Senior Planet Jobs in Silver Spring, MD (NOW HIRING)

This part-time position (10 hurs a week) is a unique opportunity for a passionate individual to work with OATS to empower older adults by helping them thrive in the digital world and harness technology to achieve their personal goals. Trainers are the face of OATS to older adults; in addition to delivering OATS curriculum and offering technology support, trainers serve as "brand ambassadors" and are responsible for communicating the OATS culture of excellence, curiosity, and attitude.
Trainers teach OATS' curriculum using books and online resources specifically designed for older adults. In person classes typically meet twice a week for ten weeks. Virtual programs are primarily one-off sessions focused around particular technology topics. Trainer schedules will vary each quarter. Trainers guide participants in sending emails, exploring their interests online, connecting with family and friends on social media, banking online, starting small businesses, and much more. Our trainers are also fundamental in creating a community of support among participants.
This position requires solid proficiency in common software applications and devices, but more important is a dedication to teaching and the ability to effectively communicate the relevance of technology to seniors' lives. A successful candidate will possess a high degree of patience, creativity, dependability, and problem-solving ability, along with a sense of humor and a strong commitment to social change.
Responsibilities:
- Teaching technology courses virtually and in-person using the OATS curriculum and approach
- Creating a comfortable and supportive learning environment
- Offering personalized support to callers on the Senior Planet hotlines
- Making outbound calls to Senior Planet members
- Maintaining professionalism at all times
- Representing and promoting Senior Planet culture and opportunities to course participants
- Engaging in regular communication with OATS staff, including feedback on site issues, curriculum, etc.
- Coordinating with site staff, including site visits, graduations, etc.
- Submitting paperwork in a timely manner
- Collecting surveys and evaluations
- Entering data into Salesforce database
- Participating in trainer meetings and other training events
- Recruiting participants, as needed
- Participating in special projects, as needed (ex. outreach, curriculum, etc.)
- Supervising volunteers who assist classes, as needed Degree of autonomy and independent judgment
• Technology Trainers possess a moderate degree of autonomy and independent judgment especially in relationship to programs they're assigned to teach and deliver. Technology trainers set the tone, mange the environment, and help guide groups of all sizes towards learning objectives that are preset by OATS.
Decision-making authority
• Technology Trainers have limited decision-making authority and must adhere to OATS training standards, approaches, and methodologies throughout all interactions with participants.
Diversity of the challenge
• Technology Trainers have a diverse, albeit narrow, challenge. They are responsible for working with older adults aged 60+ in myriad settings who all possess different levels of experience and skills related to tech adoption and digital literacy. This complex set of situations forces Technology Trainers to think on their feet, act quickly, and apply a broad brush to different circumstances.
Primary nature of interaction the position has with others - informative/coaching
• Technology Trainers' interactions with others (customers, I.e., seniors) are predominantly educational and coaching in nature. They are largely assigned to help OATS and Senior Planet participants master technology skills with broader applications to daily life. Internally, trainers work with their counterparts and other OATS program staff to retrieve assignments and connect about best practices.
Qualifications:
- Excellent speaking and communication skills
- Ability to communicate technical information clearly in English and Spanish
- Experience teaching teenagers, adults, and/or seniors, preferable
- Proficiency with Windows computers, iOS, popular social media sites, and other common technologies/devices
- Comfortable traveling to various senior/community centers as needed, when/if safe to do so
- Ability to work independently and as part of a training team
- Superior time-management skills
- Flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor
- Minimum of 1 year experience in a professional work setting
This position is bilingual (English/Spanish) and will be based in Montgomery