Community Fellow

Catholic Charities; Cicero, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago seeks a Community Fellow to serve as a welcoming contact at the community center, coordinating meals and pantry services and supporting volunteers. You will connect clients to resources and help ensure safe, respectful daily operations that promote dignity and self-sufficiency.

Responsibilities include leading on-site meal service, coordinating volunteers, and guiding clients through Catholic Charities programs and community resources.

Qualifications

• HS Diploma or GED required, entry level.
• Desire to serve others with dignity and solidarity.
• Proficient in Word, Excel and Outlook; strong administrative, interpersonal and follow-through skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a welcoming and consistent presence at the community center; engage with clients, volunteers, and staff; maintain a warm, respectful environment. Evening hours required.
• Coordinate logistics for weekly meals or food pantry services; manage inventory; coordinate on-site volunteers; ensure smooth service execution.
• Promote client empowerment by connecting individuals to internal programs and external resources; support navigation of services and referrals; lead on-site meal service operations.
• Collaborate with Volunteer Engagement to support volunteer recruitment, orientation, and coordination; ensure volunteers are engaged and supported.
• Engage in ongoing learning, training, and skill development; apply feedback to improve performance and teamwork.

Skills

Administrative skills

Interpersonal skills

Volunteer leadership

Attention to detail

Education

HS Diploma or GED

AA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago partners with mission-driven people and organizations across Cook and Lake counties to witness a message of mercy and hope to a world in need by improving lives and nourishing spirits; strengthening and empowering people, families, and communities; and committing to being present to our times through the eyes of faith.

Role Overview

Community Fellow s erves as a welcoming point of contact at the community center by coordinating meal and pantry services, supporting volunteers, connecting clients to resources, and ensuring safe, respectful, and efficient daily operations that promote dignity and self-sufficiency.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as a welcoming and consistent presence at the community center, engaging with clients, volunteers, and staff to foster a sense of belonging and dignity. Act as a key point of contact during service hours and help maintain a warm, respectful environment. Requires evening hours.
• Coordinate logistics for weekly meals and/or food pantry services, manage inventory, coordinate on site volunteers, and ensure smooth execution of services.
• Promote client empowerment by connecting individuals to internal Catholic Charities programs and external community resources. Support clients in navigating services and building self-sufficiency through referrals and relationship-building. Lead on-site operations during meal service, including opening and closing procedures, oversight of volunteers, implementation of safety protocols, and adherence to Catholic Charities' hospitality and security standards.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer Engagement team to support volunteer recruitment, orientation, and coordination. Ensure volunteers are meaningfully engaged and supported, and that their contributions enhance the overall service experience.
• Engage in ongoing learning, training, and skill development, seeking and applying feedback to continuously improve performance and contribute to team and organizational success.

Essential Functions

PLEASE NOTE: Essential functions include all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• Kneel and move from sitting, bending, kneeling, or standing multiple times a day
• Climb up and down up to 3 flights of stairs at a time
• Lift, push, and pull up to 25 lbs

Other Requirements

• Background check

Education and Experience Requirements

Minimum

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) Entry level
• Desire to serve others, prioritizing dignity and solidarity. Ability to navigate various sources of input and document a clear plan.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Strong administrative, interpersonal and follow-through skills.

Preferred

• Associate's Degree (AA) in a related field of study 1-3 years relevant experience
• Able to clearly communicate both verbally and through email. Able to work with and lead a team of dedicated volunteers.

$19.35 / hour

Pay Transparency

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 (820 ILCS 112/5, et seq.), Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is required to provide the wages and benefits that it reasonably expects in good faith to offer for any specific job positions posted. Please note that the exact compensation package ultimately offered to an applicant may vary based on skills, experience, and location, amongst other permissible factors.

Locations

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Employer Privacy Policy

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and consideration for employment is made without regard to: race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Catholic Charites is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an email to [e-mail] or call 312-655-7127 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.