Graveyard Ambassador

To be considered, please submit a cover letter that specifically addresses how your experience relates to this position.

Organization Summary: Established in 1993, Operation Dignity (OD) is a nonprofit organization that operates emergency, transitional, and permanent housing programs in Alameda County. Our mission is to create pathways to health and housing for the most vulnerable individuals experiencing homelessness in our community, with a special focus on veterans and people living in encampments. We help participants reach their housing goals by providing a continuum of service from comprehensive street outreach and shelter to permanent supportive housing. Among our core values are meeting people where they are while cultivating a strong peer community, inclusive of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.

Position Summary: The Graveyard Ambassador position is located at the House of Dignity, a 58-bed emergency shelter and transitional housing program in Oakland. House of Dignity provides a supportive environment for homeless veterans to regain their dignity and transform their lives.

Essential Job Functions

• As the residents’ first point of contact, provide a tour and orientation for the veterans.
• Assist with documents and paperwork for residents, including a picture ID, house rules, and regulations.
• Provide peer-to-peer support for residents to encourage positive changes.
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations of the House of Dignity supportive housing program.
• Work with other HOD staff to assign a room for each new resident.
• Assure veteran compliance with the rules and regulations of the program.
• At the beginning of the shift debrief with case management and/or other booth staff about key client issues and needed follow-up.
• Maintain strict PHI/HIPAA confidentiality. Discuss clients only to support their goals in a private location behind closed doors.
• Observe residents’ potential relapse issues and report to their Case Manager for follow-up.
• De-escalate clients, help resolve conflicts and promote positive solutions, if challenging situations or interactions arise.
• Contact the proper authorities to address health and safety issues, including the police, fire, and medical departments as well as the Case Manager and Program Director.
• Write up incident reports and inform the Program Director of all incidents.
• Address repairs relating to the refrigerator, heating system, or other key appliances/systems by completing an online maintenance request form and contacting the House of Dignity Program Director.
• Assist Case Managers with fire drills, audit preparation, and emergency evacuation plan.
• Maintain daily intake log of all activities during shift.
• Oversee daily sign-in and sign-out sheets and ensure their use when residents enter and exit the building and meal service. Provide a copy of accounts receivable for end-of-the-month reports.
• Review the intake log for all changes, concerns, and/or problems from the prior shift.
• Monitor residents’ community service hours. Discuss the best community service match for residents with Case Managers, as needed.
• Answer and route all incoming calls and distribute mail to appropriate persons.
• Monitor items that residents bring from the outside, to ensure that drugs, alcohol, excessive furniture, or other prohibited items are not brought into the house.
• Conduct hourly security rounds of the building, including securing locks, windows, doors, and the kitchen.
• Conduct weekly room inspections.
• Bring vacated rooms online in coordination with other Ambassador Staff and Maintenance, bagging & tagging items, and cleaning rooms, as needed.
• Monitor all guests and ensure compliance with the guest policy.
• Provide kitchen support at meal service.
• Attend house meetings.
• Distribute saved meals for residents upon their return from school or work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be dedicated to serving the veteran community.
• Ability to maintain clear boundaries and strict confidentiality with clients.
• Ability to create a compassionate and empowering connection with residents.
• Ability to remain calm in crisis situations, think well on one’s feet, de-escalate clients, and promote solutions to rebuild community stability.
• Ability to recognize relapse and substance abuse issues.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good listening skills, with a strong ability to be patient and compassionate with residents challenged by mental health issues.
• Cultural competency to effectively relate with a culturally and racially diverse group of staff and residents.
• Good team player, able to help create a supportive and productive work environment.
• Strong ability to fulfill documentation and regulatory requirements.
• Veteran status and personal life experience with homelessness, recovery, addiction, or mental health preferred and/or strong knowledge about these issues.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or pull objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to frequently go up and down stairs.
• Ability to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods as required to perform essential job functions.
• We are looking to Graveyard Ambassador with the following work schedule:
• o Monday through Friday, 12:00 am-8:00 am

Operation Dignity is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To be considered, please submit a cover letter that specifically addresses how your experience relates to this position.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $23.00 - $24.50 per hour

Application Question(s):

• Employment Relationship Disclosure

To help ensure appropriate reporting relationships, please disclose if you have a relative, household member, or close personal relationship with anyone currently employed by the organization.

If yes, please provide the employee’s name and department: __________

• Please list 2-3 dates and time ranges that you could do an interview.
• We appreciate your interest in joining our team! Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we’re only able to contact candidates whose qualifications best match the requirements of the position. If you meet the qualifications, we will be in touch to discuss next steps. Thank you for your understanding.

Work Location: In person

Salary : $23 - $25