This 20hr, part-time position 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 the OATS curriculum and offering technical 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 for older adults. In-person classes typically meet twice a week for ten weeks. Virtual programs are primarily one-off sessions focused on particular technology topics, and 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 standard 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, problem-solving ability, a sense of humor, and a solid commitment to social change. Responsibilities include teaching technology courses virtually but primarily in person using the OATS curriculum and approach (primarily in-person training), 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, regularly communicating with OATS staff, coordinating with site staff, submitting paperwork promptly, collecting surveys and evaluations, entering data into the Salesforce database, participating in trainer meetings and other training events, recruiting participants, as needed, participating in special projects, as needed (ex., outreach, curriculum, etc.), and supervising volunteers who assist classes as needed.
Technology Trainers possess a moderate degree of autonomy and independent judgment, especially concerning programs they're assigned to teach and deliver. Technology trainers set the tone, manage the environment, and help guide groups of all sizes towards learning objectives that OATS presets. Technology Trainers have limited decision-making authority and must adhere to OATS training standards, approaches, and methodologies throughout all participant interactions. Technology Trainers have a diverse, albeit narrow, challenge. They are responsible for working with older adults aged 60+ in diverse settings with 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. Technology Trainers' interactions with others (customers, i.e., seniors) are predominantly educational and coaching. They are primarily 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 include 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 standard 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, and minimum of 1-year experience in a professional work setting.
Comments for Suppliers: The schedule can be flexible. The total hours will be 20 hours a week. Looking for mostly Mondays and Wednesdays between 9am-5pm.