Goals
The Community Engagement Construction Liaison will be critical in building the bridge between our volunteer individuals and groups, and the onsite experience they’ll have building homes and supporting the Habitat mission.
The position will be responsible for connecting the King County community to Habitat for Humanity through our construction volunteer program. The member serving in this role will be responsible for the entire cycle of their assigned build site’s volunteer management, including communication and logistical coordination prior to the volunteer day, on-site hosting and hospitality, volunteer appreciation, surveys, and other information to ensure each group and individual had an exceptional experience. This position will be a hybrid of an office and site-based role. A successful candidate will be able to juggle the demands of a schedule that requires keeping information and communication clear and consistent while working from different locations throughout each week. This position is designed for a “jack-of-all-trades” who feels just as comfortable with a hammer in their hand leading volunteers as they do work behind the scenes in project management, to ensure successful and engaging volunteer events take place.
Responsibilities
4x/week on-site hosting: welcome, encourage, support, lead, and share Habitat’s story with volunteers each day while performing construction leadership with other on-site construction AmeriCorps.
- Host volunteer groups and provide any and all necessary deliverables required by donor agreements, grants, or other group-specific needs determined by the Resource Development department.
- Articulate the socio‐economic benefits of homeownership and factors affecting the availability of affordable housing in the local neighborhood and the greater King County community.
- Manage hospitality systems and practices on site, including sign‐in areas, refreshments, supply shopping, literature racks and signage, & general volunteer area cleanliness and organization.
- Be on‐hand as the first to greet volunteers when they arrive on construction sites: welcoming, helping them sign in, and engaging in friendly conversation until ready to begin.
- Assist with hands-on construction tasks including, but not limited to, demolition, site prep, framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, roofing, finish carpentry and landscaping.
- Work with the Construction Managers and AmeriCorps Construction members to lead volunteers in construction tasks throughout the day.
- Manage and/or deliver any onsite group activities, such as housing education/advocacy discussions at lunch, closing reflection activities at the end of the day, or other activities as directed by the Community Engagement and Resource Development departments.
- Lead small groups of volunteers, ensuring that they are well-employed while on the work sites.
- Use volunteer management techniques to facilitate positive experiences for volunteers and partner families working on site.
- Collaborate with construction staff to identify skilled/enthusiastic volunteers and cultivate their involvement in Habitat’s work (i.e. encourage them to consider being trained as regular site leaders and/or returning volunteers).
- Maintain site safety through modeling of safety practices and guidelines, volunteer education, and site monitoring. Attend safety trainings with our construction staff.
- Provide onsite orientations and safety talks to groups of volunteers and family partners.
- Help with materials management on site and at the affiliate warehouse and storage trailers. Pick up and organize materials needed for projects.
- Set up and cleanup project sites.
- Maintain site logs for each project completed in order for supervisor to assess progress and next steps.
- Participate in regular planning and debriefing meetings as needed.
- Flexibility in transitioning between worksites including new construction and repair as needed.
- On occasion, member may participate in larger community projects such as lot clean ups, community gardens, etc. to increase awareness of the need for affordable housing and represent Habitat for Humanity in the community.
- Attend and participate in select affiliate events; responsibilities may include set up, cleanup, and engaging with attendees and informing them about the AmeriCorps program, our affiliate’s mission and how to become a volunteer and/or family partner.
1x/week off site: build relationships with volunteers and host-site communities
- Research/discuss volunteer groups expected in advance of build days, including coordinators or VIPs, and be prepared to specifically greet group leaders on their build days. When appropriate, contact volunteer group leaders in advance.
- Plan, order, purchase, pick up, and set up lunches and related supplies for volunteers as needed.
- Note valuable feedback and questions that come up in volunteer conversations and report back to the Community Engagement Coordinator or other staff on ideas/improvements that will make our sites more hospitable.
