Description

The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) serves Native Americans, infant to Elder, in the Portland, Oregon area. NAYA was founded by parent and Elder volunteers in 1974 who created a place for youth to engage in sports and recreation. Over the last 50 years, NAYA has become a gathering center for Native Americans to practice tradition, teach culture, and build community. Today we employ more than 170 staff who provide a continuum of self sufficiency and educational programs. We are also a powerful advocacy organization, giving a strong voice to the priorities of our people.

We seek a warm and organized social services or affordable housing professional to serve as Housing Referral Coordinator for Tistilal Village, an affordable multifamily rental housing project in the Portsmouth neighborhood of North Portland. As NAYA’s first large project completed as a lead developer, Tistilal Village is a transformational project for NAYA and the community we serve. 

The Housing Referral Coordinator will be responsible for facilitating the application and leasing process for Tistilal Village’s 57 units in advance of its opening in August 2024. This is a limited duration role and is targeted to end on January 31, 2025. The role reports to Emily Schelling, Housing Development Program Manager. 

NAYA offers an exceptional benefits package, including free medical, dental and vision insurance for you (and affordable plans for your family), 401(k) retirement plan with match up to 6%, paid vacation and 14 paid holidays. Starting salary is $60,000 to 65,000 per year. 

This role will work from NAYA’s main office on NE Columbia Blvd and will require use of one’s own vehicle for in town travel to meet with prospective renters and to visit Tistilal Village. This is a full-time, exempt role with work hours of 9 am to 6 pm with a one hour unpaid lunch. Working from home on Mondays and Fridays is acceptable after training and onboarding are complete. 

Who You Are

• You are a social services professional with at least two year’s experience working directly with clients. Affordable housing experience is a plus. 
• Ideally, you have experience working with the urban Native American population. Working within a tribe, board, or other Native organization is a plus. 
• You have strong project management skills and are a very organized person. 
• You have a strong sense of accountability and can always be counted on by your team. You are adept at helping others to be accountable, too. 
• Start up experience is a plus. You are comfortable in roles where you have to start from scratch and you have to write the procedures yourself. 
• You have a passion for helping others. You enjoy doing what it takes to get clients the services they need 
• You don’t mind sweating the details. You know that someone on the team has to be exceptional at managing details and you enjoy being that person. 
• You have a large professional network, ideally including the Native community. You are always connecting people. 
• You are self aware. You are able to listen well and center others. You tend not to be defensive. You are generally OK making mistakes and taking responsibility for them. 
• You prefer a team environment at work, rather than working alone. You don’t hesitate to roll up your sleeves and pitch in, even when it’s not your job. 
• You have your own car and a valid Oregon or Washington driver’s license with no more than one major violation in the last three years, so that you can be covered under NAYA’s liability insurance. You don’t mind using your personal vehicle for work purposes (mileage reimbursed). 
• You truly enjoy attending all the events, such as Powwows and other community gatherings. One of your highest values is community. When you attend events, you connect with people easily, even those who are different from you. 
• You can successfully complete a background investigation, including a fingerprint criminal history check. See a list of disqualifying convictions here. 

What You’ll Do

• Help achieve full occupancy of Tistilal Village by December 31, 2024 by assisting potential residents in completing the application process, including helping them obtain required documents and lifing logistical barriers such as transportation. 
• Set up and manage an internal referral process so that NAYA clients can be referred to Tistilal Village, as well as to other NAYA housing. 
• Assist NAYA staff in making referrals to Tistilal Village. Follow up to ensure that NAYA employees know and can follow the referral process. 
• Implement a targeted outreach plan to market Tistilal Village to the Native community including communicating with urban Native-serving organizations and local tribes as well as planning and attending events where the Native American community gathers. 
• Participate in weekly or biweekly Lease Up Coordination meetings. 
• Already know or be able to quickly learn about affordable housing, low-income housing tax credit requirements, City of Portland housing policies, and property management. 
• Document your work processes so that after the role ends, NAYA has a playbook for the referral and lease-up processes. 
• Help internal NAYA collaborators and external partners to meet their project commitments. 
• Travel locally during the work week using your vehicle (mileage reimbursed) or a NAYA vehicle. 
• Help establish community, tenant and lease expectations to ensure Tistilal Village is a welcoming and inclusive community. 

Questions? Want to chat about this role before you decide to apply?

Contact Emily Schelling, Housing Development Program Manager, at schellinge@nayapdx.org or Michelle Valintis, NAYA Recruiter, at NAYA@ArrowTalentGroup.com.

NAYA is committed to building a work environment that respects and inspires every community member. Our mission is to serve Urban Native youth and families, so we strongly encourage Native people to apply. We encourage applications from members of other historically marginalized groups, as well, including women, people of color, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and those who have served in the military.