Community Service Specialist II (aka Community Mediator)

MAJOR DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Initiate proactive outreach with community members, including houseless and formerly incarcerated populations, by walking assigned routes.
• Identify crises or areas requiring early intervention.
• Build relationships with community members to foster trust and engagement.
• Provide immediate crisis intervention in non-violent situations to ensure safety and de-escalate conflicts.
• Conduct regular check-ins with clients to assess ongoing needs and adjust support plans.
• Connect clients to essential resources (e.g., food banks, shelters, medical facilities) and accompany them as needed to ensure access.
• Stay updated on community resources to provide timely and relevant referrals.
• Distribute educational materials on trauma, conflict resolution, or resource navigation to empower community members.
• Maintain detailed records of client interactions, referrals, and progress using organizational software.
• Report systemic gaps in resources to supervisors to drive program improvements.
• Participate in team meetings and training to enhance skills and contribute to program improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in client-based care, such as: non-violent communication, conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, emotional regulation techniques, motivational interviewing.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including houseless individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, individuals living with substance use or serious mental health conditions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build trust and rapport with diverse populations.
• Ability to empathize with others while maintaining professional boundaries
• Demonstrated problem-solving and crisis de-escalation skills, including the ability to remain calm and effective in high-stress situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team as well as independently with minimal supervision.
• Commitment to ethical work standards, including maintaining a professional demeanor and being free from the influence of alcohol or drugs during work hours.
• Flexibility and adaptability to respond to the dynamic needs of clients and the community.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing training to enhance trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices and other job-related skills.
• Ability to maintain detailed records and use organizational software for documentation and reporting.

• College degree, certification, or relevant work in the social science field.
• Bilingual or multilingual in English, Chinese, Vietnamese and/or Spanish.
• Familiarity with local community resources and social services to effectively connect clients with support.
• Experience using Microsoft 365 Suite and Slack.

• Ability to communicate clearly with others.
• Ability to see and hear to interact with others.
• Ability to work and walk outdoors for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer as well as a smartphone.
• To lift a minimum of 25 lbs.
• Vision 20/20 with correction.