Continuum Of Care Planning Associate

Overview:

The successful candidate for this full-time position thrives on serving others, welcomes the opportunity to work with homeless service providers to facilitate clients’ access to housing, and will maintain a laser focus on the mission to end homelessness in Sedgwick County. The position requires an excellent communicator with the ability to manage highly detailed data to increase the efficiency of the local homeless response system by removing barriers that impede access to permanent housing for homeless individuals and families. 

Additionally, regardless of role or team, every United Way of the Plains employee must be able to demonstrate our core values as defined on our website: Community, Collaboration, Leadership, People, Diversity, Advocacy and Stewardship. These values shape our internal behaviors and communicate to our various stakeholders who we are and what we stand for.

Under the leadership of the CoC Planning Manager, the CoC Planning Associate will support United Way of the Plains as the Wichita/Sedgewick Continuum of Care (CoC) lead agency in key planning activities related to CoC governance and engagement. The Associate will provide key support for the development of the CoC’s consolidated application for HUD’s annual CoC Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the annual Point-in-Time Count, and facilitation of monthly CoC meetings. The Associate is a key part of the CoC team and will work in close partnership with service providers and other members of the CoC team to ensure key planning activities are performed in support of the homeless response system to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in Sedgwick County.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Assist the CoC Planning Manager in running the local CoC competition and coordinate the completion of the collaborative CoC grant application.
• Help plan and execute the annual Point-in-Time Count and Housing Inventory Count 
• Stay up to date with HUD regulations and help the CoC Planning Manager train providers on those regulations.
• Support the CoC Planning Manager in annual project monitoring and as needed monthly monitoring on poorly performing projects. 
• Work with the CoC team to perform quarterly reviews of project performance and expenditures to ensure compliance with grant agreements. 
• Build relationships with members of the CoC and non-members to work towards ending homelessness, especially with landlords, property owners, and local businesses.
• Prepare for each year’s NOFO and YHDP grant opportunities by working to complete required elements of both grants in the year prior, including organizing and providing training at CoC meetings in collaboration with CE and HMIS Leads. 
• Sit on and help organize committees needed for the NOFO or compliance, like the Governance Charter committee and Alliance of Overlooked Neighbors, a committee consisting of persons with lived experience of homelessness.
• Assist the CoC Planning Manager in preparing a needs-gap analysis and all other tasks required by 24 CFR 578 that are not done by the board, HMIS Lead, CE Lead, committees, or CoC projects. 
• Help staff all CoC and Advisory Board meetings and keep both groups focused on achieving the vision of the CoC. 
• Communicate the work done by CoC and needs of the unhoused community internally and externally, including writing and sending out a weekly email.
• Help organize monthly CoC meetings, as well as plan an annual meeting designed to bring in new members to the CoC.

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least two years of experience working with persons experiencing homelessness, homeless service providers, and/or in low-income housing developers/providers.
• Proficiency in using computers, including MS Office, the internet, and databases.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong relationship and team-building skills.
• Strong ability to lead teams towards a common goal. 
• Excellent administrative skills and ability to accurately maintain highly detailed data.
• Capable of working effectively with limited supervision.
• Able to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information.

Non-Negotiable Hiring Criteria: 

• Naturally curious and self-motivated in a never-ending pursuit of continuous improvement.
• Ability to interact positively with individuals and groups. 
• Must be flexible and multitask oriented; can adapt to changing priorities. 
• Can work independently and responsibly while managing numerous projects simultaneously. 
• Dependable and reliable to meet deadlines; remains calm under pressure. 
• Lead by personal example; your word is your bond. 
• Servant leader who can positively influence others not under their control. 
• Possess excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills. 
• Helps create a work environment that embraces and appreciates diversity.

Core Competencies for all United Way Professionals

• Mission-Focused: The United Way Professional’s top priority is to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This competency drives their performance and professional motivations.
• Relationship-Oriented: The United Way Professional understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: The United Way Professional understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement.
• Results-Driven: The United Way Professional is dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good including creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
• Brand Steward: The United Way Professional is a steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

How to Apply: 

Submit your cover letter and resume via email to careers@unitedwayplains.org with “CoC Planning Associate” in the subject line.

Application Deadline: For priority consideration, apply by October 15, 2024; position will remain open until filled. 

More information about the United Way of the Plains can be found at https://unitedwayplains.org

United Way of the Plains is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of, race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, handicap, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.