Community Outreach Specialist & Organizer (1-yr term), PAH-Queens

Since 1968, Build Up Justice NYC has provided free legal services for low-income residents of Brooklyn, pursuing neighborhood-based mission of justice, empowerment, and community development. For over half a century, we have utilized an array of legal and advocacy strategies—community organizing, affirmative civil rights litigation, and eviction defense to defend the rights of individuals and families. Collaboration with the city, state, and federal officials to enforce housing laws and develop legislative solutions is also an integral part of our strategy.  Build Up Justice NYC has three core programs—Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) Program, Consumer & Economic Advocacy (CEA) Program, and Community & Economic Development (CED) Program—each of which has unique initiatives and plays a vital community role to ensure basic needs are met and fundamental rights affirmed.

The Preserving Affordable Housing (PAH) program works to keep New Yorkers housed by using legal and advocacy strategies to prevent evictions, combat tenant harassment and discrimination, improve housing conditions, and promote access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

Position Summary: 

The Community Outreach Specialist & Organizer will work in collaboration with an extraordinary coalition of neighborhood organizations throughout Queens to preserve and expand affordable housing for lower income residents in neighborhoods facing rapid gentrification and tenant displacement. They will work closely with community institutions facing closures or adverse actions due to extraordinary market pressures; low-income tenants in fair housing litigation; as well as community groups involved in struggles against pervasive housing discrimination, neighborhood segregation, and other issues critically affecting the future of their communities. This is a one-year position with possible extension as funding permits. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide direct services to new clients including intake, assessment, and follow-up;

• Lead regular meetings with tenants/tenant associations and attorneys; 


• Conduct door-to-door home outreach to engage and inform tenants about their housing rights and resources available to help protect them;


• Work with attorneys to coordinate tenants’ housing court cases, including facilitating communication with tenants about case updates and issues;


• Engage community coalitions, advocates, and public officials in dialogue about pervasive displacement pressures/concerns and tenant harassment practices affecting low-income tenants in Queens;


• Conduct and facilitate regular workshops/trainings specific to housing rights, responsibilities, laws and processes, and know-your-rights tenant workshops, community presentations, and educational seminars to residents, community organizations, grassroots coalitions, faith-based organizations, affordable housing advocates, public agencies, and other local stakeholders;


• Post and distribute widely a broad array of informational materials that help inform tenants of their rights and protections under city, state, and federal housing laws as well as local community resources available to assist them with housing issues and securing government assistance;


• Guide organizational staff and staff of partner organizations in all aspects of forming and maintaining tenant associations and community coalition;


• Participate in meetings involving other PAH-Queens staff to develop plans to meet grant requirements and discuss systemic issues and policies that affect clients and communities reflected in current and past work done by organization or that could be the focus of future work; 


• Participate in community meetings to provide outreach and information about organization services;


• Enter data and client notes into Legal Server, create reports, and provide metrics to support legal work and fundraising efforts, as needed;

• As practicable, attend court to observe proceedings and then report observations to supervisor; and


• Other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 3-5 years administrative support assistance experience, preferably within a non-profit organization; organizing experience a plus.


• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds, local organizations and people in crisis;


• Demonstrated ability to interact with client/tenants of different races, ethnicities, ages, and sexual orientations in a multicultural environment and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion;


• Must have excellent verbal and writing communication skills that can be executed in formal correspondence and oral presentations; bi-lingual in English/Spanish preferred;


• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and other standard data management systems required, related certifications a plus;


• Skilled in facilitating meetings and leading workshops;


• Committed to leadership development, community building, and community outreach as strategies for social change;


• Strong reporting and recordkeeping skills, including the ability to synthesize lots of quantifiable and qualitative data into clear, plain language and readable charts and checklists;


• Must be able to work strategically within a team structure as well as independently, multi-task and work under tight deadlines;


• Dependability, good time management and organizational skills and be attentive to detail; and


• Thorough commitment to BUJ NYC’s mission.
  

Compensation & Benefits

Annual salary of $61,200 - 69,000, dependent on years of experience. Benefits highlights - 27 days vacation; employer paid health, dental and vision insurance; employer contribution to 401(k); and paid parental leave.

To apply

If you are interested in this position, you must submit your resume and a cover letter telling us why your experiences would make you a good applicant for this role. This Queens -based position is hybrid -- in-office 3 days/remote work 2 days.  

Build Up Justice NYC is a diverse team that is committed to recruiting, supporting, retaining, and promoting a talented staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences that share the organization's commitment to racial, economic and social justice. At Build Up Justice NYC diversity encompasses a variety of characteristics, lifestyles, and perspectives, including race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, education, disability, socio-economic status, and family status. We firmly believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to both the quality of our client services and the personal satisfaction of our staff. 

We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply, including women, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ people, people from low-income backgrounds, and with lived experiences in the communities we serve.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, physical disability, or length of time spent unemployed.