Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance is looking for a Half Time Program Assistant.  The Program Assistant will assist with GNEAs Rent and Utility Assistance Programs, and shall perform other administrative tasks including, but not limited to, moving confidential data between databases, answering phones and scheduling client appointments for the upcoming week, and helping us maintain our social media and website presence.    We seek a confident, motivated, and caring individual who is interested in working to help GNEA address emergency need in Ames and Story County.

GNEA Program Assistant Job Description

Definition and Position Purpose

Under general supervision of the Director of Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance, Inc., the Program Assistant:

• Assists GNEA Navigator in administering the GNEA Emergency Rent and Utility Program.
• Assists the GNEA Navigator in helping Story County residents locate and apply to relevant funding sources for basic needs. Examples include, but are not limited to, Social Security, Social Security Disability, childcare co-funding, Story County workforce development, SNAP, Medicaid, Story County Housing Trust and other local resources that promote financial stability.
• Assists GNEA with administrative tasks necessary to provide assistance to clients, including but not limited to, answering incoming phone calls, checking messages and returning phone calls, evaluating needs of clients, entering client data into an online database, managing GNEA’s social media presence, and maintaining GNEA’s WordPress website.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Program Assistant:

• Provides customer service to Story County residents via online, phone, and/or in-person, to schedule appointments, provided gas, food and other services offered at GNEA.
• Assists Navigator in responding to various requests and inquiries from Story County landlords, tenants, and residents (via phone, email, other media, and in-person).
• Develops relationships with community housing and other social and supportive service providers and maintains an inventory of housing programs, food pantries, eligibility requirements, and contact information.
• Attends weekly meetings with Story County General Assistance to provide updates on assistance provided to referrals, as needed.
• Monitors weekly rent and utility applications that are processed through Story County General Assistance.
• Transfers information from Story County General Assistance CSN database into Good Neighbor’s database and determines eligibility for Good Neighbor assistance based on Good Neighbor assistance guidelines and funds availability.
• Enters data about assistance, including check numbers, funding sources, releases of information, within database.
• Reports Navigator activities and data to Good Neighbor Director as needed.
• Monitors the Story County Housing Trust (SCHT) and Wheels for Work applications, completes the applications, etc. as required.
• Maintains GNEA’s Social media presence.
• Maintains and updates, GNEA’s website, including creating news posts covering upcoming events.
• Interacts with clients over the phone and via email, including receiving incoming phone calls, routing phone calls appropriately, checking voicemail, taking messages, answering messages, and following up on requests.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will possess many, if not all of the following skills and competencies:

• Ability to access, enter and retrieve data in an online database
• Ability to interact effectively with the public, landlords, and others in various situations and circumstances.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to organize and present facts clearly and concisely.
• Ability to use social media and design platforms including Canva, Facebook, and WordPress to maintain company’s social media and website presence.
• Ability to listen to and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to use judgment to make informed decisions.
• Ability to seek additional information when needed.
• A high level of initiative to achieve program objectives with minimal supervision.
• Ability to reliably attend work when scheduled, prioritize work, be flexible to increased workloads, and work under pressure and against deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to show empathy, sensitivity, and self-differentiation to the needs and issues of all parties.
• Ability to treat co-workers, applicants, collaborators, and members of the public courteously and without bias.

Education, Experience, and Special Requirements

Background

The successful candidate will have some mix of either:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in: public administration, government, social work, sociology, communication or some field related to Human Services; and/or
• Two years of full time work experience in a responsible administrative capacity in human services, social work, case management, data management, or some closely related field.

Compensation

• This is a permanent, half-time hourly position with occasional weekend/evening hours.
• The pay for this position is currently budgeted for $22 dollars/hour, pending board action.
• The position is non-benefitted.
• Work schedule will be 8:30a to 12:30p, M-F. Schedule will be maintained, barring extenuating circumstances.

How to Apply

Send a Cover Letter, Resume detailing your work experience that is relevant to this position, and the names and contact information of three references to:   jobs@gnea.org

Application will remain open until filled.