Job Opportunities

NeighborWorks Housing Counselor

Reports to: Deputy Director
Status:    Full Time Exempt Position

Background:

The Housing Counselor provides comprehensive group and individual counseling services to prospective homebuyers and existing homeowners.  The counseling sessions may cover a broad array of areas related to the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to rehabilitate and/or build financial confidence, buy a home or maintain a home.  The Housing Counselor’s main responsibility is to assess those obstacles faced by the clients in pursuit of his or her goal(s), and to develop a corrective action plan or “roadmap to success”.   The Housing Counselor’s ultimate role is to utilize tools related to budgeting, debt reduction, credit re-building, and consumer awareness to facilitate the customer’s progress towards the goal.  The position requires the ability and capacity to effectively explain, describe and market HomeOwnership awareness/programs to a wide range of individuals, organizations and businesses; utilizing marketing materials, local media sources and coordinating appearances at area functions and events.  The Housing Counselor markets all lending, education and development projects available to existing and potential first time homebuyers.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Conducts comprehensive group and individual counseling sessions.
• Assesses mortgage-readiness status, triaging customers, identifying obstacles, developing corrective-action plans, assigning customer tasks, and facilitating customer progress toward his or her ultimate goal.
• Maintains schedule of appointments for counseling sessions and effective and efficient system for customer follow-up.
• Adheres to all guidelines related to confidentiality.
• Maintains and updates customer records after each counseling session in CounselorMax and/or other pertinent customer-tracking systems.
• Creates a hard-copy file for each counseling customer that includes the intake form, credit report, counselor analysis and corrective action plan.
• Organizes counseling workshops and/or homebuyers’ education sessions.
• Assist with the development and implementation of a comprehensive marketing/outreach plan for recruiting customers and investing partners for the counseling program.
• Responsible for the organization and development of NeighborWorks Week events
• Assist with HomeOwnership Center special projects as assigned and other tasks deemed necessary to achieve overall goals and operate a successful counseling program.
• Recommends improvements in products and procedures as necessary to ensure the optimum efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivery systems.
• Provides foreclosure prevention and intervention services.
• Provides counseling and technical assistance throughout the purchase process.
• Performs all other duties deemed necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• HUD Housing Counselor Certification is a plus.
• Ability to perform duties in a confidential manner.
• Detail oriented with ability to organize complex material in clear and concise manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook.
• Demonstrated ability to work with others in establishing goals and objectives.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated skill in organizing time and prioritizing workload.
• Good working knowledge of the components of a housing/financial counseling program.
• Good working knowledge of the home buying process.
• Knowledge of lending products and various homeowner assistance programs.
• Ability to participate in national NeighborWorks America trainings annually in order to obtain the necessary certifications required for position. Upon completion of certifications, traveling requirements will decrease
• Ability to speak multiple languages preferred.

Working Condition:

• Standing and walking less than 20%.
• Normal Office Environment.
• Some evenings and weekends required.
• Travel required for training seminars both locally and nationally.

TO APPLY:
Send your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications via email to contact@westelmwood.org by Monday, April 12, 2021. Please include “Housing Counselor” in the email subject line.

Sankofa World Market Manager

Reports to: Sankofa Project Manager
Status:    Part Time Seasonal Position (May 2021-Nov 2021)

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Sankofa Initiative was established in 2011 through WEHDC to address the need for increased access to healthy, fresh, local, affordable and culturally appropriate food in the West End of Providence, Rhode Island. Projects of the Sankofa Initiative include the Sankofa World Market, community gardens, a greenhouse, and a community kitchen.

Sankofa World Market is a weekly celebration of food, culture, and community in the West End. The goal of the market is to increase access to healthy, affordable and culturally-appropriate foods and create income opportunities for West End residents. It connects customers with West End craftspeople, artists, and entrepreneurs and provides a space where neighbors can access important community information and services. The Market includes regular arts and cultural performances, celebrates the cultural diversity of the West End, and creates an atmosphere where residents learn about each other and about healthy food options. The Market is held every Wednesday during the months of June through November.

