Receptionist (Mid shift)

Department: Administration

Status: Regular Full-time, non-exempt

Pay: $21.87 per hour

Location: SBCS Headquarters

Schedule: Monday through Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Friday: 8:20 a.m. - 5:10 p.m. Schedule may change based on the needs of the agency.

Who we are

SBCS (formerly South Bay Community Services) transforms communities to support the well-being and prosperity of children, youth, and families. For more than 50 years, we’ve worked throughout San Diego to provide safe shelter, transitional housing, intervention prevention programs, mental health support, and many other services that meet the ever-changing needs of our communities.

Our organization is dedicated to offering high-quality services and ensuring all services align with the community's needs. To best serve our communities, SBCS partners with various grassroots organizations throughout California to develop innovative strategies that enhance services, empower clients, and ensure that culturally appropriate and trauma-informed care is offered. SBCS provides a wide range of services tailored to meet each client's unique needs. At SBCS, our client-centered approach highlights the importance of respect, empathy, and compassion when interacting with all community members. 

As a mission-driven organization, our work is centered around providing exceptional, face-to-face support to our clients and community members to foster trust, accessibility and personal connection that are critical to our mission. 

About YOU

You are an advocate and champion of nurturing communities where families can pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential. 

You are dedicated to and energized by engaging directly with individuals and communities. 

You care deeply about the well-being and prosperity of ALL children and youth throughout San Diego.

You want to become a part of an energetic and effective team, and contribute your expertise, creativity, and insights to a unique role encompassing program management, development, and direct counseling services for at-risk children, adolescents, and families. 

About our organization

SBCS is home to a committed team of 470 dedicated employees and volunteers who diligently serve all of San Diego County. Having offered services for 52 years, SBCS is committed to providing hope and support for numerous young children, individuals, and families facing adversity. With an annual budget of $68 million, SBCS continues to be a beacon of assistance in the community. 

Competitive and Sustainable Employee Pay Package:

SBCS offers competitive pay and additional benefits for full-time employees, including generous vacation time, holidays, health, vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, an employee assistance program, discount programs, public service forgiveness loan, and an excellent retirement plan with matching contributions. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the Human Resource Analyst and Human Resources Director, the receptionist is responsible for the overall function of the front desk, making sure clients are attended to courteously and promptly. As the initial point of contact, the receptionist will exhibit superior customer service in all communication with clients and fellow staff and will use effective time management and critical thinking to solve issues. The receptionist must be a team player, must be punctual, and have a good attendance history. The receptionist will also perform a variety of administrative tasks as needed for the reception and office staff.

DUTIES:

• Operate a multi-line telephone switchboard and direct calls as appropriate. Receive, direct and relay telephone messages and fax messages.
• Greets, assists and directs clients to the appropriate staff member.
• Actively contributes to the reception team in order to complete tasks, meet goals and support clients.
• Actively listens to team members, respects ideas and aims to support agency teams. 
• Is flexible and adapts well to change. 
• Must have interpersonal skills to create a pleasant experience for all customers, such as being personable and attentive.
• Ensures that the reception area is presentable at all times.
• Refers walk-in clients to the Client Response Associate when appropriate.
• Receives and opens all general correspondence, maintain the general filing system and file all correspondence.
• Maintains and updates agency phone directory.
• Reserves meeting/conference rooms for staff.
• Maintains, coordinates and receives items in the reception area including incoming deliveries, outgoing items and agency donations.
• Assists with creating and printing office badges for new hires.
• Successfully operates a variety of standard office machinery and equipment, including computer, phone, fax, shredder and photocopiers.
• Ability to work with individuals and families in crisis, homelessness, substance use, and/or mental health issues.
• Ability to work with diverse populations, possess cultural competency, and maintain appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Helps maintain and update equipment by submitting service requests when machines are not working properly; Maintain toner and paper inventory; Order supplies as needed.
• Provides administrative support when needed to assist HR and reception staff with administrative duties such as answering phones, sorting and distributing mail and other administrative duties.
• Assists with HR functions as assigned. 
• Must have good time management skills to prioritize and complete a variety of tasks throughout the day. 
• Attend all agency required meetings and training. 
• As other duties assigned.

• High school diploma required. 
• Bilingual English and Spanish required. 
• Excellent customer service via telephone and direct contact with clients. 
• Ability to maintain large volume of calls. 
• Flexible- may be asked to work in the morning or evenings. 
• Strong communication and written skills. 
• Type 40 wpm. 
• Ability to multi-task. 
• Knowledge of office machines. 
• Computer skills (Word and Excel preferred). 
• Capability to use sound judgment in decision making and ability to follow directions. 
• Ability to engage others easily, maintain an empathetic stance, and de-escalate situation. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative workplace relationships.
• Must have excellent telephone skills, verbal communication skills, and listening skills.
• Must be professional, customer focused, organized, and work well under pressure.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Mentally and emotionally: Ability to work under deadlines, various projects and dealing with clients in crisis and difficult situations.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position during shift. 
• Moves throughout the building. 
• Moves, raises, or lowers (includes upward pulling) an object or equipment up to 50 lbs. 
• Transports an object, from 20 to 50 lbs. across the facility, for various needs.
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force. 
• Ability to exert force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) 
• Ascending or descending stairs and ladders when applicable. Body agility is emphasized. 
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling when ascending, descending, traversing.  
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles. 
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with objects or office machinery. 
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas. Communicating is important for those activities in which workers must impart information to clients or to the public, and in those activities in which they must convey detailed or important instructions to other workers accurately, or quickly. 

The statements contained herein describe the scope of the responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be considered to be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time unless restricted by a negotiated contract.

Accessibility Accommodation

SBCS is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. 

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, parental status, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program – Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

At-Will Employment Status

Please note that all employment with SBCS is at-will, which means your employment may be terminated at any time by you or SBCS, without cause or advance notice. The terms and conditions of any employment may also be modified.