Position Summary: The Shelter Lead provides staff leadership and oversight for Helen's Place and Sophia's Place programs ensuring the quality of the shelter operations to include 24/7 programs. This position provides direct services to clients, as well as supervision of shelter staff and shift leads, in partnership with the Programs Manager and Chief Program Director. This position supports The Sophia Way's service approach of Housing First, ensuring our best practices are housing-focused, person-centered, and practice trauma-informed care in all activities.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to:

• In collaboration with Senior Program staff, recruits, onboards, trains, and mentors new shelter staff
• Supervises shelter staff and shift leads, clearly communicating and modeling shelter policies and procedures,
• Practices trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, de-escalation, and harm reduction techniques
• Tracks and monitors staff progress through the in-house training and continuing education program (Relias); assists staff with completing assigned materials
• Develops, manages, and communicates monthly staff schedules, including on-call staffing
• Fills in as needed for staff absences and participates in the on-call rotation for senior Programs staff
• Works with other senior Program staff to lead monthly shelter teams and community meetings, and to facilitate groups within the shelter
• Participates in program and agency meetings and relevant trainings as required, including inter-agency groups that provide assistance and advocacy to homeless women
• Works closely with Shelter Programs Manager, including daily conversations during the morning night-to-day staff changeover to ensure smooth transitions and up-to-date information exchanges
• Maintains a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment within the shelter for both staff and clients; treats staff and clients in a culturally sensitive manner
• Assists and supports clients with learning and understanding shelter routines, program requirements, and shelter policies and procedures
• Intervenes in client crises, utilizing de-escalation and conflict mediation tools; assists clients with working through conflict with others living in the shelter
• Works in conjunction with housing case managers and shelter staff to manage, and coordinate client shelter intakes and exits
• Communicates relevant observations and interactions with clients to Housing Case Managers through documentation in the confidential daily log
• Directs the set up of donated and delivered meals, ensuring all warming kitchen food safety guidelines and procedures are followed
• Monitors supplies, updates inventory, and places and/or directs ordering, as needed
• Ensures required documentation is completed for all in-kind donations received at the shelter, including meals, supplies, clothing, toiletries, and more

Organizational & Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Maintains a thorough understanding of TSW organizational policies, including employee handbook; follows policies and leads by example
• Ensures that all expenditures under Helen's Place Shelter Lead purview are in line with and reported according to TSW policies; meets all fiscal reporting deadlines as set forth by the organization, including the timely submission of expense approvals by all staff
• Works closely with direct reports to plan, guide, and execute professional development plans and opportunities, ets clear, achievable, and measurable goals for individual performance, and provides frequent and constructive feedback; holds staff accountable to themselves, the team, and the organization.
• Manages payroll submission for self and all direct reports in compliance with TSW policies, including timely submission of payroll for processing and arranging appropriate coverage of payroll obligations while out of office.

Non-essential duties:

• Assists with other organizational activities as directed.

Supervision Received: Position reports to the Shelter Program Manager.

Supervision Exercised: Directly supervises shelter staff, shift leads, and volunteers.

Educational Qualifications: Associate's or Bachelor's degree in social or human services, psychology, sociology, or other related field and one or more years of related professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.

Position Qualifications:

• Proven experience in working effectively and compassionately with adults experiencing homelessness, suffering from mental illness and/or substance abuse, and/or interacting with low-income communities.
• Proven experience working effectively with a diverse population, with sensitivity to differences in culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, physical and/or mental illness.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain clear personal and professional boundaries.
• Demonstrated ability to respond calmly and responsibly in emergency and crisis situations.
• Proven experience in recruiting, retaining, and leading dynamic and talented people to build successful teams.
• Proven experience in successfully managing teams, including the ability to set and achieve individual as well as departmental goals, and to mentor and manage the performance for all team members.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in teams and create effective and engaged cross-team alignments.
• Demonstrated aptitude for developing, interpreting, and implementing policies and procedures, and for maintaining compliance with safety and health-related regulations.
• Demonstrated familiarity with standard office administrative practices and procedures, including the proficient use of standard office equipment and general records management principles and practices.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated ability to learn, understand, and utilize computer applications related to the organization; experience with HMIS a plus.
• Outstanding attention to detail and a high degree of accuracy.
• Commitment to maintaining strict confidentiality for clients and the organization.
• Ability to take initiative and use independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Strong self-motivation and independence in carrying out responsibilities, organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks, and meeting deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, relationship-building, and communication skills - both written and verbal - which transcend diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to provide consistent, high-quality professional services to a wide variety of internal and external constituents.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a professional demeanor, especially while working in a fast-paced environment of constant demands and frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability to work and interact effectively with people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and promote a positive working environment, spirit of cooperation, and positive reactions to change and conflict resolution while treating each individual with dignity, respect, and compassion.
• The position requires weekend, evening, overnight, and holiday coverage on a semi-regular basis; some local (within Washington) travel might be required.
• Current food handlers permit, or ability to complete food handlers training immediately after hire.
• Current driver's license.
• CPR/First Aid certified or ability to complete training immediately after hire.
• Recent TB test or ability to complete immediately after hire.
• Deep knowledge, appreciation for, and understanding of the Sophia Way's mission, vision, and programs.
• Ability to embody the community-oriented spirit of the Sophia Way to both internal and external constituents.

Physical Requirements: Long periods of being in a stationary position; operating a computer and other office equipment; frequently moving to/from various work areas, including TSW's office and shelter locations; occasionally ascending/descending stairs; frequently communicating by phone and email; frequently remaining in a stationary position during meetings, discerning meeting content, expressing oneself, and exchange accurate information; frequently moving to/from off-site meeting and/or event locations; frequently moves supplies and/or equipment weighing at least 35 pounds; frequently performs light cleaning duties at shelter sites.

Compensation: Starts at $50,000; benefits include paid sick leave for all staff, paid PTO for full- and part-time staff, and we pay employee premiums for medical/dental/vision plans for full-time staff.

Covid-19: Proof of vaccination needed upon employment. If unvaccinated, weekly tests will need to be turned in to HR department.

Working Conditions: Primarily based out of the Sophia Way shelter locations, with varying degrees of office-style space available; weekly meetings at the Sophia Way office; and occasional training or event attendance at a variety of off-site locations.