Crisis Responder

Illinois Peace Project; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

HSA contributions to individual and/or

Teladoc services

Job summary

Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago is seeking a full-time Crisis Responder to join the Crisis Prevention Response Unit. The role centers on rapid crisis response, de-escalation, mediation with diverse individuals and groups, and coordination with public safety and partners to connect people to supportive services.

Shifts run 12:00 PM–7:30 PM or 7:00 PM–2:30 AM. You must be willing to ride CTA trains and platforms, with open availability for shifts and the ability to respond within 60

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent education, required.
• 1+ years of crisis intervention and verbal de-escalation experience, required.
• Experience in community outreach, violence prevention, youth development, social services, crisis intervention, or restorative justice programs, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Respond rapidly to crisis situations to de-escalate.
• Mediate disputes to prevent escalation into violence during gatherings and public events.
• Mediate conflicts and build trust with diverse individuals and groups.
• Maintain situational awareness in fast-paced environments.
• Coordinate with public safety personnel and community partners to ensure interventions.

Skills

Conflict mediation

Verbal de-escalation

Documentation

Public safety awareness

Bilingual Spanish

Calm under pressure

Team coordination

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

None

Job description

If asked to describe the culture at Metropolitan Family Services, we could do that in one word. COMMUNITY! Both our internal culture as well as through the services we provide, community is at the heart of all we do.

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) empowers families to learn, to earn, to heal, to thrive. Part mentor, part motivator, part advocate, since 1857, Metropolitan family Services has been the engine of change that empowers families to reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities.

MFS is currently looking to fill a new full-time role, Crisis Responder! Within our Crisis Prevention Response Unit (CPRU) team!

The pay for this position will fall in the range of $27.18 per hour ($52,000 - $55,000 annually). Where candidates fall in this range will be based on skill and experience level. This is an hourly position that will require you to clock in / out.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Respond rapidly to crisis situations to de-escalate.
• Mediate disputes to prevent escalation into violence during large gatherings, civil unrest, and mass shootings.
• Mediate conflicts, de-escalate tense situations, and build trust with diverse individuals and groups including at-risk youth and gang members.
• Maintain situational awareness while working in confined, fast-paced environments with continuous public activity.
• Work collaboratively with local businesses, residents, and organizations to promote safety.
• Coordinate with public safety personnel, emergency responders, and community partners to ensure appropriate interventions.
• Identify and monitor potential conflicts and individuals/groups at elevated risk of violence.
• Connect community members to supportive services such as mental health care, housing, employment, or social services.
• Provide follow-up after crises to support healing and reduce the likelihood of retaliation or recurrence.
• Participate in team meetings, case reviews, and debriefings to share insights and improve practice.
• Maintain accurate documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals while respecting confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent education, required.
• 1+ years of relative experience including (but not limited to): crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, clinical work in a mental health setting, required.
• Experience in community outreach, violence prevention, youth development, social services, crisis intervention, or restorative justice programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Training or certification in mediation, de-escalation, or crisis response, preferred.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities, particularly in Spanish or other languages common in the community, preferred.
• Lived experience with challenges related to violence, justice system involvement, or trauma, with the ability to serve as a positive role model.
• Knowledge of local resources such as housing, employment, mental health, and social services.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Satisfactorily pass all screenings and criminal background checks.
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence

This position requires employees to be comfortable riding CTA trains and working on train platforms as part of their regular job duties. Candidates must have open availability for either of the following shifts and be able to work the full shift based on operational needs:

• Shift 1: 12:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Shift 2: 7:00 PM – 2:30 AM

Open availability for one of these shifts and the ability to ride CTA trains and work on train platforms are required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Strong conflict mediation and negotiation skills.
• Basic data entry and documentation skills.
• Understanding of community violence dynamics and factors contributing to conflict in urban environments.
• Awareness of local community resources, social services, and support networks.
• Familiarity with public safety systems, restorative justice approaches, and community engagement best practices.
• Effective verbal and nonverbal communication, including active listening and empathy.
• Ability to respond calmly and strategically in high-stress or crisis situations.
• Relationship-building and trust development with diverse populations.
• Documentation and basic reporting skills to accurately record incidents and interventions.
• Problem-solving, situational assessment, and decision-making in dynamic environments.
• Remain composed and professional in volatile or high-pressure situations.
• Work independently and as part of a team while coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Willingness to work flexible on-call schedules, including evenings, overnight and weekends.
• Adapt to variable workloads and field-based mobility requirements.
• Availability to respond and deploy to an event within a 60-minute notice period.

TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Driving for work is not required with a personally owned vehicle.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch. The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer terminal.

Metropolitan Family Services puts our people first with a top-of-the-line benefits package.

Some highlights include:

• Medical Coverage, Dental Coverage, and Vision Coverage.
• Metropolitan Family Services contributions of $2,000 to individual, and $4,000 to family, HSA accounts, pro-rated to your benefits start date.
• FREE General Medicine and Behavioral Health Teladoc services provided to all team members.
• Ascensus 401K plan services with a 4% employer match, vested at 100% on day one of eligibility.

And so much more!

Some of the above benefits are available for part-time and temporary workers, but not all. Be sure to inquire upon your hire as to which benefits apply to you.

MORE ABOUT US:

Metropolitan is Illinois' first comprehensive human services agency and reaches more than 122,970 individuals and families in Chicago, Evanston/Skokie, the southwest suburbs, and DuPage County with services promoting education, economic stability, emotional wellness, and empowerment.

SKILLS (PREFERRED):

• Bilingual Spanish (advanced)
• Analytical skills (advanced)
• Interpersonal skills (advanced)
• Organizational skills (advanced)
• Verbal and written communication (advanced)

EDUCATION (REQUIRED):

• High School or better

EXPERIENCE:

• 1 year: Related work experience in crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, clinical work in a mental health setting (required)
• Experience in community outreach, violence prevention, youth development, social services, crisis intervention, or restorative justice programs (preferred)

Equal Opportunity Employer: This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.