Rural Partnership Associate (American Connection Corps)

POSITION SUMMARY?? 

The Rural Partnership Associate is a position through the American Connection Corps (ACC) and is hosted by Utah’s Promise, Promise Partnership department. Hiring for this position will be handled by the ACC. The Rural Partnership Associate will support the growth of place-based partnership work in Utah’s rural communities. By conducting research, building relationships, and amplifying parent and family voices, the Member will help identify opportunities and challenges unique to rural Utah. Their work will strengthen cross-sector collaboration, inform statewide planning, and provide direct support to communities seeking to launch or expand place-based initiatives. This role will create lasting impact by ensuring rural perspectives shape state-level infrastructure and by helping rural communities access tools and strategies for improving outcomes for children and families. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

Note: Please review the AmeriCorps Prohibited Activities as well as the requirements related to supplementation, duplication or displacement of staff to ensure none of these items are included. 

Host Site Specific Activities:  

• Coalition Building: Contribute to the development of a statewide coalition advocating for place-based partnership work.  

• Research & Analysis: Conduct a landscape analysis of existing place-based efforts in Utah and document similarities and differences between rural communities and the Wasatch Front.  

• Community Voice: Gather and elevate the perspectives of parents and families in rural communities through interviews, focus groups, or other engagement methods. 

•  Relationship Development: Build and maintain relationships with cross-sector partners in rural Utah to foster stronger collaboration and alignment.  

• Planning Support: Provide technical and planning support to at least 2–3 rural communities interested in strengthening or initiating place-based work.  

• Knowledge Sharing: Connect with AmeriCorps peers and other states engaged in similar efforts to share learnings and bring back best practices for Utah.  

• Infrastructure Development: Contribute findings and recommendations to Promise Partnership Utah’s statewide infrastructure planning process.  

• Documentation & Reporting: Track activities, outputs, and outcomes to capture progress and lessons learned for internal and external stakeholders. 

ACC Program Activities (REQUIRED FOR ALL):  

• Conduct an initial listening tour in the first 1-2 months to assess community needs by hosting individual or group conversations with community members that represent the diverse range of demographics present in your community.  

• Complete bi-weekly timesheets and monthly impact reports.  

• Meet monthly 1:1 with your designated ACC Program Officer.  

• Complete key training modules and certifications, including On3Learn eCourses.  

• Attend required ACC meetings and trainings, including bi-weekly Pods, quarterly training retreats, and Life After LFA webinar series.  

• Lead event planning and implement activities for two National Days of Service in your local area for both MLK Day of Service (January) and AmeriCorps Week (March).  

• When applicable, recruit and coordinate local community volunteers to ensure buy-in and long-term sustainability of your projects.  

• Serve productively and effectively across service environments and adhere to LFA, host site, and AmeriCorps policies and procedures.  

• Meet AmeriCorps service hour benchmarks and complete full term of service (1700 hour minimum with service ending on September 11th, 2026). 

COMPETENCIES  

Required knowledge, skills and abilities for all ACC AmeriCorps Members: Comfortable speaking to groups and giving short presentations on a topic; researching complex topics; facilitating meetings and discussions; attending virtual and online events; good written and verbal communication skills (including phone and email), and possess basic skills related to Excel/Google sheets and notetaking.  

Additional Host Site Specific Competencies:  

• Community Engagement: Experience building trust and working respectfully with diverse communities, including rural families and community leaders.  

• Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain partnerships across sectors.  

• Research & Analysis: Ability to collect, organize, and analyze qualitative and quantitative information.  

• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to document learnings clearly and share with a variety of audiences.  

• Facilitation: Comfort with leading small group discussions, interviews, or focus groups to elevate parent and family voice.  

• Adaptability: Ability to navigate complex, evolving environments and tailor approaches to the unique needs of rural communities.  

• Self-Motivation & Initiative: Capacity to work independently and take ownership of projects while collaborating as part of a broader team.  

• Learning Orientation: Openness to learning from others, bringing in best practices from other states, and applying them in a Utah context.  

• Cultural Humility: Awareness of and respect for the distinct strengths and challenges of rural communities and diverse populations. 

•  Technology Proficiency: Comfortable using common digital tools (Sharepoint, Teams, data collection platforms) to support virtual and in-person collaboration. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS  

To serve in AmeriCorps, you must:  

• Be 17 years of age or older (no upper age restriction)  

• Be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident  

• Possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent  

• Pass a National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) that includes: an FBI fingerprint check, a National Sex Offender Registry check, and state-specific criminal history checks for both the State of Service and State of Residence.  

• Not hold other full-time employment; other obligations should be temporary or part-time in nature and must not interfere with the program schedule and requirements (i.e. 35-40 hours/week, training dates, etc.). (ACC Program specific requirement)  

• Not be enrolled in a full-time Undergraduate or Professional degree program during the term of service. (ACC Program specific requirement)  

• Agree to maintain full healthcare coverage during the entirety of the term of service, recognizing that LFA provides healthcare coverage to all full-time Members that are not otherwise covered. 

BENEFITS  

Full-time Members Receive:  

• $33,000 stipend  

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage (available to those who are not already enrolled in Medicaid or other State plan, a spouse’s plan, or a family member’s health care plan)  

• Student Loan Forbearance and Interest Accrual Payments (for most Federal loans)  

• Childcare Support  

• Upon successful completion of AmeriCorps term of service, eligible to receive Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395 that can be applied to current educational expenses at eligible institutions or to repay qualified student loans.  

Training  

• ACC Orientation & Leadership Training  

• Winter Training Institute with your cohort  

• Graduation ceremony and summit  

Support  

• Monthly 1:1 calls with a dedicated ACC Program Officer to support your professional and personal goals and planning for the future.  

• Regular virtual Zoom trainings and pod sessions with your cohort.  

• Access to an Employee Assistance Program for legal, financial, tax, and mental health resources.  

Alumni  

• Financial incentives to further your education, including scholarships, discounts, and waivers, through Lead For America's partnerships with prestigious educational institutions across the country.  

• Membership in a lifelong alumni network of talented, passionate, and dynamic leaders across the country. 

Lead For America is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Lead For America’s management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, team member activities, access to facilities and programs and general treatment during employment. Lead For America will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation of an otherwise qualified applicant, AmeriCorps member, or team member related to an individual’s: physical or mental disability; sincerely held religious beliefs and practices; and/or any other reason required by applicable law, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship upon Lead For America's business operations. Any applicant or team member who needs an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of their position should contact their assigned supervisor or ACC Program Officer for more information. 

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