Open VISTA Positions

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Mercy Corps Northwest VISTAs oversee projects that build the long-term capacity of their communities through financial education, job skills training, microenterprise & asset development, affordable housing, homeless services, food security, and disaster preparedness. While the programs VISTAs develop endure for years, VISTA members perform only indirect service; interaction with clients will be limited and the member will spend the majority of their time in an office setting. However, VISTA offers the opportunity to gain advanced project management skills and exercise creativity in implementing a program—skills highly desired by employers.

Please note: VISTAs serving with the Mercy Corps Northwest cohort are placed in different non-profits and local government agencies around Oregon & Washington. Most positions are located in the Portland Metro Area, but a few are located in Washington and Central Oregon. Please check the location of the specific position before applying and note that in some cases, rural sites may require that you have reliable transportation.

Since VISTA has unique benefits and requirements, prospective applicants are advised to review the FAQ’s on our VISTA program. Pay and benefit information is located in the FAQ’s.

 
 

We are currently recruiting for 9 VISTA member positions to begin on August 19th, 2019. Please see descriptions of open positions below and click on the linked header of each position to apply! 

 
 

How to apply:

  1. Review open positions below and click on the header of the position(s) you’re interested in to apply.
  2. Click the “apply now” button at the bottom of the page and you will be prompted to create a profile on the MyAmeriCorps.gov portal.
  3. Follow the instructions to complete your profile.
  4. Once your profile is created, you are ready to apply! Submit your application to the position(s) you’re interested in on the MyAmeriCorps.gov portal (you may submit your application to up to 10 positions at a time).
  5. If your application is a match, the supervisor for the VISTA position will reach out within a few weeks for an interview.

Positions will be open until July 15th 2019, unless filled sooner. Early applications strongly encouraged as selections are made on a rolling basis. Applicants must submit an application through the MyAmeriCorps.gov portal via the links provided in the job titles below. No other application materials will be accepted.

 

We are currently recruiting for the following AmeriCorps VISTA positions:

Affordable Housing Associate—Community Vision (Portland, OR)

Community Vision, located in Portland, Oregon, serves individuals with disabilities to increase their independence and self-determination. The Affordable Housing Associate VISTA will assist in building organizational capacity by expanding affordable housing opportunities for low-income individuals experiencing disabilities.  This includes community outreach, research, and assistance with development of the affordable housing program.

Business Promotion Specialist—Warm Springs Community Action Team (Warm Springs, OR)

The Warm Springs Community Action Team (WSCAT), located on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, promotes community development by empowering individuals and groups of people to realize their potential, become self-reliant, and affect positive change for themselves, their families, and their community. The Warm Springs Indian Reservation, home of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, covers 1,000 miles in rural Wasco and Jefferson counties. The VISTA member placed at our agency will build capacity for WSCAT by assisting in the development of a Small Business Incubator to facilitate economic development for low-income community members. The VISTA will recruit small businesses, organize trainings, plan events in the incubator, conduct research and outreach, and write grants to support the Small Business Incubator and youth programs at WSCAT.

Business Promotion and Outreach Specialist—Warm Springs Community Action Team, Tananáwit (Warm Springs, OR)

Tananáwit is a nonprofit artists cooperative, developed with the support of WSCAT, to build economic development opportunities, empower our people, and build knowledge and understanding of traditional and contemporary Native art of the Columbia River Plateau. The VISTA member placed at our agency will build community and financial support for Tananáwit programs and facilitate entrepreneurship for low-income artists on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The VISTA will recruit members into Tananáwit, develop tracking systems, build the capacity of the organization, assist in fundraising, organize events and marketing/outreach opportunities for artists, and develop trainings.

Community Outreach and Resource Coordinator—Meals on Wheels People (Portland, OR)

Meals on Wheels People located in Portland, Oregon, ensures that no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation. The VISTA member placed at Meals on Wheels People will develop the agency’s capacity to connect with individuals, partners, and communities and establish strong donor practices. The VISTA with develop donor relations & research processes, conduct community outreach, and enhance the donor database; thereby changing the generational nature of hunger through the provision of nutritious food to low income communities.

Development and Communications VISTA—Project Lemonade (Portland, OR)

Project Lemonade, located in Portland, Oregon, inspires self-esteem in foster youth through three signature programs: a store where foster youth shop for free clothes, a paid summer internship for foster youth and a WISH enrichment program. As a VISTA member at Project Lemonade, you will develop a resource development and communications program to expand the foster youth internship program. Major functions will include assisting in fundraising initiatives by participating in donor cultivation, event planning, donor database expansion and communications strategies.

Donor Relations Coordinator—Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (Salem, OR)

The Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA), located in Salem, Oregon, empowers people to change their lives and exit poverty by providing vital services and community leadership. As a VISTA member at MWVCAA, you will develop sustainable donor relations and fundraising practices for MWVCAA’s youth development and homelessness programs. Major functions will include developing a grant writing toolkit, researching best practices in implementing donor cultivation efforts and a donor tracking mechanism, and supporting two fundraising events.

Emergency Preparedness Program Specialist—Home Forward (Portland, OR)

Home Forward, located in Portland, Oregon, works to assure that the people of the community are sheltered. Home Forward has a special responsibility to those who encounter barriers to housing because of income, disability or special need. As a VISTA member at Home Forward you will build internal capacity for disaster preparedness for vulnerable members of our community. Major functions will include developing and implementing data collection tools, developing disaster preparedness training programs and multi-lingual, culturally specific materials for residents of all abilities, and establishing a network with other housing authorities to increase resilience in our community.

Housing Resource Coordinator—Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (Portland, OR)

The Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon Communities United Fund (APANO CUF), located in Portland, Oregon, is a statewide, grassroots organization, uniting Asians and Pacific Islanders to achieve social justice using collective strengths to advance equity through empowering and organizing with our communities. As a VISTA at APANO CUF, you will support the expansion of our community development programs into Washington County, with a focus on expanding housing access for low income communities. Major functions will include identifying and expanding culturally specific community partnerships, developing a resource toolkit, and conducting outreach to build program awareness.

Project Coordinator—Mercy Corps Northwest, Seattle (Seattle, WA)

The Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW) Seattle office supports disadvantaged entrepreneurs throughout Washington by empowering them through financial and educational resources.  We work with more than 1,000 people per year providing them with loans, grants, and training. As a VISTA member at Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW), you will help serve low-income individuals in Washington achieve their entrepreneurial aspirations by supporting our small business programs. Major functions will include designing the educational material that is shared with existing clients and creating content to share with our growing community, as well as supporting the Understanding Your Credit program and developing our community partnership network.