Join Our Team
About the Community Empowerment Fund
CEF is a non-profit organization operating in Durham and Orange Counties that is working to end the racial wealth gap by supporting people experiencing homelessness or financial insecurity. We work alongside approximately 250 volunteers and 1,100 members in their pursuit of employment, secure housing, and financial stability. We are valued by Members and partners for our ability to meet people where they are and walk alongside each individual to achieve personal goals, as well as our collaborative approach to address systemic racism and oppression which causes gaps in our local communities. We are passionate about sustaining transitions out of homelessness, and combine flexible relationship-based support with innovative matched savings accounts, referral networks, resource databases, and programs to support Members in achieving their long-term dreams. Learn more at www.communityef.org.
Open Positions:
Advocate Program Coordinator (Durham)
Advocate Program Coordinator – Durham, NC office (Full-time, 40 hrs/wk)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis, priority deadline January 3, 2022 – open until filled
About the Community Empowerment Fund
CEF is a non-profit organization operating in Durham and Orange Counties that supports people experiencing homelessness or financial insecurity. We work alongside approximately 250 volunteers and 1,100 members in their pursuit of employment, secure housing, and financial stability. We are valued by Members and partners alike for our ability to meet people where they are and walk alongside each individual to achieve personal goals, as well as our collaborative approach to address systemic gaps in our local communities. We are passionate about sustaining transitions out of homelessness, and combine flexible relationship-based support with innovative matched savings accounts, referral networks, resource databases, and programs to support Members in achieving their long-term dreams. Learn more at www.communityef.org.
Position Summary:
The Advocate Program Coordinator (APC) position is a part of the core program staff in CEF’s Durham office. The position leads recruitment, training, coordination, and support for 50+ volunteer Advocates, serves as co-Lead of the Durham office with the Member Services Coordinator (MSC), and collaborates closely with its counterpart in the CEF Chapel Hill office to steward a trauma-informed, anti-racist Advocate program centered around relationship-based support
Responsibilities:
Advocate Program Stewardship & Supervision (45%)
- Recruit, select, and support dedicated Advocate volunteers, summer interns, and seasonal staff to support CEF leadership teams.
- Develop, adapt, and lead interactive training content to share CEF’s foundational practices in relationship-based support; cultivate awareness of structural inequities, oppression, and trauma-informed care; and foster ongoing opportunities for reflection and learning.
- Coordinate office hours sign-ups, absences, and coverage for Advocates, including supporting Advocates with self-care and co-care practices.
- Serve as a conduit between Advocates and organization-wide visioning and development.
- Steward the Advocate accountability process to increase volunteer retention and ensure volunteers have the support they need to show up fully in their Advocate hours.
- Supervise 2-5 full-time and part-time summer interns.
- Supervise the following volunteer teams:
- Advocate Training Team
- Member Advocate Coordination (MAC) Team
- Community Engagement Team / Outreach Team
- Collaborate with the Chapel Hill APC and the Member Services & Programs Manager to conduct annual program evaluations and guide Advocate Program strategies and priorities.
In-Office Support for Members and Advocates (25%)
- Provide several hours per week of in-office staff support to support Advocates and Members, ensure delivery of quality member services, and promote office policies and boundaries, especially regarding emotional and physical safety.
- Co-facilitate weekly case conferencing at the MAC team meetings to provide resources and support when navigating complex or crisis situations.
- Provide excellent relationship-based care coordination for CEF Members.
Geography Co-Lead (20%)
- Co-facilitate weekly staff meetings with the DU Member Services Coordinator.
- Co-coordinate office closure practices with the DU Member Services Coordinator.
- Co-Coordinate office orientation and onboarding of all new Advocates and staff.
- Coordinate the annual CEF-DU Spring Celebration, Financial Independence Day, and Holiday Party.
- Serve as the Durham Technology Lead responsible for onboarding and training volunteers and staff to technology platforms including Google Suite, Slack, Asana, and Salesforce.
- Promote high-quality data collection.
