Member Services & Programs Manager

Priority deadline September 15, 2021 – 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 Overview

This is a full time position focused on supporting CEF’s program staff in Durham and Chapel Hill and guiding program strategy. The Member Services & Programs Manager will represent CEF in city-wide coalitions, provide supervision to CEF’s core program staff, manage data & reporting for member services and advocate programs, and further the mission and vision of the organization as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. This position will have responsibility onsite in Durham and Chapel Hill, with significant flexibility for off-site work. This position will directly report to the Executive Director.

Position Responsibilities: 

Supervision

• Supervise the Member Services Coordinators (MSC)- 2 people
• Supervise the Advocate Program Coordinators (APC)- 2 people
• Facilitate and lead bimonthly Member Services Leadership Team meetings

Program Strategy

• Represent the needs of program staff at Executive Team Leadership meetings
• Work collaboratively with MSCs and APCs, under the direction of the Executive Director, to develop shared and geography-specific program vision for Member Services and Advocate Program
• Hold the boundaries and limits of the Member Services program in accordance with CEF’s mission and vision
• Develop and evaluate Member and Advocate policies
• Collaborate with Director of Finance and Development to identify and support the budgeting needs of the Member Services program
• Work with APCs and MSCs to set goals and ensure robust data collection of relevant metrics for program improvement and fundraising needs
• Actively incorporate trauma-informed, healing-centered, relationship-based, and racially equitable practices in all CEF programs
• Attend community-wide meetings and coalitions to represent CEF’s needs and adapt CEF’s program strategy to the changing needs of the communities

Office Support

• Provide a consistent and welcoming in-office presence for Members and Advocates, and responsive support for Pod Leaders during office hours (5-7 each week across the both geographies)
• Ensure office policies and safety procedures are followed, and implement capacity-building changes and improvements to office hour-related procedures and practices
• Work one-on-one with Members in the office, using CEF’s relationship-based support model
• Support the Office and Community Organizers with duties to ensure COVID-19 and safety protocols are followed by staff, Advocates, and Members
• Conduct pre-office hour team meeting with the staff and Advocates and relay any pertinent information needed (Durham office)
• Learn the staff support procedures for each geography and perform those duties fully

CEF Team Member

• Attend and participate in all regularly scheduled team meetings, caucuses, retreats, supervision, and other activities in Durham and Chapel Hill (remote and in-person)
• Work collaboratively with team members when necessary
• Engage actively in program design and project management efforts to improve CEF’s outcomes, impact, and methodologies
• Embody CEF values and guiding principles, participate meaningfully in meetings, work collaboratively with coworkers, and engage in CEF in ways that are informed by social justice frameworks including, but not limited to relationship-based support, trauma-informed care, harm-reduction, and motivational interviewing

Position Qualifications (Required unless indicated as “preferred”): 

• 2-3 years of supervisory experience
• 2-3 years of project management and team meeting facilitation
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills 
• Exceptional organizational abilities and attention to detail, with ability to follow-through on many simultaneous projects; experience with project management duties preferred
• Experience and comfort working with people across abilities and neurological differences, and from diverse racial, socioeconomic, educational, cultural, religious, gender, and ethnic backgrounds and identities
• Commitment to CEF’s mission 
• Clear analysis of structural racism and socioeconomic inequity, and willingness to continue to learn and grow 
• Experience with data quality, collection, and interpretation
• Strong aptitude with Microsoft Office/Google Suite including proficiency with spreadsheets
• Experience with work management software (ex. Asana, Slack, and Google products) and willingness to learn new technologies
• (preferred) At least 1 year work experience with volunteers

An ideal candidate will have:

• A commitment to shared leadership, embodying CEF’s values and guiding principles
• Affirming, empowering, collaborative, and listening-based leadership style, with a strong sense of self-direction and accountability to the community
• Compelling, authentic, and clear verbal and written communication
• Ability to take initiative and complete duties independently, while knowing when to ask for support 
• Experience and comfort working with people across abilities and neurological differences, and from diverse racial, socioeconomic, educational, cultural, religious, gender, and ethnic backgrounds and identities

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, salaried position. This position is expected to work an average of 40 hours per week and will be paid $52,000 annually. This position is also eligible for 100% employer-paid health insurance; optional employee-paid dental and vision; paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave; and a professional development stipend. 

To Apply please submit a cover letter resume to hiring@communityempowermentfund.org. Start date: October 1st, 2021. Priority deadline September 15th, 2021 – open until filled.  CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQI identified people, and people with lived experience with homelessness or poverty. 

Applications are due Sunday, Sept 5th 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 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
  • Sat, Sep 25, 12:30-4:00PM
  • Sun, Sep 26, 12:30-4:00PM
  • Sat, Oct 9, 12:30-4:00PM
    
• Attend mandatory monthly ongoing learning opportunities 
• Hold two weekly ‘Advocate’ hours for a minimum of two years (starting the week of Sep 27th)
• Attend a 15 minute pod meeting before every ‘Advocate’ hours shift

Please fill out the application here. Applications have a deadline of Sep 5th, 2021. 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.