SayPro Community Navigation Management (Spanish/English) – Mercy Corps Northwest

Description

Location: Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.Position Status: Full-time, RegularMinimum Starting Salary: $53,000 DOE

Unrestricted US work authorization is required for this position. Applications will be received through COB July 5 2022

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Mercy Corps Northwest Team

As the U.S. field office of Mercy Corps, Mercy Corps Northwest (MCNW) works to build more just, productive and resilient communities in the Pacific NW. Our programs support up to 2,100 small business owners each year; reduce prison re-entry rates for participants by 50%; improve services at more than 30 local nonprofits; and support under-resourced communities with disaster preparedness knowledge.At MCNW, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to improve their life regardless of their background. By investing in those without ready access to resources, existing economic disparities will become more equitable, and motivated, hard-working individuals and families will have opportunities to break intergenerational cycles of poverty for good. For more information about Mercy Corps Northwest, visit www.mercycorpsnw.org

The Position

Community Navigators are the face of Mercy Corps Northwest to the communities we serve. A successful candidate must have strong client service skills and excellent partnership development acumen. They must approach their work with a combination of confidence, curiosity, and humility. Community Navigators must approach MCNW services as a complement to, not replacement of, existing community resources; therefore, a critical factor for success is identifying and supporting the development of joint opportunities for collaboration.

Key Responsibilities

Program Administration

• Administer the Oregon IDA, loan, education and one-on-one business technical assistance services and processes while tracking and reporting activity, progress and impacts.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and is consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, including diversity, equity, and inclusion values and targets, quality standards and strategic plan.
• Market the Individual Development Account, Microloan, Master Your Credit, Education, and one-on-one business technical assistance business development services and products to potential participants, existing and potential funders, and referral sources.
• Ensure that underserved participants are effectively served in a way that is culturally responsive and accessible.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, capacity building and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion into all activities as appropriate.
• Ensure program implementation is on time, on target and in budget, using effective monitoring and evaluation systems to reach desired impacts. 
• Provide language-specific support for participants to navigate programs and services.

Individual Development Accounts (IDA)

• Develop strategies and support communications with partners for potential IDA program applicants throughout Oregon to effectively reach underserved potential participants;
• Participate in and/or oversee application review and participant selection process. Oversee the collection of all needed IDA documents for enrollment in the programs for each location.
• Support general IDA enrollment sessions and lead Spanish IDA enrollment sessions as needed
• Track participant progress and ensure that participants complete all program requirements for successful completion of their respective IDA
• Lead IDA disbursement meetings with participants and manage collection of all required documents to process their disbursement from the program
• Use VistaShare Outcome Tracker to manage IDA participant data. Duties include data input, running reports, and tracking participant information.
• Identify and coordinate with affordable and experienced community education providers to provide the training to program participants and assist with outreach.

Microloans

• Work with community partners to market loan products to local residents.
• Responsible for reviewing assigned loan inquiries and hold initial screening meetings with prospective loan applicants to discuss loan readiness
• Advise and assist participants with loan applications, compiling needed documentation and working with loan participants to support readiness for the underwriting process. 
• Provide business advisory technical assistance to both prospective loan applicants and existing participants, including working with participants experiencing repayment issues.

Master Your Credit

• Conduct community outreach to promote this program.
• Provide one-on-one navigation around credit to direct participants to the right resources.
• Provide technical assistance to both prospective program applicants and existing participants, including working with existing loan participants experiencing loan repayment issues.

Education and One-On-One Technical Assistance

• Coordinate with the Education team on the development and execution of community outreach plans.
• Participate in regular (i.e. bi-weekly) check-ins with the Education Coordinator, who will update Community Navigators on education programming and changes including information about classes, events, enrollment, scholarships and program development, training, consultant and subject matter experts, webinars and one on one consulting.
• As requested by the Education team, provide language-specific support to the team, particularly when working with Spanish-speakers.
• Provide one-on-one resource navigation and business technical assistance to small business owners in the conceptual, start-up, growth, and rebuilding stages as needed

Teamwork 

• Support and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to Mercy Corps Northwest’s strategy, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.  

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability 

Reports Directly To: Business Development Services ManagerWorks Directly With: Community Navigation Coordinator (Bilingual Spanish/English), Community Navigation Coordinator (Bilingual Russian/English), Credit Manager, Financing Support Officer, Education Coordinator, Walla Walla Program Manager, Southern Washington Program Manager

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills 

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please submit a cover letter that clearly shows how your experience meets the minimum qualifications and prepares you to perform the key responsibilities of this role; be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. 

• BA/S or equivalent in business, finance, banking, community development, economics and/or other relevant field or entrepreneurial experience. (Professional work at or near the level of this position can substitute year for year for the educational requirement);
• 2 year experience service to the community preferably with underserved communities and low-income individuals;
• Demonstrated knowledge of asset building, small business development and/or resilience strongly preferred;
• The successful candidate must be fluent in both Spanish and English. Native Spanish speakers strongly preferred.

*Transferable skills: Any skills you have gained through education, volunteer or work or life experience (including the military) that are relevant for this position will be considered. Be sure to describe any transferable skills and how they apply to this position in your cover letter.

Success Factors 

• Strong client service skills and excellent partnership development acumen
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively
• Ability to approach their work with a combination of confidence, curiosity, and humility
• Ability to identify and develop joint opportunities for collaboration
• Ability to prioritize competing tasks and deadlines and must possess exceptional communication skills
• Experience working with databases and a strong attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications, specifically Word and Excel
• Demonstrated experience working with a diverse client base of low-income people and successfully addressing their needs is desirable
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate an ability to give personal finance/business development advice. Small business development experience is strongly preferred but not required
• Demonstrated knowledge of business and financial terms in both English and Spanish
• Lending, banking, and/or financial experience is a plus

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Portland, Oregon U.S.A. and it requires up to 5-10% travel to support programs, which may include travel throughout the state of Oregon and Washington. The majority of the MCNW team resides in Portland, OR; however, we also have team members and offices in Seattle, Vancouver, and Walla Walla, WA that this position will directly support.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.  We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.

Covid-19 Vaccine Policy for US-Based Employees

Mercy Corps has determined that, in an effort to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all Mercy Corps employees working in the United States, all U.S.-based employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, regardless of prior COVID-19 infection status. This policy is necessary to ensure not only the safety of our workforce, but the ongoing functionality of the organization.This policy will be revised as needed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements, and to respond to changing guidance from public health authorities.

For new employees this requirement goes into effect within 10 business days of employment.  Team members that travel are expected to comply with host-country requirements, including vaccinations.  Failure to comply may impact your employment.  Proof of vaccination or exemption must be provided.