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Community Services Specialist II - Housing Relocator - Economic Mobility Program Officer

Employer
City Of Alexandria Virginia
Location
Alexandria, VA
Salary
$47,460.14 - $63,573.64 Annually
Closing date
Jan 21, 2022

Job Details

Community Services Specialist II

Housing Relocator - Economic Mobility Program Officer

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter square miles in the city have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Community Services Specialist II position.

An Overview

This American Rescue Plan Act, one-year, grant funded position will have a visible and consistent presence in the community and build a rapport with City residents who need assistance with accessing a range of public and private human services. The incumbent will establish working relationships and frequent interactions with City and community-based service providers, and advocate and intervene on behalf of individuals seeking services when there are questions or issues arise. The aim is to empower City residents to access and navigate services and communicate, as necessary encountered barriers.

The Housing Relocator will provide support in connecting Alexandrians living with low income and or vulnerable who are displaced or are at risk of becoming displaced. Housing Relocators will be knowledgeable of community housing options throughout the City of Alexandria and as appropriate the surrounding localities and establish and maintain interagency relationships and community partnerships will support the clients in securing stable housing. Referrals may be received from community partners, including Service Navigators, and work with households until they have secured stable housing. The positions are located in the Office of Housing and the Department of Community and Human Services.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have good knowledge of the counseling and service needs of low-income, multicultural or multilingual families; good knowledge of community agencies, prevention and diversion programs and services available to City residents; skill in a language other than English may be required; skill in mitigating conflicts; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing with individuals and diverse cultural groups; ability to counsel assigned clients under normal circumstances and in crisis intervention situations; ability to plan, organize, and implement topical workshops, forums, seminars, and other programs and presentations. Knowledge of Alexandria local community and human services organizations; Knowledge and experience of person-centered practices, strength-based mindset, and motivational interviewing; Excellent customer service, written & oral communication skills; Demonstrate cultural competency and understanding and experience applying racial equity lens; Ability to work autonomously while cooperatively; Professional written and verbal communication as well as interpersonal skills; Strong organizational skills with attention to detail; Ability to problem-solve and manage time with multiple projects. Ability to d emonstrate commitment to serving low-income communities, eviction / homelessness prevention . Competent in utilizing computer MS Suite, Outlook, Teams, and case management software.

The Opportunity
  • Knowledge and access to rent relief programs and resources for residents, tenant rights and legal eviction process;
  • Coordinating and providing care that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and person- centered;
  • Build and maintain relationships with local community-based organizations to build referral database and coordinate care of clients;
  • Participate in weekly client - coordination calls with community partners;
  • Navigate community resources and follow-up on resource availability;
  • Work with team to organize and track outreach to affected addresses/zip codes to notify tenants about a) eviction moratorium/tenant protections, b) rental assistance opportunities for Alexandria residents;
  • Case management and referral tracking experience, including documentation of interaction with and on behalf of client;
  • Compile timely reports and data, including outcomes, outreach efforts;
  • Strong relationship management experience;
  • Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The Center for Economic Support provides programs and services for Public Benefits, Community Services, and Employment and Training. Our mission is to provide direct services to City of Alexandria residents in need of temporary assistance with food, shelter, employment and State medical assistance as they strive toward self-sufficiency.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Considerable experience counseling individuals with a variety of problems, to include some experience in crisis intervention and employment counseling and completion of high-school-level courses in English and arithmetic supplemented by some college-level training or courses in sociology, gerontology, counseling and/or inter-personal communications; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Must have a valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

A Master's degree in the social service field, business management, public administration, or a related field provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job's responsibilities; Knowledge of guaranteed income approach and/or experience with economic stability or mobility models. At least one year of experience developing and implementing a community-based program. At least one year of experience working a collaborative model with multiple stakeholders in public and private organizations. At least one year of experience working in research-based projects. At least one year of experience and understanding about community housing resources throughout the City of Alexandria and tenancy laws; Experience in community engagement and advocacy; Fluent & Bilingual (Spanish, Amharic, Arabic) preferred; At least one year of experience creating and managing reports.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; education/certifications; and driver’s license.

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9:00AM - 6:00PM, with at least 2 evening meetings per month.

*This is a grant funded position that will end one year from the date of hire*

Company

The City of Alexandria is an award-winning, innovative, and progressive local government that brings together elected leaders, residents, businesses, and staff to foster a thriving community.  We are an independent, full-service city, providing the services typically operated by both counties and cities in areas such as public safety, transportation, human services, parks and recreation, planning, and administration. We offer a wide range of exciting career opportunities in a variety of fields, with the resources and expertise to succeed.  In Alexandria, employees are our most important asset, and we work hard to create and support a culture that delivers excellence through the shared values of respect, integrity, teamwork and continuous improvement.

Our employees have access to excellent medical, dental, vision, life insurance and other benefits.  Alexandria provides a defined-benefit pension and offers six weeks of paid parental leave to employees who become parents through birth, adoption or foster care.

We offer a robust wellness program, interdepartmental rotation program, tuition assistance funding and professional development program that helps employees obtain the knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience to enhance their professional and personal growth.

With a population of approximately 160,000 and a land area of 16 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located on the Potomac River across from Washington, D.C., Alexandria is known for its beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture, charming waterfront, high-tech economy, vibrant retail and restaurant corridors and diverse neighborhoods. We are a unique and historic community, and we continue to innovate for the 21st century.

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