administrators, school counselors, and social workers in those cases where additional or different levels of support and intervention are necessary
• Facilitate students’ connections with after-school programming, summer adventure, and academic enrichment opportunities
• Support youth to begin exploring careers and postsecondary education options
• Maintain necessary files (physical and online), track required program data, and complete assigned grant reporting

Required Qualities:

• High school diploma and some college-level coursework successfully completed
• 2-5 years of experience in youth development or related fields
• Ability to quickly build positive relationships with middle school students and their families
• Passion for equity, social justice, and working with diverse youth
• Ability to maintain focus on long-range goals while simultaneously carrying out the immediate action steps
• Ability to work collaboratively with TORCH team members, school district staff, and other groups and organizations
• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate programs
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Highly organized with superior attention to detail
• Familiarity with evaluation processes—data collection, analysis, and continuous improvement
• Capable of completing work on time in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive attitude—excellent ability to manage simultaneous projects and troubleshoot issues in a calm manner
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and as a member of a team
• Ability to work after-school hours, with occasional evening and weekend hours
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) and Google Suite
• Must possess and maintain a valid Minnesota driver’s license and auto insurance and be able to travel throughout the community
• Willingness to maintain the standards, carry out the purpose, and adhere to the policies of HCI
• Maintenance of a cell phone is an expectation of employment

Preferred Qualities:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Familiarity with Northfield and Rice County organizations and resources

Benefits & Perks of Working at HCI

At HCI, we believe that our employees are our most valuable asset—and we’re committed to supporting their well-being, growth, and impact.

Here’s what we offer:

• Monthly Benefit Stipend: $400/month ($4,800 annually) for employees working 30+ hours/week, which can be applied toward health or other insurance premiums
• IRA Contribution: HCI matches employee contributions to a Simple IRA retirement plan
• Voluntary Benefits Access: Through our partner TriNet, employees have access to optional benefits including life, disability, legal, accident, and critical illness insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Free access to confidential support for all employees
• Professional Development: We support continuous learning and will help you grow your skills to better serve our community
• Make a Difference: Contribute meaningfully to your community and make a direct impact on the lives of youth in Rice County
• Competitive Compensation: We conduct regular compensation reviews to ensure fair and competitive pay

Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) supports, values, and empowers youth in Rice County. We believe our staff is our most valuable resource. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and collaborative team that reflects the communities we serve.