Community Organizer jobs in Albany, NY

Description

CARES of NY, Inc. (CARES) collaborates with and supports our communities towards the creation of systems that end and prevent homelessness. We envision that all people have access to safe, affordable housing and the social supports to remain housed.

CARES offices are in Albany, NY, however our customers and partner agencies are located throughout 37 counties in NYS. That is approximately 65% of the State. We have been growing since 1990, with most of our new hires made recently.

POSITION TITLE: Community Organizer in the Capital Region

DEPARTMENT: Planning Team

REPORTS TO: Assistant Director of Planning

SUMMARY  

The Community Organizer is a vital high-energy role that proactively builds relationships in the community. The role supports the activities established/developed by the Continuum of Care Boards and Membership to address homelessness. This role is crucial in meeting the requirements set forth by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) outlined in the prepared Scopes of Work signed with affiliated Continuums of Care (CoC). The Community Organizer will support the Planning Team Lead and will have the following primary activities:

1. Community Organizing: Engage in community organizing to ensure the active and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders in the CoC, fostering a collaborative environment to address homelessness effectively. 
2. Aligning with Systems Support: Work with CoCs to engage other systems (e.g. hospitals, mental healthcare, police, landlords) and build consensus in the prevention and ending of homelessness.
3. Application Development: At the direction of the Planning leadership team, the Community Organizer plays a key role in CoC application development and submission, ensuring that all necessary information is accurately presented, as assigned.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Cold calling potential partners adjacent to homeless services (e.g. fire, police, Department of Mental Health) and co-collaborating to develop a vision to further the initiatives.
2. Proactively takes initiative on what connections need to be made, shares outputs with the team to reach consensus. 
3. Facilitates meetings, builds community consensus, and creates community education programs.
4. Develop comprehensive CoC Membership meeting content by staying abreast of community-based issues impacting the state of homelessness, and identifying and incorporating best practices. 
5. Supports the Team Lead with oversight and reporting of the CoC Board, Membership and multiple sub-committees (e.g., Governance, NOFA Committees) in ensuring compliance with HUD CoC regulations/requirements and developing agenda, meeting minutes and supporting material development, as assigned. Leads System Committee meetings.
6. Collaborates with the Planning Team and CoC to coordinate, facilitate and develop materials for the annual CoC project Rank and Review process, reflecting local needs and national best practices to prioritize projects for funding through the annual CoC Application.
7. Actively develops and maintains relationships with CoC partners to effectively organize stakeholders around CoC priorities. 
8. Works as part of the Planning Unit to ensure the timely submission of the Continuum of Care application for each affiliated CoC. 
9. Successfully works both independently and as part of a team, while maintaining confidentiality at all times.
10. Complete delegated administrative tasks and perform other duties as required.

EDUCATION

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience; 

EXPERIENCE

One (1) year working experience in a related field, or relevant coursework.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

1. A passion to be a change agent in working with communities to prevent and end homelessness, with knowledge of homelessness and strategies to prevent and end it.
2. Experience in coalition building, campaign development, and/or leadership of an initiative preferred.
3. Flexibility to balance multiple projects as well as competing and shifting priorities.
4. Self-starter and ability to take initiative on identifying and leading tasks to address homelessness. 
5. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
6. Ability to work both independently and collaborate as part of a team.
7. Adaptable and exemplifies flexibility with changing work priorities and a fast-paced environment while maintaining a professional attitude.
8. Excellent meeting facilitation skills and comfortable with public speaking and presenting.
9. Strong professional writing and communications experience. 
10. Excellent organization skills, strong attention to detail, and a high level of integrity and confidentiality required.
11. Proficiency in word processing, desktop publishing, creating spreadsheets, proofreading and data compilation required. 
12. Access to reliable transportation required. 

LOCATION / TRAVEL 

1. Candidate must be in one of the following regions: Capital District (Hiring 2) - Locations: Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga (hybrid in Albany office 2 days a week). 
2. Local, frequent travel in assigned geographic area.
3. Travel will be required up to once a month to support Continuum of Care work and meetings in a given geographic area. 

WORK WEEK

Full-time role, 40 hours per week. Monday through Friday with hours flexible between 7:30am-6:00pm. 

HOURLY RANGE

$25.00-$27.00 an hour

POSITION CLASSIFICATION

Non- Exempt

CARES is an equal opportunity employer. At CARES, we believe that a diverse set of life experiences is important to informing and enhancing our work to end homelessness. We believe that communities including people of color, people from low-income backgrounds, people with lived experience of homelessness, LGBTQ people and persons of a variety of gender identities must be centered in the work we do. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.