Employment Opportunities

At the Highwood Public Library, our staff paves the way for engaging programming, innovative services, and transformative collections. We are a small but mighty library serving a diverse and dynamic community!

We welcome candidates who are committed to excellent customer service, creative collaboration, and dynamic problem-solving.

Keep reading to learn more!

About our Library

 

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POSITION TITLE: Community Health Worker Contractor

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY:   The Highwood Library & Community Center is an innovative anchor that enriches, empowers, educates, and embraces the community it serves. Our vision is to uplift, inform and grow the community through the library’s collections, programming and engagement strategies.

The Community Health Worker will work collaboratively with the Health Equity team and library team to strengthen community members’ health knowledge and connection to resources to members of the Highwood community. This position will work closely with team members and partner agencies to heighten awareness of health resources and increase health literacy and access to health resources to address the health needs of immigrant and marginalized populations.

Position Status: Contractual Position

Hours: 18 Hours/week, including evenings and weekends

Compensation:  $17.00 – $20.00/hour depending on qualifications

Bilingual (English & Spanish) required.

This position reports to the Health Equity Manager

Responsibilities include:

PROGRAMMING

  • Work directly with Health Equity Manager to develop implementation strategy of CHW efforts.
  • Understand the needs of, gaps in services offered to and barriers faced by the population served and offer programming that meets adults where they are at.
  • Stay educated on latest health information to provide accurate education to the community.
  • Facilitate health education at weekly health workshops (Charlas de Salud.)
  • Partner with organizations to host health screening events, vaccination events and health fairs.
  • Responsible for the set-up/break down of events and for securing volunteers to support events.
  • Assess program performance on an ongoing basis to ensure that grant outcomes will be met using Pre/Post testing.
  • Track statistical data, including participant demographics, assessments, success stories and programmatic outcomes.
  • Provide substitute support for library coverage as needed.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Conduct extensive community engagement, including information about trainings, services and resources offered by the Highwood Library & Community Center.
  • Conduct regular community needs and strengths assessments to create programs and services that are relevant to the community.
  • Work closely with other team members to conduct community awareness and marketing of all Library programming with emphasis on Health Equity programming.
  • Other duties as assigned

STRONG PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

  • Identify and foster relationships with key health care providers, organizations, and networks to expand programmatic efforts.
  • Maintain accurate and current information on all program partners and participants.
  • Leverage partnerships with key health service providers to carry out a variety of services to promote health and wellness in Highwood.
  • Represent the library at partner organization and community planning meetings through a community health worker lens.
Personal Qualities include:
  • Ability to build trust and respect with diverse key providers and community members.
  • A professional, friendly, helpful, positive attitude.
  • Dependability, punctuality, honesty, and trustworthiness.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with members of the team.
  • Recognition of the need for discretion in dealing with the public.
  • Must be patient and have a resilient personality. Willingness to accept constructive criticism and change gracefully.
  • Excellent communication skills to build a positive, respectful rapport with community members.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Persistence, creativity, and resourcefulness.
  • Ability to manage a flexible work schedule.
  • Deep understanding of the community.
  • Ability to approach this work with a social justice perspective.
Qualifications:
  • High School Diploma/GED required. An Associates or Bachelor’s degree with a focus on health preferred.
  • 1 year of experience with community engagement and program implementation.
  • Fluent in oral and written Spanish and English.
  • Able to effectively understand, engage and communicate with the community.
  • Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
  • Possess a solid ability to integrate and use technology for instructional and educational purposes (Zoom, Teams, Google docs or other cloud-based technology.)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position will set up and break down events including moving and setting up tables and chairs. Walking in the community to businesses and places frequented by community members to conduct outreach is required. Carrying boxes and materials of up to 30 pounds is necessary for events and presentations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The library work environment is usually busy and demanding. Contractor must be able to work a flexible schedule which may include evenings and Saturdays.

This is a grant-funded position.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Yenny Avila at yavila@highwoodlibrary.org.

 

 

 

POSITION TITLE: Community Response Contractor

Join the 2021 IMLS-award winning Highwood Library & Community Center, a small but mighty library serving a diverse community. The Highwood Library & Community Center is an innovative anchor that enriches, empowers, educates, and embraces the community it serves. Our vision is to uplift, inform, and grow the community through the library’s collections, programming, and engagement strategies.

Position Status: Contractual position
Hours: 10 hours per week
Pay: $19.00 – $21.00 per hour
Location: This is an on-site position, working out of the Highwood Library at 102 Highwood Avenue, Highwood, IL 60040.
Reports to: Lead Case Manager

Position Description:

The Highwood Library & Community Center is seeking a caring and organized, detail-oriented Community Response Contractor to assist families in accessing necessary resources such as food, toiletries, technology and specialized programming to address their pressing needs. This position will serve as a point of connection between families, volunteers and the library.

Duties and responsibilities include:

● Purchase/procure food, assemble food bags, and manage food orders.
● Assist in ongoing community response initiatives, including but not limited to assembly of take-home kits, hybrid programming and library material delivery.
● Recruit, onboard, coordinate and communicate with volunteers.
● Schedule and confirm deliveries of library materials with families and volunteers.
● Serve as a liaison between internal staff and external partners.
● Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

● Bilingual (English & Spanish) required.
● Experience in community-based work, case management, nonprofit services.
● Clear, warm and professional communication skills.
● Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
● Ability to work independently while communicating effectively with the team.
● Ability to remain flexible and respond to urgent needs.
● Organized with good time management skills.
● Experience and comfort talking with families of diverse backgrounds.
● Knowledge of basic computer skills (email, google workspace, scheduling tools, online ordering.)