Shelter Advocates Manager

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Social Services, Human Services, Business Management, or a related field, plus advanced specialized certification. Five or more years of equivalent experience may be considered in place of a degree.
• Five or more years of operational experience in client management, social work, at-risk prevention, substance use disorders, or mental health.
• Extensive knowledge of local resources and system navigation preferred.
• Valid Arizona Driver's License and a clean driving record.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus.
• Must be a Christian, living a life dedicated to Christ, and be an instrument of God's love, grace, hope, and forgiveness to all.

Essential Experience, Skills, and Competencies

• Five or more years of experience leading and supporting a team.
• Ability to develop and carry out team initiatives, both independently and collaboratively.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong written communication, reading comprehension, and listening skills.
• Ability to engage positively with donors and build long-term relationships.
• A high degree of commitment to and passion for GRM's mission.

Physical & Mental Demands

• The population GRM serves is frequently in crisis, which may involve exposure to trauma, conflict, illness, behavioral-health concerns, and emotionally difficult situations.
• Must maintain professional boundaries, sound judgment, confidentiality, and a calm, compassionate presence.
• GRM recognizes the reality of compassion fatigue and promotes self-care and sustainable leadership.
• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking; may lift, carry, push, or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Some local travel to other locations for meetings and business needs.
• A flexible schedule may occasionally be required to support the team.

Responsibilities & Duties

The Shelter Advocates Manager oversees the day-to-day operation of Gospel Rescue Mission's Shelter program, including new guest orientation and housing. This role leads the Shelter Advocates Team in providing advocacy and delivering program services, and models hope and guidance for guests as they move from homelessness to wholeness. All services are provided in an environment of Love, Grace, Dignity, and Respect.

General Activities

• Warmly greet everyone, including guests, visitors, volunteers, vendors, staff, donors, community and church groups, and public officials.
• Build healthy, Christ-honoring relationships with guests while maintaining professional boundaries and guest confidentiality.
• Pray with, advise, and guide guests in their spiritual, personal, and program needs.
• Under the leadership of the Program Director, uphold the GRM Standard of Excellence.
• Oversee the day-to-day activities of the Shelter Advocates Team and classes, ensuring continuity of support and guest accountability.
• Orient, monitor, and support Shelter Advocates and assigned volunteers in the program's structure, values, and standards.
• Help the Program Director make recommendations to develop and monitor the Shelter Advocates budget.
• Submit all requests to purchase equipment and supplies to the Program Director.
• Maintain and review thorough, timely guest records in MissionTracker, including guest incidents and mandated reporting.
• Track and report Shelter Advocate Services statistics.
• Orient guests to the structure, values, and standards of Pastoral Care services.
• In collaboration with the Program Director and Senior Program Director, assess and develop curriculum as needed.
• Actively help raise the standard of the Shelter Advocates Program and Team.
• Achieve weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual goals approved under GRM benchmarks and the strategic plan, in a moderate- to fast-paced environment.
• Manage each guest's service plan across the continuum of care as a single point of contact.
• With the Program Director, assess, plan, and implement program strategies tailored to guests and directed toward the most appropriate, least restrictive level of service.
• Partner with local resources and help guests navigate community systems.
• Conduct New Guest Intake and the Mission 101 orientation class.
• Teach the Housing class and ensure the schedule and curriculum are followed.
• Support guest success through New Guest Intake and Housing.
• Coordinate VI-SPDAT assessments and housing options for guests with partner organizations.
• Work with the Recovery Manager on guests who are on probation or admitted from jail.
• Serve as liaison between Behavioral Health agencies and the Shelter Advocates.
• Serve as liaison to Family Drug Court to monitor guest progress.
• De-escalate physically and emotionally adverse situations, redirecting behavior and providing crisis intervention and conflict resolution as needed.
• Lead guests through the Grace-Based and Genesis accountability processes.
• Share On-Call Manager responsibilities as directed.

Leadership Team Expectations

• Communicate consistently and meaningfully; give recognition, praise, feedback, mentorship, and training.
• Foster a sense of community and create a safe space for failure.
• Provide strong leadership and a clear vision; hold yourself and others accountable.
• Empower others rather than micromanage; be an effective decision-maker and solution provider.
• Put people first, be honest and dedicated, and model a healthy work/life balance.
• Provide full leadership and supervisory support to the Shelter Advocates Team, program teams, and all GRM teams.
• Manage and coach team situations in collaboration with the Program Director, Senior Program Director, and Human Resources.
• Uphold policy, including GRM's vision, mission, and values; apply sound ethical judgment; and escalate and report issues with transparency and accountability.
• In collaboration with Human Resources and the Program Director, participate in interviewing, hiring, training, evaluating, coaching, recognizing, disciplining, and terminating direct reports.
• Assist the Program Director and Executive Team in resolving complaints from guests, staff, volunteers, and partner agencies.
• Manage employees' web-based time and attendance records.
• Support and attend GRM team meetings and provide weekly reports as directed.

Professional Development

• Complete all assigned training, including onboarding, basic training, and OPPD.
• Attend professional training and networking opportunities as directed.
• Attend staff meetings and other meetings as directed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Consistent with our formation and purpose, all employees of Gospel Rescue Mission, upon hire and continuously while employed, must:

• Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
• Agree in principle and practice with our Statement of Faith.
• Uphold our Mission, Core Values, and Christian Code of Conduct, maintaining a lifestyle of integrity, honesty, and responsibility.
• Role-model Christ-like attributes and values through personal actions, words, and attitudes.

Gospel Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit religious organization that provides social service programs to the homeless and working poor populations. Everything we do in this ministry is centered on the will of God and honoring the name of Jesus Christ.

It is the policy of Gospel Rescue Mission to complete a background check, drug test, and motor vehicle record check (as applicable) once a conditional offer of employment has been made.