Community Outreach Specialist

Title: Community Outreach Specialist, $50,460.80-$60,552.96

Reports To: Education Program Coordinator Office Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening and weekend hours as required. YMCA International Services is a unique branch of the YMCA of Greater Houston that seeks to meet the needs of Houston's significant refugee and immigrant communities. We provide comprehensive programs that focus on building human assets and fostering self-sufficiency.

Position Summary:

The goal of the program is to promote civic engagement of Long-term Permanent Residents (LPRs) in the Greater Houston Area. This group is eligible to obtain American citizenship but present several barriers to accomplish this namely, varying levels of literacy and English language acquisition, and lack of information about the naturalization process and available community organizations to assist them in the city. As a full-time Community Outreach Specialist, you will conduct targeted outreach to LPRs in Houston to engagement in civics and English language instruction to ultimately submit their naturalization application. The Community Outreach Specialist will work closely with the program staff, community partners, and volunteers necessary to promote civic engagement and increase the visibility of YMCA International Services programs available to underserved communities.

Duties /Responsibilities:

• Use various communication methods like WhatsApp, Facebook, and other avenues to recruit LPRs to participate in civic and English instruction.
• Utilize and facilitate community resources needed to serve program participants.
• Facilitate volunteer programs to assist with community events
• Cultivate and maintain relationships in key communities, agencies, legal services providers and organizations serving LPRS to ensure widespread knowledge of available services and resources.
• Create targeted outreach materials and conduct program outreach efforts.
• Work with agency departments to identify eligible clients and facilitate referrals.
• Use online databases daily to organize data regarding volunteer information, client referrals, and more.
• Cooperate with childcare providers to sort through logistics to provide the care needed for the children of participants
• Engage with apartment complexes to use common areas for programming
• Support and facilitate the day-to-day operations of the project?
• Ensure that all administrative processes related to record-keeping, client files, funding and other administrative issues are done to the highest standards?
• Complete relevant trainings and be familiar with updated resources.
• Report suspicious and inappropriate behaviors and policy violations.
• Follow mandated abuse and incident reporting requirements.
• Meet timelines and deadlines related to supporting systems and employee compliance. Example includes but are not limited to Kronos Workforce Ready for review and approval of time sheets.
• Other duties as assigned including airport pickup and food distribution rotation.

Outcomes:

• Recruit at least 200 LPRs to participate annually in the program
• Create a quarterly needs assessment survey in collaboration with Education Program Coordinator and Civics instructors to learn what topics or areas the outreach should focus on.
• Contribute to at least 100 community engagements annually.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Social Work, Public Health, or other social service field; or Associate's Degree in Communications, Social Work, or Public Health, or other social service field with a minimum of 2 years' experience in outreach and recruitment.
• 1 year of relevant experience with immigrant populations.
• Computer skills with Microsoft Suite, databases, and office equipment
• Excellent verbal and written English including being comfortable with public speaking
• Culturally aware, sensitive, and continuously works towards practicing cultural humility
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to create and manipulate documents and databases
• Experience working with volunteers and community members
• Flexible, innovative, practices sound judgment, and takes initiative
• Works well under pressure and thrives under limited guidance
• Bilingual in common foreign language to LPRS like Spanish highly preferred
• Texas Driver's License; clean driving record; own vehicle; and applicable auto insurance. This position requires frequent local travel.

How to apply: You must complete an online application at YMCA of Greater Houston No phone calls please.You will be contacted to schedule an interview if you are considered a qualified candidate.

Note: All positions are filled in response to current refugee arrivals and their language needs; as language needs change, this will necessitate flexibility in our staffing.

This is a grant funded position.

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides the following

• Highly competitive compensation
• Generous and flexible PTO
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Long term disability, basic life insurance, and other voluntary benefits
• 403 (B) retirement plan
• Free YMCA membership

The YMCA of Greater Houston provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.