Job Details

Description

About Swords to Plowshares

Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case management, employment and training, housing, and legal assistance to veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. We promote and protect the rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with local, state, and national entities. Believing that war causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield, our mission is to support veterans as they navigate the challenges of post-military life, and to prevent and end veteran homelessness through wrap-around care and informed advocacy. To learn more about Swords to Plowshares, please visit our website at www.swords-to-plowshares.org.

Job Title: Community Organizer

Location: On-site (across various housing sites)

Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm or 09:00 am-5:00 pm

Reporting Type: In-Person

Employment Type: Non-Exempt and Full-Time

Salary: $26.83 per hour

Summary:

This Full-Time position works to organize and empower tenants within the Swords to Plowshares Residential Programs to improve their home and neighborhood, increase social engagement, and build a greater sense of community in accordance with Swords to Plowshares mission and core values. This position reports to the Program Manager of Housing and Residential Services.

Responsibilities:

• Participate in activities as directed by the Program Manager of Housing and Residential Services

• Conduct client outreach at all residential sites located throughout San Francisco

• Work with clients to identify, research, and develop solutions to improve issues in their building and neighborhood

• Work closely and coordinate with onsite staff before and during any tenant organizing activities

• Participate in monthly community meetings and informational workshops

• Learn and stay abreast of San Francisco Housing and housing policies and pertinent legislation in order to effectively advocate on behalf of and with veteran residents

• Assist residents in the formation of Tenant Councils for each permanent supportive housing sites

• Recruit and train interested client volunteers to be tenant leaders to 1) organize tenants within their buildings to proactively identify, discuss, and improve issues within the building or neighborhood; and 2) help facilitate tenant meetings

• Assist in the creating of a Tenant Leadership Program that develops community organizing and leadership skills in interested resident volunteers

• Participate with community-based organizations (CBO) on housing and habitability campaigns and community coalitions

• Participate in creating multi-lingual forms, flyers, and informational documents as needed

• Maintain appropriate documentation to demonstrate all outreach efforts

• Participate in timely and accurate filing of progress reports as required

• Stay abreast of services and programs being provided by other CBOs and government agencies by fostering working relationships with them

• Provide referrals to clients and connect them to relevant services offered by CBOs and government agencies in coordination with the resident's assigned case manager

• Respond to all phone messages, client requests, staff requests, and emails as appropriate and in a timely manner

• Attend all meetings as scheduled and participate in meetings and trainings as requested.

• Perform other related duties assigned by supervisory personnel

Desired Qualifications:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with and on behalf of low-income tenants

• Translatable military experience and skills may be alternatively substituted

• Must be committed to social change through developing leadership in tenants and in low-income residential communities

• Current California driver's license and good driving record

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

• Ability to complete paperwork accurately and write business correspondence

• Must have demonstrated problem-solving skills

• Must have an ability to read, understand, and apply language from manuals, policies, technical procedures, and instructions

• Experience in the fundamentals of researching, planning, and participating in community campaigns preferred

• Community organizing experience

• Working understanding of the readjustment problems of veterans, mental health, alcohol and other drug dependencies and homelessness

• Experience in crisis intervention

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal supervision

• Ability to engage clients while maintaining appropriate boundaries

• Demonstrated ability to work as a team member

• Must be able to perform all essential job requirements and responsibilities within what would be considered reasonable accommodation

• Must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of personalities and be comfortable working with an at-risk client population, including embracing the agency's Cultural Humility Initiative

• Ability to effectively communicate in English with staff, clients, and external partners and stakeholders.

Education:

• High school diploma

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Employees who are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week are eligible for all benefits.

• 100% employer sponsored medical, vision, acupuncture, and dental coverage. Swords to Plowshares covers partial dependent coverage cost. (Agency paid annual medical deductible paid via Navia HRA Card)
• Employee Assistance Program: 20 mental health counseling appointments available to all employees, regardless of Full-time status, at no cost to employees.
• 403(b) retirement plan immediate enrollment
• Generous annual paid time off

Ø 10 sick days

Ø 13 holidays

Ø 17 vacation days in the first year & progressive afterwards

• Access to third party legal benefits, employee discount program, pet insurance, and Commuter Benefit.
• 1-hour paid lunch period, professional development reimbursements, and annual education allowance available to all employees.

*Employees who work on-call, in a temporary position, or less than 20 hours per week regularly are only eligible for our Employee Assistance Program, paid lunch hour, and San Francisco sick time. Vacation and sick time are pro-rated based upon full-time equivalent percentage.

Organizational Values Statement of Intent:

Swords to Plowshares is fully committed to the ongoing work of upholding our values and fostering a supportive culture for all staff and veteran clients. For us, this is a process and not a destination. We embrace the principles of cultural humility to create spaces where all people feel welcome, heard, and valued.

We stand against injustice and discrimination of all kinds. We understand that the veteran community encompasses a multitude of identities, and we believe that our staff and board should as well. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

At Swords to Plowshares, we believe in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran. We are committed to compliance with all state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

We are dedicated to affirmative action and providing equal employment opportunities for everyone. We strive to ensure that all individuals-regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status-are treated fairly and have access to the same opportunities in alignment with federal regulations (Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974).

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at ...@stp-sf.org. We're here to help.