CEF Team Member (10%)
- Actively participate in CEF staff meetings, caucuses, retreats, board meetings, and organizational decision-making.
- Participate in Durham staff meetings and CEF Durham & Chapel Hill all-staff meetings, as well as be an active member of the Member Services Leadership Team.
Relevant Skills & Qualifications:
- Exceptional organizational abilities and attention to detail; ability to follow through on simultaneous projects, including daily tasks and longer-term visioning.
- Experience managing projects.
- The ability to work well with people across race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability status, education level, religion, and other diverse identities and experiences.
- Strong skills as an engaging trainer and facilitator.
- Engaging and collaborative leadership style with empowering mentorship for volunteers.
- Availability for regular evening and weekend hours to accommodate volunteer schedules.
- Facility with technology, including willingness to learn new technologies.
- Creative, comfortable taking initiative, and works well independently.
- Bilingual or bicultural skills preferred but not required.
Compensation:
This is a full-time, salaried position. This position is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week and will be paid $38,000/year. This position is also eligible for 100% employer-paid health insurance; a 401(k) plan with employer match; optional employee-paid dental and vision; paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave; and a professional development stipend. See an outline of CEF’s benefits here. All CEF staff are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit weekly negative test results.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to hiring@communityef.org with the subject “Durham – APC”. Start Date: February 1, 2022. Priority deadline January 3, 2021 — Open until filled. Your cover letter should speak to your interest in working with CEF, one goal you would have for your first year in this position, and the experiences and qualities that will make you a great fit.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, people with lived experience of homelessness, women, and LGBTQ applicants. Thank you for your interest.
Advocate (Chapel Hill)
Applications are due Tuesday, November 30th at 11:59 PM.
About the CEF Advocate position:
Advocates are volunteers trained to walk with Members in achieving their goals, often related to housing, employment, or financial independence. Advocates are not experts, but are curious, empathetic, and highly dedicated team players who commit to holding two Advocate hours per week for a minimum of two years. CEF Advocates work 2-1 with CEF Members to celebrate achievements and provide long-term, relationship-based support through challenges and barriers. The Advocate role is a volunteer position and is unpaid.
Responsibilities
- Work two-on-one with CEF Members towards their goals
- Actively engage in ongoing learning opportunities to grow as an Advocate
- Support the management of office hour operations, including scheduling Member appointments and directing the flow of Member service activity in the office
- Properly use the CEF Connect database and other systems that help provide efficient and high-quality services to CEF Members, maintaining a high level of confidentiality
- Communicate proactively with staff and volunteer leaders around wellness, attendance, tardiness or other concerns
Qualifications
- Clear commitment to CEF’s mission and eager to commit to the full two years (and more!)
- Awareness of institutional oppression
- Actively strives for continual learning and reflection
- Resourceful, collaborative and creative problem-solver
- Experience and comfort working with people across abilities, neurological/cultural differences
- A deep understanding of authentic and empowering relationships
- Possesses many of the skills (active listening, empathy, vulnerability, trust) that are necessary to form relationships with Members
- Flexibility, tendency to take initiative, and a commitment to being a team player
- All majors and career interests are encouraged to join
- Proficiency in Spanish is a plus
Core Advocate Commitment:
- Attend all sessions of mandatory CEF Advocate Training
- Saturday, Jan 15, 10:00-1:30 PM
- Saturday, January 22, 10:00-1:30 PM
- Saturday, January 29, 10:00-1:30 PM
- Attend mandatory ongoing learning opportunities (2x/Fall and Spring)
- Hold two weekly ‘Advocate’ hours for a minimum of two years
- Hours change from the Fall to the Spring
- Advocates are not required to hold hours over the summer, though it is appreciated
Please fill out the application here. Applications have a deadline of November 30th, 2021. Reach out to Kristina Smith (kristinas@communityef.org) with questions.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.
Advocate (Durham)
CEF Durham is not currently accepting new Advocate applications. The next opportunity to join CEF Durham as an Advocate volunteer is May 2022. This information will be updated when the application to join the Summer cohort is open.