- Oversee photo and/or video documentation of builds each volunteer day – by you, volunteers, or other AmeriCorps/staff – including uploading to Flickr and other social media as specified.
- Send follow‐up thank‐you emails to volunteers after each build day on your site.
- Build relationships with organizations/schools/faith-based communities surrounding your host site.
- Make presentations (speeches, PowerPoints, etc.) to community groups requesting Habitat information.
- Introduce other Habitat staff, AmeriCorps, and volunteers to the community and its needs.
- Provide information to the Habitat marketing department for media and website outreach.
- Identify and report on outstanding acts of service and positive impacts seen on site.
- Help plan and support major affiliate special events as needed such as the Women Build, Interfaith Build, Veterans Build, etc.
Activities involving the ReStore and fundraising are limited to no more than 10 percent of a member’s total time. Please consult with your partner engagement specialist if you have questions about allowable activities.
Required meetings, trainings and events
Minimum expectations are outlined below with the understanding that further training may be required, as determined by the host site, Habitat for Humanity International or the Corporation for National and Community Service.
- Onsite orientation to local host.
- First Aid/CPR.
- Habitat Learns – “Foundation of Habitat” online series, “Introduction to Ethics and Inclusion” and “Speak up!” Lockton safety online courses.
- Annual sponsored blitz build – Habitat AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon.
- National days of service:
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (required).
- September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance and AmeriCorps Week (encouraged).
Host site monitoring reviews and periodic check-in calls.
- Monthly meeting with host site manager.
- Bi-weekly meeting with direct supervisor.
- Life After AmeriCorps training.
- Staff and board meetings and home dedications, as appropriate.
- Annual staff or AmeriCorps team build day.
- Individual and/or group professional development trainings may be made available based on budget, member interest and recommendation of the host site manager or direct supervisor.
- Host Site Events including Annual Luncheon, Volunteer & Partner Recognition Events, and Special Builds. Participation in these events will be in line with AmeriCorps program regulations/restrictions.
Experience, knowledge and skills
Required
- Valid driver’s license and ability to meet host site’s insurance requirements.
- Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word/Excel)
Preferred
- Knowledge of, and willingness to promote, the mission and activities of Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps
- Ability to work with a diverse group of people
- Detail oriented and highly organized
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Public speaking experience
- Experience working with volunteers or teaching/group facilitation experience
- Experience working as a member of a team
- Project management experience
Physical requirements
- Ability to sit at a desk and computer for extended periods of time
- Ability to be on one’s feet for extended periods of time, often on rough and uneven terrain
- Ability to lift at least 50 lbs. on a regular basis
- Ability to work on ladders and heights of up to two-stories
- Ability to work in varying weather conditions – sites are often not heated during winter and not air-conditioned during summer
Service Site Agreement
Four times per week service site is an active construction site with uneven terrain. Members will serve both indoors and outdoors during all types of weather. Construction tools will be provided. Member will serve one time per week in an open-space office and will share space with other staff and/or AmeriCorps members. Each member will have a desk, computer (with email and internet access), and phone for service-related tasks. Shared resources include a printer, copy machine, fax machine as well as office supplies. On out-of-office days that are not on the construction site the member may be out in the community at Habitat-supporting outreach events. Please note AmeriCorps members are prohibited from serving from a home office.
Member will sometimes be required to drive company trucks in order to transport tools and materials to and from the work sites. Some travel is required for the volunteer services/office portion position. Public transportation options are not always the best across our service area, so access to a personal vehicle is recommended to get to and from service, as well as any required meetings. Approved service-related mileage (beyond commuting to and from service) will be reimbursed per the affiliate’s policy.
The affiliate owns vehicles which are available to be used for service-related meetings and community outreach. These vehicles start and end their day at the job sites and office and are not to be used for personal commuting. If a member is going to drive one of these vehicles, they must obtain a WA Driver’s License within 30 days of the start of service and will be required to submit a Driver’s License copy and driving background check.