Position Title: Lead Shelter Worker

Our Saviour’s Community Services (OSCS) provides dignified shelter and housing for single adults and basic education classes to adult English language learners in the Phillips Community of South Minneapolis. OSCS takes its name from Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, which founded our programs in the early 1980s. In 2004, we became a legally and financially independent nonprofit. We are not a religious organization. Find more about OSCS at http://oscs-mn.org/. Our Saviour’s Housing operates a 21-bed emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing program for single adults over 18. The shelter provides a bed, three meals a day, and supportive resources to 10 men and 11 women every night of the year. However, people of all genders are welcome. The shelter is currently open to residents 24/7. The program has ten medical respite beds allocated to a local hospital. Our cohesive team works together to provide services that offer dignity and hope. Our Saviour’s Housing is a program of Our Saviour’s Community Services. Our Saviour’s Housing operates a permanent supportive housing program for single adults in Hennepin County. The referrals are from Hennepin County’s Coordinated Entry System. The program aims to maintain housing for 100 single adults or couples that are 18+. The program finds housing in the community or uses our onsite housing buildings to house 10-12 participants. The program offers case management via housing support or housing stabilization. The participants have access to transportation provided by case managers and to our onsite food shelf. We offer employees the ability to make a meaningful contribution to the community. We offer a flexible, hybrid working environment. We also provide excellent benefits to full-time and part-time (20+hours) employees, including generous Paid Time Off and Sick Time along with Paid Parental Leave; Paid Holidays; Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage Employer contributions toward premiums; Employer-paid Short and Long Term Disability and Life Insurance; professional development opportunities; voluntary benefit options including HSA; and participation in 401(k) retirement plan. This Role: The Lead Shelter Worker position is a professional whose background is characterized by initiative and resourcefulness. This position will assist the Shelter Manager and the Program Director with the operations of Our Saviour’s Housing’s (OSH) Emergency Shelter, ensuring a safe and healthy environment that fosters and encourages residents and staff to achieve their personal goals. The position provides leadership and support to the shelter staff and agency. The Shelter Lead must have a great leadership style and is ready to roll up their sleeves and provide support where it's needed. The Lead Shelter Worker has a strong sense of adaptability, organization, professionalism, and a heart for those who experience homelessness in this community. This position is non-exempt, hourly, full-time, consistently scheduled for 32-40 hours a week, and scheduled for on-call duty on the first week of the month and as needed to cover breaks and vacations. This role reports to the Shelter Program Manager.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

● Actively participate in building a culture of belonging within OSCS by centering equity in organizational and programmatic decision-making.

● The Lead Shelter Worker is primarily responsible for maintaining shelter coverage, updating the Shelter operation's calendar, and communicating coverage issues with the Shelter Manager and Housing Director.

● Reports and collaborates with the Shelter Staff and Management to improve and resolve daily coverage challenges.

● Uses leadership skills to step up and help support the team as needed.

● Assist with staff activities and duties to achieve efficient shelter operation, which includes monitoring log notes and shift transitions.

● Supports the Shelter Manager with hiring interviews, new hire and staff training, and onboarding new staff and volunteers.

● Prepare and facilitate team meetings and shelter guest meetings that promote teamwork, collaboration, & creative problem-solving when the Shelter Manager and Program Director are unavailable.

● Actively responds to work communication when on-call.

● Facilitate conflict resolution and navigate residents’ complaints while working to promote a sense of community among residents and help navigate client grievances when needed.

● Perform administrative duties such as entering data into Case Flow, The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), and Excel Spreadsheets and completing shelter intakes.

● Assist the case managers and the shelter manager with shelter referrals for the medical respite program and the Adult Shelter Connect.

● Perform and provide excellent customer support to all stakeholders of Our Saviour’s Community Services.

● Create and maintain a positive, safe, and non-threatening atmosphere for all shelter guests, staff, and volunteers.

● Ensure operating policies and procedures are communicated and implemented appropriately and respectfully. ● Set and maintain professional boundaries for guests, staff, and volunteers.

● Use good conflict management and crisis intervention techniques to diffuse difficult situations.

● Performs daily shelter staff duties such as guest services, front desk support, housekeeping, and volunteer support.

● Other duties as requested and time permits. Required Skills and Abilities

● Ability to champion leadership competencies; leading teams, leading self and others.

● Resourceful, resilient, energetic, and optimistic.

● Ability to problem solve both independently and collaborating with others.

● Uses good communication skills and is an ambassador for conflict resolution.

● Demonstrated cultural fluency and commitment to diversity. ● Comfortable with harm reduction principles.

● Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

● Ability to use and learn standard office equipment, including computer, monitor, keyboard, and software programs such as Google Suite, MS Office Suite, and customer database programs.

● Ability to work on a desk and in front of a computer, sit for long periods, use keyboard and mouse, and perform repetitive motions such as typing, sorting, pinching, and other office routines

● Ability to move around, walk, bend, twist, stoop, reach, grip, push and pull equipment, and climb stairs as needed to perform essential job duties.

● Ability to read and write English.

● Ability to speak, read, write, and understand people using Spanish, Somali, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian, and Farsi/Persian languages (preferred but not required). Experience and Qualification Requirements:

● Experience working with clients with mental health diagnoses, substance use needs, and disabilities.

● Experience working in a nonprofit, preferably Human Services industry, or six months of shelter experience.

● Problem-solver and inclusive decision-maker to help field and manage routine and non-routine challenges and circumstances.

● Change agent. Demonstrated ability to make positive change in people and programs.

● Demonstrated team player and winning attitude.

● Takes initiative, and works well independently and collaboratively.

● Comfortable working with people from marginalized groups and people with disabilities.

● Comfortable working with people in medical respite and people who use drugs.

Job Type: Full-time, Non-Exempt Pay Rate: $21 hourly

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion OSCS is committed to providing a supportive, inclusive work environment. We are an EEO/AA employer and will not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. We acknowledge that experience is gained through various settings and value informal experience in addition to formal education and work history. Additional Information: COVID Precautions: OSCS is committed to following federal guidelines and keeping the beneficiaries of its programs and its staff safe. All new employees must provide proof of vaccination or undergo regular testing. All OSCS employees must be masked when in the presence of other staff, volunteers, or clients, regardless of vaccination status. COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE: In compliance with the new federal mandate for COVID-19 Vaccines, all Our Saviour’s employees must be vaccinated or submit proof of weekly testing.

Disclaimer. This job description only summarizes the typical job functions, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties of this position. The organization has the sole discretion to amend this job description at any time.