About the CEF Advocate position:
Advocates are volunteers trained to walk with Members in achieving their goals, often related to housing, employment, or financial independence. Advocates are not experts, but are curious, empathetic, and highly dedicated team players who commit to holding two Advocate hours per week for a minimum of two years. CEF Advocates work 1-1 or 2-1 with CEF Members to celebrate achievements and provide long-term, relationship-based support through challenges and barriers. The Advocate role is a volunteer position and is unpaid.
Responsibilities
- Work one-on-one or two-on-one with CEF Members towards their goals
- Actively engage in ongoing learning opportunities to grow as an Advocate
- Support the management of office hour operations, including scheduling Member appointments and directing the flow of Member service activity in the office
- Properly use the CEF Connect database and other systems that help provide efficient and high-quality services to CEF Members, maintaining a high level of confidentiality
- Communicate proactively with staff and volunteer leaders around wellness, attendance, tardiness or other concerns
Qualifications
- Clear commitment to CEF’s mission and eager to commit to the full two years (and more!)
- Awareness of institutional oppression
- Actively strives for continual learning and reflection
- Resourceful, collaborative and creative problem-solver
- Experience and comfort working with people across abilities, neurological/cultural differences
- A deep understanding of authentic and empowering relationships
- Possesses many of the skills (active listening, empathy, vulnerability, trust) that are necessary to form relationships with Members
- Flexibility, tendency to take initiative, and a commitment to being a team player
- All majors and career interests are encouraged to join
- Proficiency in Spanish is a plus
Core Advocate Commitment:
- Attend all sessions of mandatory CEF Advocate Training
- Attend mandatory monthly ongoing learning opportunities
- Hold two weekly ‘Advocate’ hours for a minimum of two years (starting the week of Jan 24th)
- Attend a 15 minute pod meeting before every ‘Advocate’ hours shift
The application will be linked here when available. Reach out to Leah Whitehead (leahw@communityef.org) with questions.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.
2022 Summer Intern (Chapel Hill)
Applications are due January 31st at 11:59 PM.
About the CEF Internship (Chapel Hill):
Full-Time Interns: Interns work with CEF in a full-time capacity for 10 weeks over the summer. Interns spend roughly half of their time (~20 hours/week) supporting members as specialized Advocates and Pod Leaders, and the other half (~15 hours/week) working collaboratively with staff on a relevant project that matches their interests, skills, and passion areas. Included below is a list of possible roles. Interns are paid $10 / hour.
Part-Time Interns: Interns spend roughly half of their time (~10 hours/week) supporting members as specialized Advocates and Pod Leaders, and the other half (~6 hours/week) working collaboratively with staff on a relevant project that matches their interests, skills, and passion areas. Included below is a list of possible roles. This internship is unpaid.
