Director of Community Services, ACHIEVEability

Posted by on August 12, 2013

Are you are passionate about working to make Haddington and Cobbs Creek a thriving and hopeful community where everyone is valued and has opportunities to grow and to help make life better for others as well?

ACHIEVEability is searching for its new Director of Community Services. Focusing on Haddington and Cobbs Creek, the Director of Community Services is responsible for community engagement and works to facilitate residents in playing an advisory role in accessing, planning, and implementing activities to improve the quality of life in these neighborhoods.

ACHIEVEability seeks to fill this position right away to enable the new director to be trained by Nijah Famous, its current Director of Community Services, who is taking a position as a Project Director at Drexel University.

ACHIEVEability is a nonprofit that has worked for the past three decades to break the generational cycle
of poverty for vulnerable families and individuals through affordable housing, higher education,
supportive services, community and economic development, and accountability. Its Community Office
currently offers direct services such as free tax preparation (during tax season), utility assistance, rental
and security deposit assistance (when funding is available), rental/property tax rebates, assistance
with financial aid applications, zoning meetings (as a Registered Community Organization or RCO),
foreclosure diversion outreach, a public access computer center, Town Hall meetings, youth activities,
financial education workshops, 311 Community Liaison services, assistance with applications for basic
needs and public benefits (TANF, food stamps, LIHEAP, Medicaid), and referrals to employment training
programs, housing counseling, and food banks.

Duties:
– Oversee all aspects of community engagement: leadership, input and participation by neighborhood residents, businesses and organizations in the ACHIEVEability Community Office’s programs, activities, and events
– Manage the day‐to‐day operations of the ACHIEVEability Community Office, which includes a public access computer center
– Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, volunteers, interns, work‐study students, and fellows
– Enhance and implement a community outreach plan
– Cultivate partnerships with community organizations and institutions, the City of Philadelphia, funders, and other stakeholders to broaden and deepen ACHIEVEability’s impact in the community
– Oversee the Community Office’s programs: from design and development or enhancement, to funding, implementation, database maintenance and updates, evaluation, internal and external reporting, financial and personnel management
– Prepare written and data‐driven reports for the community, the CAC, CEO and leadership team, funders, and other audiences
– Conduct presentations on Community Office strategic plans and current programs at community meetings, advisory meetings, staff meetings, leadership team meetings, board meetings, and other forums
– Ensure the active engagement of the Community Advisory Committee and its subcommittees
– Raise funds, in collaboration with other entities as appropriate
– Other responsibilities as necessary

Minimum Qualifications:
– Familiarity with Haddington and Cobbs Creek or similar communities
– Understanding of community needs and effective community relations
– At least 5 years of experience in nonprofit management including at least 2 years in case management
– Excellent verbal and written communication, presentation, and public speaking skills
– Ability to multi‐task and willingness to work long hours, including evening and weekend hours as necessary, not just at the Community Office but also at various venues primarily in West Philadelphia; Visits to residents’ homes in West Philadelphia may be necessary
– Ability to think strategically and creatively
– Excellent organizational and organizing skills
– Proficiency in Microsoft Office. Database skills
– At least a bachelor’s degree, with a master’s degree preferred
– Ability to pass background checks successfully (criminal, child abuse, drug test, driving record)
– Ability to lift and transport materials related to community meetings and projects

To Apply: As soon as possible, please send your resume and cover letter to employment@achieveability.org. On the subject line, indicate: DCS – YourFirstName YourLastName. In your cover letter, please tell us:
(a) how you found out about this position
(b) your salary requirement
(c) narrative about your experience in community relations, community organizing, and case management, and
(d) narrative about your experience in Haddington and Cobbs Creek or in similar communities.