Leadership Positions

What You'll Gain

• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with a co-leader in a collaborative style
• Group facilitation skills 
• Intentional growth in your sense of civic identity and ability to engage difference

Time Commitment

This leadership position will require you to invest your time, similar to other co-curricular activities. This includes

• Required 24-hour retreat 
• Fall course facilitated by Branch Out coordinators and staff, Fridays 1-2:20. Returning site-leaders are welcome to take our online accelerated Site Leader training in lieu of the in-person class (not for credit), but are strongly encouraged to attend the first class of the semester in person.
• Regular meetings with your advisor and co-site leader 

You can plan to spend up to about five hours per week in the two months preceding your break and during the month afterward, in addition to class time and work.

While unpredictable things may happen in everyone's life, we ask that you seriously consider this opportunity as a firm commitment. When Site Leaders leave their positions, their co-Site Leaders are left in a tough position. We encourage you to prioritize this role and hope that it will be a rich addition to your experience at William & Mary and in community, and an enhancement to your well-being and sense of community.

Position Requirements

• Commitment to community engagement, Branch Out mission, vision, and values
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Interest and a willingness to learn about the social issue addressed by your alternative break
• Interest in working with a co-leader in a collaborative style
• Ability to make the required time commitment to the program, including mandatory retreat weekend, site leader training class, and Branch Out meetings and advising sessions.

• Commitment to substance-free policy throughout the alternative break experience

Position Responsibilities 

Plan for and co-lead group of students in an alternative break, during fall, winter, spring, or summer break.

Before the trip:

• Attend mandatory Site Leader training class (throughout the Fall) and retreat in September
• Become van safety training certified well in advance of your trip
• Communicate with host site and lodging contacts before trip to plan quality issue education, direct service opportunities, and finalize logistics
• Communicate regularly with and work with Civic & Community Engagement staff, Branch Out Coordinators, and your team
• Plan four pre-trip team meetings, with group building, education, orientation, and training
  
• Plan your trip budget
• Assist with participant recruitment

During the trip:

• Work with a co-leader to lead all service activities in coordination with community partner
• Manage trip budget and finances, and follow financial procedures
• Communicate with your team and build a group dynamic
• Facilitate reflection and ongoing education activities daily
• Manage travel and transport team to activities in 12-passenger van
• Check in via text and/or phone call with coordinators or staff

After the trip:

• Plan post-break reorientation, including meetings, activities, and advocacy for your team
• Participate in Branch Out Welcome Back Dinner
  
• Attend post-trip advising meetings with Coordinators

• Assist with recruiting participants to be Site Leaders

What You'll Gain

• A meaningful collective leadership experience with your fellow Trunk members
• Skills in professional communication, teamwork, technology, partnership development, advising, and leadership
• Intentional growth in your sense of civic identity and ability to engage difference
• The opportunity to guide the direction of Branch Out

Hours & Compensation

Positions are from April to April of the following year; summer hours are required. Anticipated hours for each position are in the position responsibilities. Student Coordinators are paid hourly, at minimum wage.

Required Qualifications

• Full-time student, enrolled and on campus (not studying abroad) in fall and spring semesters
• Maintain clear student conduct and honor code records and be in good academic standing
• Previous experience with Branch Out as a Site Leader highly encouraged
• Commitment to community engagement, Branch Out mission, vision and values
• Interest in working with a co-coordinator and a team in a collaborative style
• Commitment to and vision for consistently improving the Branch Out program
• Commitment to growing in active citizenship
• Commitment to being proactive and taking initiative
• Ability to make the required time commitments to the program. Serving as coordinator is a full academic year commitment.