Key Dates:
- Internship start: Tuesday, May 31st
- Summer Intern Orientation: May 31st and June 1st
- Internship end: Friday, August 5th
Requirements:
- Interns must be able to start and end on the given dates and attend both full days of summer intern orientation
- Full-Time Interns must have no additional major obligations during the summer such that they can fulfill a 35-hour weekly workload
- Part-Time Interns can have additional obligations that will not conflict with set office hours and staff meetings
- Both current/returning/graduating students and non-students are eligible to apply
- Some evenings and weekends required (varies week-to-week)
General Responsibilities:
- Serve as a Pod Leader in the Chapel Hill office supporting members and advocates assigned to that Pod and monitoring data for members of the Pod
- Full-Time Interns: 7-10 hours/week
- Part-Time Interns: 3-5 hours/week
- Work one-on-one with CEF members as an Advocate to assist individuals in gaining income, housing, and savings
- Full-Time: 10-15 hours/week
- Part-Time: 5-7 hours/week
- Work one-on-one with CEF Members as an Advocate to assist individuals in gaining income, housing, and savings (10-16 hours/week)
- Work collaboratively with staff to coordinate CEF programs and services in one or more of the following areas (depending on scope of project area; details included below) (8-12 hours per week):
- Housing Access & Homelessness Services
- Workforce & Income Services
- Legal Services
- Latinx Services
- Development / Communications
- Community Outreach
- Community Organizing & Advocacy
- Connect Database Development
- Pitch your own project
- Participate in and lead weekly meetings, discussions, and activities (2-4 hours per week)
- Explore self-directed opportunities for leadership development and community involvement. Examples include attending cultural events and community gatherings with CEF-relevant themes such as justice, healing, trauma, etc.; learning via books, podcasts, and webinars; meditation and mindfulness activities; Spanish lessons; attending trainings or conferences; volunteering at partner orgs; etc. (0-5 hours/week)
- Lead and support the planning of CEF’s annual Financial Independence Day, a special community event held in early July (time varies based on week and role)
To Apply:
Please fill out the application found here. Applications have a deadline of January 31st, 2022. Reach out to Kristina Smith (kristinas@communityef.org) with questions.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, people with lived experience of homelessness, women, and LGBTQ applicants. Thank you for your interest!
2022 Summer Intern (Durham)
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled with a final deadline of March 13.
About the CEF Internship (Durham):
Available Positions:
Full-Time Internship
| Duration: | 10 weeks |
| Schedule: | 35 hours/week (includes paid lunch) |
| Compensation: | $10/hour (paid monthly on the last day of the month). Monthly paid sick and vacation leave. |
| Content: | 50% Supporting CEF Members as Advocates and Pod Leaders through 1-1 Member meetings and office support.
50% Working collaboratively with staff on a relevant project that matches their interests, skills, and passion areas. See below for a list of possible project areas. |
Note: Vacation leave can be taken at times agreed upon by you and your staff supervisor.
Part-Time Internship
| Duration: | 10 weeks |
| Schedule: | 15-20 hours/week |
| Compensation: | $10/hour (paid monthly on the last day of the month). |
| Content: | 75% Supporting CEF Members as Advocates and Pod Leaders through 1-1 Member meetings and office support.
25% Supervision and Team Meetings |
Key Dates:
- New Advocate Training: *required for non-CEF Advocates
- Sat, May 21, 12:30-4:30 (in person)
- Sun, May 22, 12:30-4:30 (in person)
- Sat, June 11, 12:30-4:30 (in person)
- Internship Orientation: *required for ALL interns
- Tues, May 31, 10:00-4:00pm (in person)
- Internship end: Friday, August 5th
Requirements:
- Interns must be able to start and end on the given dates and attend both full days of summer intern orientation.
- This is not a remote internship. All applicants must be available to work in-person and abide by the COVID-19 procedures laid out below.
- Full-Time Interns must have no additional major obligations during the summer such that they can fulfill a 32-hour weekly workload
- Non-student community members are encouraged to apply
- Some evenings and weekends may be required (varies week-to-week)
COVID-19 Specific Updates:
- CEF will be following these policies and procedures to ensure a safe working environment for all Members, Advocates, and Staff.
- All Summer Interns are eligible for emergency leave as needed under CEF’s COVID-19 Employee Policy.
General Responsibilities:
- Work one-on-one with CEF Members as an Advocate to assist individuals in gaining income, housing, and financial stability
- Participate in and lead weekly meetings, discussions, and activities
- (Full-Time Only) Work collaboratively on a team, with staff support, to coordinate CEF programs and services in one or more of the following areas (see here for more information):
- Housing Access & Homelessness Services
- Advocacy and Organizing
- Resource Stewardship
- (Full-Time Only) Explore self-directed ongoing learning opportunities for leadership development and community involvement
To Apply:
Learn more about the internship, click here. Complete the application found here. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled with a final deadline of March 13th. Reach out to Leah Whitehead (leahw@communityef.org) with questions.
CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, people with lived experience of homelessness, women, and LGBTQ applicants. Thank you for your interest!
