The first step in creating an inclusive national service program is to review your program’s current service descriptions. Before recruiting, you need to be certain about the tasks that need to be accomplished, the environment where the participant will serve and other important details of the position. Use this template to ensure that your position description (PD) covers the essentials of your position:

1. AmeriCorps logo or co-branded (AmeriCorps I Your Corps) logo required.
2. Make sure that the position title includes AmeriCorps.
3. Do not use the term “corpsmember” – use Member, AmeriCorps Member, OYSI Member, EAP member.
4. Do not use the term “internship” – use individual placement.
5. Must mention that a ½ hour lunch is mandatory and this does not count towards term hours.
6. Prohibited Activities: not required to list these since they are verbatim in the Member Service Agreement but you must say that member will not engage in any prohibited activities per the MSA and/or Member Handbook
7. Member’s name must be on the PD (signature not necessary).
8. Create required Member Service Listing for the eGrants Portal prior to recruiting members

Service Position Title: A specific, descriptive title that gives the participant a sense of identity and helps salaried staff and other volunteers understand the role.

Service Location: The location where the individual will be working. Can this assignment be done at home or must the person be on site? Is there public transportation near the work site?

Service term type and dates of service

Member Impact: The purpose of the overall project and/or program and how the volunteer’s service will impact the project’s outcome, clients, or mission. It is critical to identify expected impact in both direct service and administrative assignments so that volunteers will be aware of the importance of their work.

• What are the particular contributions of the position toward the accomplishment of the overall objectives of the organization?

Immediate Supervisor/Title: List name, title, and contact information.

Service Position Summary: Briefly describe the responsibilities of the position in a narrative format.

Essential Functions of Position: List all basic duties that must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

• Identify only the tasks essential to the position. Focus on results, not process
• What three or four activities actually constitute the position? Does the position exist to perform these functions? Is each activity really necessary? For example, to perform essential duties, is it necessary to type, file, answer phones, and take dictation?
• What is the relationship between each task? Is there a specific sequence that the tasks must follow?
• Do the tasks necessitate specific physical activities such as sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, etc.?
• How many other people are available to perform an essential function? Can the performance of that function be distributed among any others?
• How much time is spent in performing each particular function? Are the less frequently performed tasks as important to success as those done more frequently?
• Would removing an essential function fundamentally alter the overall purpose of the position?

Marginal Functions of Position: List additional duties that are preferred, are re-assignable to others, or can be eliminated or otherwise do not change the nature of the position.

Principal Working Relationships: Identify internal and external working relationships required for successful accomplishment of responsibilities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Identify the specific areas of knowledge, skills and abilities required to be qualified for the position.

Academic and Experience Qualifications: List minimum qualifications and experience required to be eligible for the position.

Commitment Required: Commitment asked of the volunteer in terms of the minimum length of service, hours per week, and any other special requirements.

Training: Indicate nature and length of all general and position-specific training required for the assignment. Include that member will not exceed 20% of total hours in education/training.

Service Conditions: Identify the conditions under which the position must be accomplished.
1. “…service is performed primarily outdoors.”
2. “…service involves travel outside the state.”

Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands: Identify the degree to which these demands are applied to the requirements of the position.
1. “…Patience is required because of work with children.”

Date: When the description was written or most recently updated.

Benefits of service (not mandatory for PD as it is in the Member Service Agreement): education award amount received upon successful completion of term of service