On-call Cold Weather Shelter Manager

Lynnwood WA

Description

The South Snohomish County Emergency Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) is looking for an on-call Shelter Manager (SM) to provide on-site management when the shelter is open. CWS is a low barrier, non-religious overnight shelter for homeless men, women, and children during cold weather events from Nov 1 – March 31. This position requires leadership skills to coordinate adult volunteers and supervise shelter guests to provide a structured and supportive shelter environment for up to 16 homeless guests per night. General Description: SMs are responsible for overseeing on-site shelter operations with the assistance of volunteer teams to ensure consistent application of policies and procedures to provide a safe and secure environment for guests and volunteers. SMs coordinate with volunteers to ensure that COVID-19 prevention protocols are followed and provide evening shelter set-up, guest check-in, bag searches, dinner and smoke breaks, as well as morning smoke breaks, breakfast and shelter clean-up. Nightly functions SMs directly provide include: after-hours guest check-in and bag search, fire watch, guest supervision and smoke breaks between 9:30pm – 6:00am. The schedule for this position is on an on-call basis from November 1 to March 31 of each year, from 6:30PM to 7:30AM. Any time the temperature in Lynnwood, WA reaches 33 degrees the shelter is activated and two SMs are required to be on location. The shelter is currently operated out of Maple Park Church (17620 60th Ave West, Lynnwood, WA 98037). The number of sessions required of SMs for a typical winter are 10 to 15. Successful candidates must have the ability to be generally available for nights when the shelter is activated, including weekends and holidays. This position reports to the Shelter Board. CWS is currently operating under strict COVID-19 prevention protocols, including limiting the number of guests, ensuring physical distancing, extra cleaning and sanitizing, and enforcing mask wearing and hand washing at all times in the shelter. Duties /Responsibilities: -Serve as one of 4 total Overnight Shelter Managers operating in teams of 2 SMs on any shelter night. Occasionally you may be asked by another SM or the Shelter Director to fill in for one another. -Build positive relationships with volunteers & guests. -Coordinate, support, and provide assistance to volunteers. -Maintain healthy boundaries with guests & volunteers. -Perform bag searches for guests who arrive after the designated Greeter has left for the night to enforce no alcohol, drugs or weapons policy. -Only one SM needs to be awake throughout the night to assure the safety of guests and maintain Fire Watch. SMs can break the night (9:30pm – 6:00am) into shifts so each can get some sleep. -Actively participate in the implementation of shelter policies and procedures and ensure consistent enforcement to provide clear expectations for both volunteers and guests. -Ensure that policies and guest concerns are discussed and addressed with consistency by volunteers. Document pertinent actions, conversations, and events in an overnight report. -Provide a brief written overnight report about the Shelter Night by 10am the following day (i.e. total number of guests, any guest issues or issues around policy & procedures as they apply to guests and/or volunteers, etc.) -Inform Program Director of issues & concerns regarding volunteer training, policy short comings, and guest health, safety and well-being. -Participate in general operations of CWS as a vital member of the team and attend organizational functions as requested by the Program Director. -Complete work time sheets bi-weekly. -Ensure that all COVID-19 prevention protocols are followed by shelter guests and volunteers on site. Qualifications -An understanding of the challenges presented by homelessness when working with guests from varied backgrounds. -Enjoys a dynamic and changing environment with varying guests and volunteers each night. -Self-motivated authentic team player who is flexible, proactive, and able to interact positively with volunteers from many organizations. -Must believe in and support the “We All Belong” philosophy of The CWS by treating every guest and volunteer with respect and dignity. -Warm, pleasant, and gracious. -Fosters open dialogue. -Emotionally mature and resilient. -Good verbal communication skills. -Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with guests. -Willing to assist where/when needed including a willingness to work with volunteers to clean up the facility. -Ability to negotiate different personalities. -Prompt, responsive and dependable -Ability to work with the team of SMs and be flexible to help fill in for one another occasionally -Must be able to pass a background check and pre-employment drug test. Education: Minimum High School Diploma or GED required. Associates or bachelor’s degree in Human Services preferred. Compensation: This is a non-benefited contract position. Hours are dependent on the number of cold weather qualifying nights between February 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021. Stipend is $200.00 per shelter night worked. All offers of employment are contingent on satisfactory results of a drug screening and criminal history background check. To Apply: Please reply with brief answers to the following questions: Are you able to lift and carry supplies that weigh up to 25 lbs and perform light physical tasks like setting up and knocking down tables and chairs? Are you willing and able to work overnight, every other night, for up to 4 occurrences in a row, and respond promptly to a call in to work overnight? Do you have experience working with vulnerable populations? Please explain.