The Community Sponsorship and Engagement Specialist (CSES) will work as a team member with the Program Manager, Case Manager(s), and Housing Specialist(s) to provide comprehensive services to families exiting emergency assistance shelters under an initiative of the MA Office for Refugees and Immigrants (MORI) to address the current housing crisis. The Community Sponsorship and Engagement Specialist willeducate faith and non-faith-based communities on the needs of recent migrant arrivals and promote options for how community groups may provide meaningful support. The CSES will recruit and train community groups to serve as sponsorship teams for families exiting the emergency shelter system. The CSES will work with case management staff to match families with trained and vetted community sponsorship teams and monitor the relationship between the team and family. The CSES position offers a hybrid/remote work option and is based in greater Boston.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Always maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality. 
• Adhere to all privacy policies and procedures related to the security of Personally Identifiable Information and Protected Health Information for all clients.
• Develop working knowledge of state contract for Permanent Housing Placement Services and local and national issues impacting the stability of homeless families and immigrants.
• Be able to explain basic concepts of Social Justice in laypersons’ language with goal of recruiting volunteers, donors and guarantors to help refugee and immigrant families. 
• Adapt existing marketing materials to promote the benefits of supporting families exiting the shelter system and their contribution to local communities. Use materials to address misconceptions or false rhetoric about refugees and immigrants. Ensure all materials are reviewed and approved by supervisor and Catholic Charities marketing department prior to dissemination. 
• Conduct educational and outreach presentations to generate interest in community sponsorship and recruit teams to support families enrolled in the Permanent Housing Placement Program. 
• Build upon best practices learned from Refugee Resettlement Community Sponsorship to implement the community sponsorship component of the Permanent Housing Placement Program.

• Orient, train, and provide ongoing support to designated community sponsorship teams after family is placed.
• Explain vetting procedures, expectations and compliance requirements for all community sponsor teams and volunteers. Notify supervisor of any violation of stated policies and procedures. 
• Serve as primary point of contact for an assigned group of community sponsorship teams. Provide support to the teams and respond to questions and requests within established timeframes. 
• Source permanent housing leads, engage with real estate community, landlords and property managers.
• Ensure all services delivered by community sponsors or volunteers are in accordance with agency and contractual requirements, best practices in refugee resettlement, and most importantly, and are leading to sustainable self-sufficiency and integration for the family. 
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships to obtain cash and in-kind donations.
• Organize and maintain donations storage space and identify sources for needed donations while maintaining inventory of items that are in high demand.
• Source housing opportunities and household furnishings/goods.
• Track all cash and in-kind donations, volunteer hours and report according to contract and agency guidelines. Ensure verification of donations and service hours is available for audit purposes.
• Arrange for drop off/pick up of donations and work with Advancement department to ensure proper acknowledgement to donors. 
• Complete all program required reports and submit within specified timeframes. Ensure that all information reported is accurate, documented, and reliable.
• Provide weekly status updates on progress toward recruiting and onboarding community sponsorship teams and donations.
• Ability to work evening and weekends as needed for participation in community events, presentations or donation pick up.
• Attendance at all internal and external meetings and training as required.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor level degree or equivalent work experience in related field. Certified academic degree from native country may be considered. Background in anthropology, human rights, international affairs, migration, parish ministry, political science, sociology or theology, preferred.
• Two years of experience working with immigrant and refugee communities in a non-profit setting and/or parish ministry, community development, or volunteerism, preferred.

• Fluency in English required. Fluency in French, Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese), Haitian Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish a plus.
• A commitment to the mission of Catholic Charities including understanding and identifying with the organizational mission.
• Proven experience in networking, engaging with and building effective relationships with people.
• Ability to establish and maintain a positive and professional relationship with co-workers, clients, volunteers, faith leaders, parishioners, and community groups.
• Cultural responsiveness, commitment to racial justice, and ability to relate well and effectively in a multicultural and multilingual workplace with diverse team and client population.
• Strong organizational ability with attention to detail and multi-tasking skills. Good critical thinking skills
• Interest and ability to work as a member of a team and independently.
• Strong communication and administrative skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate, comprehensive records.
• Competency with Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Competency using Zoom, Teams and other technical platforms.
• Willingness and flexibility in learning new functions. 
• A valid MA driver’s license and reliable vehicle for local travel.

Our benefits are competitive and include a 403(b) savings plan and generous time off. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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