Outreach Specialist

Part-Time Outreach Specialist Job Description

Location: Rutherford & Polk County
Position Status: Part-Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. The organization currently has offices in Asheville, Brevard, Burnsville, Cashiers, Hendersonville, Highlands, Marshall, Morganton, Newland, and Rutherfordton. With over 120 dedicated staff, including more than 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 200 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to nearly 28,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law. 

PLS is seeking a Part-time Outreach Specialist to serve Rutherford and Polk counties. Applicants should be passionate about promoting justice and overcoming barriers facing low-income people, be a creative and zealous team-player, and be committed to achieving lasting results for clients and low-income communities.

Responsibilities 

• Commitment to PLS’ mission, values, and vision.
• Staffing regular office hours at community-based sites in Rutherford and Polk Counties for approximately 10-12 hours per week.
• Attending multiple community meetings monthly in these counties. 
• Representing Pisgah Legal Services at local events, resource fairs, festivals, and food distribution sites. 
• Initiating information-sharing meetings with local partners including nonprofit organizations and government agencies, in cooperation with other PLS staff. 
• Track and update relevant Community Partner contact information. 
• Distribute community outreach materials to locations in Rutherford and Polk Counties. 
• Community mapping (identifying key local organizations, leaders, resources, ways potential clients get information, community priorities, etc.) in cooperation with other COE team members. 
• Be available to assist with community events in other counties as needed.

Qualifications

• Passion for and commitment to PLS’ mission, values, and vision.
• Local resident of Rutherford or Polk County, preferably with connections with local nonprofits and/or local communities
• Strong interpersonal skills and a good communicator 
• Good listener 
• Able to learn about and share accurate information about Pisgah Legal Services’ many programs and services 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, and be accountable for meeting the goals for this position 
• Experience working with people withvery limited financial resources preferred
• Open minded, tolerant and non-judgmental – able to work with people from all backgrounds 
• Flexibility and adaptability are key as our disaster recovery work evolves to meet community needs
• Spanish-language skills are not required but are a plus
• Basic computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Word and Teams
• NC Driver’s License and a car for transportation in rural communities 

Salary/ Benefits

Salary ranges from $24 - $37 per hour depending on experience. Additional bilingual language skills that are applicable to this role may qualify for up to an additional $3k upon completing a language assessment test.  

Our salary scale is predetermined based on the years of relative professional work experience that qualify for this position to ensure equity in pay. Pisgah Legal Services is a Living Wage Certified Employer.

Employees are eligible for 401k Retirement Plan after 6 months of employment. Additional Fringe Benefits include Pet Insurance, Paid Bereavement Leave, 13.5 Company Holidays, Paid Leave Days, Employee Assistance Program for entire household, and a great working environment with work life balance! 

To Apply

Submit your online application with resume and cover letter through our Career Center located at https://www.pisgahlegal.org/jobs.

PLS invites all applicants to include in their cover letter a statement about how your unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and legal services practice. 

Pisgah Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with our Human Resources department.