Sankofa World Market has completed one Pilot Season (summer 2014) and six full market seasons (summer 2015, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ‘20). The Sankofa World Market Manager will be instrumental to the success of this developing market, as we work to grow EBT Sales and Bonus Bucks distribution, vendor income, customers, as well as arts, cultural, and nutritional programming. The Market Manager will lead the daily operations of the World Market, including developing and carrying out outreach and communications strategies, and plans, and oversee operations as 1) a retail opportunity for local growers and vendors of foods, products and services appealing to the West End’s culturally and economically diverse community, and 2) a self-sustaining social venture.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Market Manager’s responsibility is to develop and manage Sankofa World Market as a successful, entrepreneurial social venture, including:

• Managing financial and business operations of the market, including cash flow and development of strategies for income generation to support market operations, in partnership with other WEH staff
• Developing vendor contracts and fee schedule, market schedule and outreach and promotional strategies (signage, posters, flyers, etc)
• Building relationships with and engaging a minimum of 10 diverse growers and/or other vendors in the market season and begin outreach and engagement to additional vendors for upcoming market seasons
• Ensuring signing of vendor contracts, tracking and collection of vendor fees and vendor compliance with food safety regulations
• Partnering with WEH’s Evaluation Consultant to develop and execute systems to track vendor sales, customer purchases and satisfaction, and other data necessary to assess Market’s success at meeting its goals
• Communicating with participating vendors, including tracking vendor attendance, fees and compliance with market rules and regulations
• Coordinating and staffing weekly market, including set-up/clean-up, coordination of volunteer needs and special events
• Developing and executing systems to track vendor sales, customer purchases, and satisfaction, federal nutrition benefits distribution, and other data necessary to assess market’s success at meeting its goals
• Recruiting and scheduling arts and cultural performances and culturally relevant nutrition and food preparation workshops
• Establishing partnerships with community services and resources to be offered at the market each week, including enrollment in, information about, and redemption of federal nutrition benefits programs
• Staff Market Manager’s Booth, including oversight of credit card Point-of-Purchase system and cash box, serving as information resource for customers and vendors, distribution of information about the Sankofa Collaborative and other community resources
• Ensure that EBT/SNAP, WIC, food safety and other regulatory and operational requirements are met.
• Prepare monthly reports on market operations
• Other responsibilities as needed to support the Market, Sankofa Initiative and West Elmwood Housing

SKILLS:

• Excellent communication and organizational skills, including use of social media and preparation of reports using Excel, MS Word and other systems
• Ability to coordinate tasks with growers, vendors and with external stakeholders as appropriate
• Ability to listen to, communicate and work with people from a variety of socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious and political backgrounds, beliefs and practices
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and the organizational skills to coordinate events and processes
• Ability to meet deadlines, analyze project challenges and successes and make appropriate mid-course adjustments in goals and strategies
• Multiple language skills preferred

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in retail, marketing, small business operation or other field relevant to development of successful entrepreneurial social venture
• Minimum three years relevant and appropriate experience in agriculture or food access issues
• Minimum High School diploma or equivalent
• Familiarity and experience working with residents, groups, organizations and institutions in a neighborhood setting
• A demonstrated commitment to urban agriculture and community transformation
• Ability to work an evening schedule on a regular basis
• Experience working in a racially, ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse community
• Multiple language skills preferred but not required
• Positive, solution-oriented professional
• Patient with a good sense of humor

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Outgoing, approachable and friendly
• Ability to perform physical duties required for weekly market set-up and tear-down
• Flexible schedule: The market and other work may occur outside of traditional business hours, including weekends or evenings. Spring and October hours will be 12-18 hours/week as required to meet goals, summer hours will be 20-30 hours/week and include evenings as required by market schedule.

TO APPLY:
Send your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications via email to contact@westelmwood.org by Monday, April 19, 2021. Please include “Sankofa Project Manager” in the email subject line.

