What are the responsibilities and job description for the Front Desk Associate position at National Federation of the Blind?
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is a membership organization of blind people from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As America's civil rights organization of the blind, the Federation is a coordinated network of skilled advocates, resources, and programs that raise expectations of the blind in society and create opportunities for blind people to live the lives they want.
The staff of the Federation are central to the organized blind movement by providing support, professional expertise, and daily contributions to the success of the organization. Working under the direction of the Federation's elected President, the staff advise the organization's leadership and contribute to the vibrant, energetic, and collaborative culture of the organization that raises expectations throughout society.
The front desk associate is the first person that members encounter when calling or visiting the Federation. As such, they should have excellent communication skills, understand the organization’s philosophy, and be able to represent the Federation in a professional, brand-appropriate manner. Punctuality is vitally important. Because the frequency of calls and visitors is inconsistent, other tasks will be assigned that can be accomplished between answering the phones and greeting people.
Responsibilities
- Answer telephone calls to the national office in a cheerful, professional manner
- Determine if a caller’s question can be quickly answered (by the front desk associate) or should be directed to another person or group of people
- Forward calls to the appropriate person or group based on documented, topic-based procedures
- Greet visiting NFB members, guests, and vendors, connecting them with the appropriate staff points of contact
- Maintain a neat, orderly reception area
- Enter and update data in the organization’s database, following written instructions
- Duplicate and ship electronic copies of publications to Federation members
- Maintain a list of people in the building at any given time, including those visiting the building and staff members out of the building
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Ability to professionally answer the telephone and to quickly determine the proper path for the call
- Possession of excellent verbal communications skills
- Possession of good written communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel and ability to perform basic screen navigation
- Able to consistently arrive at work by scheduled time
- Ability to multitask, including prioritizing tasks
- Knowledge of Federation history and philosophy preferred, not required
- Ability to speak Spanish preferred, not required
Education and Experience
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required
- While specific job experience is not required, related experience preferred but not required
Compensation and Benefits
The pay range for this position is 18.50 to 21.00 dollars per hour. Please go to our benefits brochure to learn about the employee benefits offered by the National Federation of the Blind.
How to Apply
We seek individuals who wish to identify with a cause and to assist in advocacy for a group long denied equal opportunity to succeed or fail based on ability—instead they are all too often denied opportunity based on society’s stereotypes.
This job is open until filled. Applicants should send, preferably via email, a résumé and cover letter indicating wage or salary requirements to: Human Resources, National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230; telephone 410-659-9314, extension 2488; fax 410-685-5653; email careers@nfb.org.
The National Federation of the Blind is an equal opportunity employer. Accordingly, all terms and conditions of employment will be carried out without regard to race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, marital status, age, or disability. For more detailed information about our commitment to equal opportunity in employment, please email a request to careers@nfb.org.
