SCA has a new online management system called the MySCA Partner Portal. MySCA is a simple, intuitive interface that lets you manage your SCA account when, how, and wherever you want. You'll submit and renew position requests, select candidates, and more with speed and efficiency. MySCA also allows you to manage positions once they are field active and access time logs online for easier review and approval. Contact information for your regional Partner Services Coordinator is posted on the home page as your first point of contact for questions.
To access the MySCA partner website, bookmark this URL: http://mysca.force.com/partner [1]
For new users, click on the New Partner Registration to generate a User ID and password. You will be asked to fill out a profile with your contact and organization information.
Request a New Position
There are three main categories on the MySCA website: Request a New Position, Manage Positions and Manage Tasks.
To request a new position, click on the Request a New Position button. There are a variety of program types to choose from, select the internship request and complete the form. If you’ve had previous positions with SCA, you can simply copy a position. Click on Manage Positions and select the position you want to copy. The copy function will take the title of the position, position description and partner information to the new position, but you will need to edit the position with current data including new start and end dates, openings available, logistics such as housing, commuting and living allowance details and the job hazard assessment.
A step by step presentation is available to download for detailed instructions on requesting a position.
Once a position has been submitted, a PO number (position number) is assigned and it will reside under Manage Positions. SCA will review and approve the position request and post it on our website to begin recruiting candidates. If you recruit your own candidate or are looking for a local candidate, make sure to let your Partner Services Coordinator know.
Candidates Sent Through MySCA
SCA will begin to send applicants two-three months prior to the start of the position. Applications will go through an application match search based on the skills and education requirements you listed in the position request. The most qualified applicants will be sent to your MySCA account for review.
You will receive an email notification each time new candidates have been added to your queue.
If you find that you don’t have enough candidates to review, or the candidates do not have adequate qualifications, please contact your Partner Services Coordinator. Your Partner Services Coordinator can assist by sending additional candidates and refine the skills/education parameters to target the candidates that best match your needs.
To view the applications, login to http://mysca.force.com/partner [1] and click on the Manage Positions button at the top of the page. Click on the PO # hyperlink to open the position and scroll down to the Candidates section to view the applications.
Once in the Candidate section, you will see an action column, with an Offer, Delete and Interview button next to each candidate. The candidate’s application is also shown as a hyperlink for you to review.
Pre-Selected Candidate
Sometimes agencies want to recruit local candidates themselves or have a pre-selected candidate they would like to offer the position. SCA can admit a pre-selected candidate into your internship as long as the intern completes the SCA Conservation Internship application and meets certain requirements. Send the name, email and phone number of the candidate to your Partner Services Coordinator so SCA can guide them through the application process.
Interviewing an Applicant
To view a candidate’s contact information, click “Interview” for phone and email information to populate. We strongly recommend that you review applications within a week from the time you receive them. Applications are often sent to more than one partner for review. SCA recommends review, contact, and interview your applicants as soon as you receive them to increase the likelihood that you will get your first candidate choice.
We advise applicants to view this call as an employment interview. During this conversation, be sure to cover the following points:
SCA will obtain written confirmation of acceptance, a Medical Form with emergency numbers, a Release Form and Travel Grant Request from the selected intern. Please do not offer a position to an applicant who has already agreed to serve at a different site.
To remove a candidate from consideration, click “Delete”. Deleting a candidate does not delete them from our system; it simply pulls them from your candidate queue and indicates that you no longer wish to consider the candidate. They do not receive an email notification of your decision.
Selecting a Candidate
Once you have received verbal confirmation that a candidate accepts the position, click “Offer” to initiate the official offer. On the offer page, you have the opportunity to modify the start and end dates of the position and leave notes regarding any other logistical details (such as a non-standard living allowance, housing allowance or commuting allowance) that may vary from the initial position request. Once you submit an offer, your Partner Service Coordinator reviews the offer, assigns an AmeriCorps Education Award if applicable, and sends the electronic offer to the applicant. The offer is sent to the candidate via their MySCA member portal, and they receive an email notification that an offer is pending their review. The candidate will need to login through the MySCA Member Portal to accept or decline the position within five business days.
Occasionally, an applicant accepts a position and later declines the offer. If a selected intern declines after accepting your position, please call your Partner Services Coordinator immediately to assist you in finding a replacement. Do not assume that the applicant has notified SCA.
Once the applicant accepts SCA emails the SCA intern with directions on how to complete their selection paperwork. This paperwork may include:
Information regarding AmeriCorps education awards from the Corporation for National Service
The intern will also be directed to our Intern Manual, containing information about our Travel Grant policy and procedures, accident insurance, general information about SCA, advisories on workplace discrimination and sexual harassment, safety and how to get the most from their internship.
Please review the travel grant policy in case you need to advise your intern about the best way to get to your area. Before we can authorize an individual to travel to your site or send any funds, the intern is required to complete and return all of the selection paperwork.
Criminal and Federal Background Checks
All selected interns are subject to a criminal background check. The background check is part of the selection process and must be completed before the intern begins their service. The background check process may take up to 2 or more weeks, please plan accordingly as it can impact when your intern starts their position. The process and forms used for the background checks are in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. All information pertaining to the process will be kept confidential. It is often best during the interview process to make the applicant aware of this requirement. Past history of crimes against youth or other vulnerable populations, violent crimes, or crimes of moral turpitude may disqualify the applicant for an internship. All information will be kept confidential and shared with SCA program supervisory staff in the event of an unfavorable record. An email will be sent to the intern directly from customer service at Easy Background once SCA is notified of their selection.
Please note: This background check is separate from, and may not qualify for, background checks or security clearance as required by your Agency.
Federal Background Checks (HSPD-12)
Federal agencies have been directed by the Department of Homeland Security to conduct background investigations for employees. Any employee, VIP or SCA intern serving more than 180 days, or serving less than 180 days but having access to a government computer must have a favorable background investigation completed prior to their Entry on Duty. This background investigation includes taking a fingerprint for the FBI. The background investigation process is a federally-initiated process and SCA cannot perform a background check in lieu of the federal investigation.
If your intern meets the criteria above, please be sure to allow time for the background investigation process to be completed; otherwise, the intern may not be able to start their position as scheduled.
Selections Less Than Two Weeks from Start Date
Enrollment paperwork for the intern normally takes a couple of weeks to process. In cases where positions are filled less than two weeks from the start date, your Partner Service Coordinator will need to work with you and internal SCA staff to ensure that the background check, I9 form, emergency contact information and any other required document is in place before your intern begins. SCA will send communications to the intern on what to do next to get ready for the field, and their assigned SCA advisor will work with them on travel arrangements and enrollment forms. In some cases, the start date may need to be adjusted to a later date. The intern should also be prepared to cover their living expenses while their Chase pay card is processed.
Links:
[1] http://mysca.force.com/partner