Neighborworks HomeOwnership Center Manager

Summary of Responsibilities:

The HomeOwnership Center (HOC) Manager is responsible for leadership and administration of comprehensive pre and post purchase homebuyer education and financial counseling to individuals and families. This position will oversee the administration of the Home Ownership Center lending and financial capability programs. The HOC Manager supervises Housing Counselors who provides comprehensive group and individual counseling services to prospective homebuyers and existing homeowners. The HOC Manager establishes and articulates overall objectives for the HomeOwnership Center and develops a comprehensive plan to include performance measures and a timeline for meeting incremental benchmark goals and achieving the overall objectives.  Attaining excellence in the quality of all homebuyer education and meeting established homeownership production goals are of paramount importance in achieving the overall objectives of the Center.

The HOC Manager implements and oversees the service delivery system and internal controls to ensure that the Center operates in an organized, coordinated, and efficient manner.  The HOC manager will provide leadership and guidance to the staff to achieve these ends.  The HOC Manager develops and implements comprehensive strategies for enlisting investing partners, and cultivates such relationships to create sustainability for the Center.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Manage the operation of the NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center; supervise HOC staff; monitor the lending, Matched Savings Incentive Program and Homebuyer Education Programs.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with lenders and clients to ensure objectives are met.
• Maintain data system to ensure the accurate documentation of all program activities and to ensure the timely submittal of reports to funding and financing agencies.
• Direct homeownership education activities to ensure quality of curriculum, consistency and competence of performance among instructors, and availability of classes in response to need.
• Monitor lending activities to ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal laws and agency regulations.
• Assists with the maintenance and updating of kiosks and bulletin boards within the Center
  featuring partners and Center activities, maintains and updates referral lists.
• Maintains welcome packs and distributes to appropriate partners and clients.
• Recommends improvements in products and procedures as necessary to ensure the
  optimum efficiency and effectiveness of the service delivery systems.
• Maintains and updates customer records after each counseling session in CounselorMax
  and/or other pertinent customer-tracking systems.
• Ensures HOC filing practices and contents of files align with HUD regulations.
• Ensures that quality-control measures are followed and that customer satisfaction is a priority of the counseling program.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with loan servicing, investigation, verification and underwriting guidelines.
• FHA mortgage experience a plus.
• The ability to meet deadlines, pay attention to detail, handle multiple tasks concurrently and work independently.
• Understand marketing and home purchase process.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to interact with representatives from diverse races, religions
  and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to attend NeighborWorks America trainings annually in order to obtain the necessary certifications required for position. Upon completion of certifications, traveling requirements will decrease.
• HUD Certified a plus,
• Bi-lingual capacity preferred.

TO APPLY:
Send your resume and a cover letter describing your qualifications via email to contact@westelmwood.org by Monday, April 5, 2021. Please include “HomeOwnership Center Manager” in the email subject line.

Women Infants & Children (WIC) Nutritionist – Job Description

Reports to: Deputy Director
Status: Full Time Exempt Position

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The WIC nutritionist performs program eligibility and nutritional assessment for individual clients. Client services include nutritional planning, determination of supplemental food needs and provision of breastfeeding supplies. Nutritionists conduct child development and immunization checks, health screenings and referrals. The WIC program nutritionist provide individual and group education in nutrition, breastfeeding and health issues.

This position works in collaboration with the Breastfeeding Coach to promote and offer breastfeeding supports and provide counseling, education and referrals to health and social services, provides outreach to the community encouraging participation in the West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation Sankofa WIC Program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Nutrition Services:

· Provides initial WIC assessment for WIC client and develops nutrition care plans with client centered goals; monitors client progress.

· Provides nutrition classes for clients.

· Coordinates client services and referrals with appropriate agencies when necessary.

· Participates in case plan reviews and interdisciplinary team meetings.

· Develops and/or approves nutrition education materials.

· Trains WIC staff for all clinic and WIC protocols.

