Jobs Plus Community Ambassador

The Jobs Plus Community Ambassador, under the direction and supervision of the Jobs Plus Program Manager, is a grant funded, 12- month temporary, part-time position (with the possibility of being renewed for an additional 12 months), that advocates for the Jobs Plus team and assists in closing the gap among residents and Jobs Plus team. The Community Ambassador actively participates in promoting collective community action that leads to the creation of stronger communities. Encouraging community-building principles, participation in the Jobs Plus Program, job/career development, and developing and organizing relationships between community members, neighborhood stakeholders, employers, and Jacksonville Housing Authority's Jobs Plus Program are key to the success of the overall program. 

Essential Job Functions

The Jacksonville Housing Authority will employ Community Ambassadors to market and advertise the Jobs Plus Program to all residents.  The Ambassadors will be hired from Jacksonville Housing Authority's resident pool due to their familiarity with the community dynamics and issues that are common within the community.  The main goal of the Community Ambassadors is to encourage residents to become involved in the Jobs Plus Program and in work.  The Community Ambassador strengthens grant participation by connecting with the residents, distributing literature about the Jobs Plus Program and scheduling follow up appointments with residents (phone or in person) to discuss the program directly.

• Coordinates and promotes participation in community and supportive services, community planning and other Jacksonville Housing Authority Jobs Plus related activities. 
• Marketing and outreach including word of mouth, door to door, posting information, distributing flyers for community events and limited use of social media. 
• Assist with Jobs Plus Programs, or Jacksonville Housing Authority Program surveys and assessments pertaining to training or employment. 
• Works in collaboration with Jobs Plus team and other Jacksonville Housing Authority components to create outreach and strategies to organize, attract residents and retain participation in the Jobs Plus Program. 
• Participates in various trainings and attends mandatory meetings. 
• Assists with Program implementation for community and supportive services in assigned areas.   
• Assists in the development and production of employment related events such as job fairs; coordinating and arranging to bring residents to job fairs sponsored by outside agencies.  
• Prepares residents for future employment through skill enhancement and training; coaching residents to actively seek employment and/or advancement in employment after term. 
• Works with resident council(s) to organize informal and formal resident groups to communicate resident needs.   
• Conduct resident contacts for program follow-up at the discretion the Jobs Plus team. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Must be a JHA Public Housing resident currently.  Must be a resident in good standing.  High school diploma is preferred or one year or experience of service to others. Must understand the role that culture plays in work relationships, operations, and dynamics. Must have the ability to work some weekends and evenings, as needed, and have proficient written and verbal communication skills.

Other: Must be insurable by JHA's insurance and possess a valid driver's license. 

 Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic office equipment, including computer, telephone, copier, etc. 
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions. 
• Ability to interact with residents and outside agencies in obtaining and providing information in a polite and efficient manner, in person, telephonically and in writing. 
• Ability to use sound judgment to make decisions in accordance with established procedures and guidelines. 
• Skilled in dealing with people in a polite and diplomatic manner. 

 Core Competencies 

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and successfully conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure and persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; and recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys the necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys an understanding of, the comments and questions of others; and listens effectively. 

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work and does a fair share of work.

Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; supports everyone's efforts to succeed; attends, supports, and participates in all team building exercises and events.

Adaptable/Flexible Skills: Ability to work additional hours if required and work with pressing deadlines. Proactively seeks work assignments when current assignments are completed-takes initiative.

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The work is primarily conducted in an office environment, with interaction with external/internal clients.  

We anticipate hiring at the minimum of the respective pay grade per contractual obligations.

We are an EOE & DFWP. A successful applicant will be required to pass a background check including, but not limited to, employment history, criminal record and driving record, and may be subject to a pre-employment drug screening.

This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job classification. All incumbents may not perform all the job duties listed, and some incumbents may perform some duties which are not listed, and incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this description.