Responsibilities for All Student Coordinators 

• Recruit and select Site Leaders (SLs) and Student Coordinators (SCs) for the following year in late March/early April
• Plan and attend the SL retreat in September
• Plan and participate in three weekly one-hour meetings:
  • "Trunk" meeting, with all SCs and Program Advisor
  • "Twig" meeting, with co-SC and Program Advisor
  • "Roots" meeting, with co-SC
• Advise two to three alternative breaks (no more than one per season, typically), meeting regularly with SLs over about eight week to help them develop thorough and engaging pre-trip education, facilitate trip logistics, and implement a successful reorientation plan
• Participate in a Trunk training shortly after you begin your position (your first April or May) for one or two days, an overnight Trunk retreat in August or September, and an overnight SL retreat in September

Responsibilities for Development Coordinator

• Recruit and welcome new members of Branch Out:
  • Recruit participants for all alternative breaks using GivePulse, Canva, Brevo (newsletters), Instagram, in-person tabling and events, and word of mouth
  • Welcome participants to their teams in a spirit of celebration and lightheartedness including planning and leading Welcome Meetings
  • Oversee publicity and branding for Branch Out through social media, information meetings, and other creative methods
  • Collaborate to welcome new Site Leaders and Student Coordinators through Welcome Meetings and Trunk transition
• Post Branch Out opportunities (including breaks, leadership positions, pre-trip meetings, and other functions) on GivePulse, and review and approve or deny applications and impacts
• Manage the Branch Out email account
• Develop program-wide events to raise campus awareness of Branch Out
• Coordinate meaningful alumni engagement
• Plan transportation and meals for the SL retreat
• Time commitment:
  
  • Summer: one-two hrs/week
  • Fall: an average of 10 hrs/week with more in the first two weeks of the semester, leading up to Fall Break, and the end of the semester 
  • Spring: an average of five hrs/week, with an increase in hours through SC and SL recruitment
• Desired skills:
  • Interpersonal and group communication (oral and written)
  • Problem solving and ability to adapt
  • Time management and organization
  • Outreach and recruitment
  • Creative social media management and graphic design (Canva)
  • Ability to quickly learn and artfully use volunteer management software (GivePulse)

Responsibilities for Education Coordinator

• Based on the syllabus and class learning objectives, develop lesson plans for, facilitate, and lead all sessions of SL training, in collaboration with the Program Advisor 
• Plan and facilitate workshops for the Site Leader retreat 
• Plan and lead Welcome Back Dinners for break participants after fall, winter, and spring breaks
• Create a sense of fun and inclusion among SLs through periodic workshops and bonding events.
• Time commitment:
  • Summer: one hr/week + four-day full-time conference, with an increase in hours leading up to the start of the fall semester 
  • Fall: an average of 10 hrs/week, but more hours leading up to Fall Break while the class is in session
  • Spring: six hrs/ week, with an increase in hours through SC and SL recruitment
• Desired skills:
  • Interpersonal and group communication (oral and written)
  • Problem solving and ability to adapt
  • Time management and organization
  • Comfort facilitating conversations with 15+ people, including affirming and correcting student contributions
  • Ability to creatively and effectively deliver content

Responsibilities for Site Coordinators

• Identify, evaluate, contact, and work closely with community partners, housing hosts, and transportation managers to develop sustainable, mutually-beneficial partnerships for alternative breaks
• Problem-solve when there are complications with community and housing partners
• Work with the advisor to determine and implement the budget for each break, and manage compensation process for each community and housing
• Assess program impact, in part by developing, maintaining, and distributing post-trip evaluation forms to site leaders, participants, and partners
• Maintain accurate records of partnership details and break plans
• Develop community partnership, service, and housing for the SL retreat
• Plan and facilitate emergency planning meetings and logistical training for each break period
• Time commitment:
  
  • Summer: an average of three to five hrs/week during summer, with heavier weeks leading up to the beginning of classes in August + four-day full-time conference.
  • Fall: an average of 10 hrs/week, with more hours leading up to Site Leader Retreat (in September).
  • Spring: an average of five hrs/week, with an increase in hours through SC and SL recruitment.
• Desired skills:
  • Interpersonal and group communication (oral and written, including professional emails and phone conversations with partners)
  • Problem solving and ability to adapt
  • Time management and organization
  • Forward-looking focus, and ability to predict and respond to potential logistical challenges