· Participates in community events, representing WEHDC WIC nutrition programs when possible.Conducts presentations on WEHDC WIC nutrition programs to local agencies when applicable.

· Completes annual Nutrition Education Plan.

· Participates in all required WIC training as determined by the RIDOH.

· Participates in periodic review of records to evaluate compliance and standard of care.

· Completes quarterly time studies as required by WIC.

· Attends all required meetings as directed by the RIDOH WIC Program.

· Performs all other duties deemed necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:

· Bachelor`s degree in public health nutrition, nutrition or related field or Registered Dietitian; or Registered Dietitian with Master`s degree.

· Knowledge of nutritional needs of pregnant, post-partum and breastfeeding women, infants and children under the age of five years.

· 1-2 years of experience as a Dietitian/Nutritionist, preferably serving the underserved population.

· Ability to work with clients and staff with a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

· Effectively communicates with clients individually, as well as in group education sessions with a commitment to serving those in need.

· Provides excellent customer service to all internal and external customers.

· Experience with Microsoft Office required.

TO APPLY:
Send your resume and a cover letter with the subject line “WIC Nutritionist” to contact@westelmwood.org describing your qualifications no later than 5:00pm on Monday, April 5th.

Temporary HEZ Community Health Worker  

POSITION SUMMARY:

West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation (WEHDC) serves as the backbone agency of the 02907 Health Equity Zone (HEZ). A Health Equity Zone (HEZ) is an innovative, place-based approach that brings people together to build healthy, resilient communities across Rhode Island.

The 02907 community has seen a disproportionately high number of COVID-19 cases as compared to other parts of Providence and across the state of Rhode Island.

The 02907 HEZ is seeking temporary Community Health Workers to begin immediately. The Community Health Worker will work with the 02907 Health Equity Zone to provide culturally appropriate support to 02907 residents related to COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and service delivery. Based upon the status of the COVID-19 pandemic as of the Fall, the need to continue this program will be reevaluated

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

The CHW will report to the Resident Health Specialist.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Establish relationships with trusted community leaders to identify and document cultural and structural barriers that interfere with accessing testing and adhering to response guidance.
• Assess the barriers that exist for those who need to seek COVID-19 testing and provide language, transportation, and/or employment support.
• Assess the needs of residents in isolation and provide community-based referrals to the necessary supports.
• Collect and relay essential needs information to the 02907 HEZ and state agencies to ensure supports are being addressed in real time.
• Relay vital COVID-19 information to residents through multiple channels and address frequently asked questions related to testing, contact tracing, and/or isolation.
• Identify community driven solutions to testing and contract tracing barriers.
• Act as the liaison between residents, the 02907 HEZ, and the contact-tracing team at Rhode Island Department of Health.
• Gain insights about needed resources and changes required to improve COVID-19 response in the 02907 community.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Community Health Worker in the state of Rhode Island, or actively working to become certified preferred.
• Extensive networks within the 02907 community and relationships with 02907 community leaders.
• High level of interpersonal skills and excellent writing and oral communication skills to collect data and engage residents.
• Experience working with diverse populations.
• Fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in English and at least one other language commonly spoken by residents of the 02907 zip code.
• Resident of the 02907 zip code (Providence’s West End, Elmwood, Reservoir Triangle, or South Providence neighborhoods) preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Comfort working with diverse communities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to satisfactorily perform essential duties. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Familiarity with the assets, needs, challenges, opportunities present in the 02907 zip code.
• Knowledge of the direct service organizations in Providence.
• Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and partners.
• Ability to maintain sensitivity to individual, system, and cultural dynamics that affect behavior and relationships
• Ability to build and sustain trust and rapport with community members based on listening and respect.

This is a full time position and will require evening and weekend work. Continued work will be contingent on available funding and initiative priorities.

To apply, please send your resume and a brief cover letter via e-mail to Dominique Resendes at dresendes@westelmwood.org by January 29, 2020.