The Salvation Army USA Western Territory Hiring for Outreach & Community Engagement Specialist at Seattle, WA  Full Time

Outreach & Community Engagement Specialist

Join a team where you can offer compassion, dignity, and sustainable opportunities for people in need in your local community!

The Salvation Army is an inspiring place to work. With offices in every major US city and over 120 countries around the globe, it’s a place where people can invest in people on every level. In the Northwest region of the United States, we are committed to being an efficient and effective network of local offices that provide the community with resources, such as food and shelter opportunities. As one of the most impactful social service organizations in the world, we hire people who constantly seek new ways to keep us moving forward.

Use your social services skills as an Outreach & Community Engagement Specialist!

Street Level Ministries is an outreach ministry of Seattle Social Services, William Booth Center, ARC and local corps affiliates. It is a weekly urban outreach – primarily to the homeless in downtown Seattle. The Outreach and Engagement Specialist (OES) is a housing focused outreach position directed at homeless individuals living in their vehicles in King County. The primary objective of this position is to aid individuals in housing attainment, utilizing the minimum assistance needed to address each household’s immediate housing crisis. The OES will regularly visit vehicle residents at their parking sites, working with individual clients to identify and overcome barriers to housing, and refer these households to other resources in the community (mainstream services, benefit services, food assistance programs, childcare resources, etc.).

This position is full-time, non-exempt, and located in Tukwila, Washington.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintain weekly contact with clients while they are working on their housing assessment and housing readiness plan
• Provides intensive housing assistance including all or part of a comprehensive assessment, case management, service authorization, information, and referral necessary for adults to develop and pursue an effective and mutually agreed upon housing plan
• Provide expert case management for clients with varying degrees of vocational, social, cultural, and/or medical impairments hindering self-sufficiency
• Post housing case management may include referrals and linkages that assess and determine employability, job readiness, vocational education and training needs, and client economic and social self-support
• Provide formal and informal referral services to community resources, and case management services in a multidisciplinary approach to service delivery
• Coordinates services with other agencies such as mental health, Employment Security, substance abuse programs, vocational rehabilitation, and developmental disabilities
• Participates in unit staff meetings and in applicable training as assigned
• Maintains client case records, social services system (Bridges & Others), HMIS, and required forms and reports are maintained in the prescribed format
• Performs other administrative and operational functions as requested
• Track, analyze, and input data relevant for county, donor, and internal stakeholders
• Manage and mentor interns and volunteers
• Collaborate with the Outreach and Engagement Program Manager on a monthly Newsletter
• Coordinate Tuesday Night Gatherings and Thursday night outreaches with the ARC

Education & Experience

• Experience in social services or customer service
• Demonstrate understanding in: Housing First, Coordinated Entry (CEA), Rapid Rehousing (RRH), City, County and Partner Agency Human services
• Strong Human relations skills; trauma-informed care; community building, and motivational interviewing
• Competent in HMIS entries, exits and reporting

Required Skills & Abilities

• An ability to engage with diverse populations in a respectful and culturally responsive manner
• Demonstrates a commitment to the values of equity and inclusion by honoring diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity
• Self-starter, persuasive, and compassionate
• Understanding of basic conflict resolution
• Team player
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, multitasker
• Strong use of the English language in verbal and written communication
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and maintain poise under pressure
• Client-centered mindset
• Strong analytical and research skills
• General knowledge of business protocols
• Strong commitment to keeping client information confidential
• Broad and up-to-date knowledge of community-based resources (e.g., housing, RRH funds, employment placement services, access to medical & dental services, etc.)
• Possesses a valid Washington State Driver’s License, and can pass The Salvation Army driver requirements
• Must successfully pass the background/reference check process
• Ability and willingness to understand and fully comply with mandatory reporting requirements and laws pertaining to vulnerable adults and children
• Complete the Bloodborne Pathogen training within 90 days of employment

Software-Related Skills

• Microsoft Word and Excel
• Internet resource navigation
• Microsoft Outlook

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outside in various weather conditions
• Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, and twist on an intermittent or continuous basis
• Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinet drawers, and reach overhead.
• Ability to operate a telephone
• Ability to operate a desktop or laptop computer
• Ability to lift up to 45 lbs.

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description.

A generous benefits package is included with full-time positions: paid holidays, vacation time, sick time, and medical, vision, and dental insurance.

Health Insurance: Low bi-weekly premiums for employee-only coverage, Kaiser HMO for those residing in a Kaiser service area, Anthem EPO/PPO is available for those residing outside a Kaiser service area. Voluntary +1 and +family coverage at additional cost. Delta Dental DHMO and DPPO dental insurance are offered.

Life and Voluntary Options. An employer-paid life insurance policy covers employees. Voluntary supplemental life, short-term and long-term disability plans are available.

Retirement Plans: Employer-funded Money Purchase Pension Plan (Defined Contribution Plan) 50% vested at five years eligible service time. Plus, an employee-funded voluntary 403(b) option.

Parental Leave: The benefit is 40 hours of Paid Leave for qualifying events.

Sick Leave: 12 days of Sick Leave annually accruing from day one, eligible for use after three months’ service time.

Paid Vacation:

• Two weeks annually, accruing from day one, for non-exempt positions.
• Four weeks annually, accruing from day one, for exempt positions.
• Accrued vacation is eligible for use after six months’ service time.

Paid Holidays: 13 designated holidays + 1 floating holiday per year

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability. The Salvation Army is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified job applicants, job candidates, and employees with disabilities to ensure they enjoy equal access to all employment opportunities and benefits of employment as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. EEO is the Law.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

“The Salvation Army will comply with all governmental orders and any contractual obligations relative to COVID-19 safety measures, including mandatory vaccination of staff if required. The Salvation Army will consider requests for exemptions from any such requirements on either religious or medical grounds.”

Once a conditional offer has been made and then accepted by the applicant, The Salvation Army may then ask specific questions about vaccination status, if applicable. If the applicant requests an exemption, then the processes described in this summary should be followed.