Resident Assistant

Bridges To Change; Gresham (OR); On-site; USD 23,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Bridges to Change in Multnomah County, Gresham, OR is hiring a full-time Resident Assistant. You will support participants in a community living environment, greet residents, monitor activities, document interactions, and assist with crisis response and medication access while upholding BTC policies and confidentiality.

You will also help with meals, staffing coverage, and coordinating partner meetings, with an emphasis on trauma-informed communication and safety.

Qualifications

• State ORCHARDS BCU background check clearance required
• Food handler's card within 30 days of hire required
• Demonstrated competency in supporting participants from diverse genders and communities
• Prior experience in residential, recovery, or behavioral health settings preferred
• Computer literate; Microsoft programs and EHR systems required
• GED/HS Diploma preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide support and basic resource information to participants; build relationships with diverse residents
• Greet and direct participants; clarify site expectations and access to resources
• Document participant interactions and incidents; report to the team within 24–72 hours
• Mediate and de-escalate conflicts; respond to crises per BTC policy
• Provide access to medication lockers; report medication-related activities
• Facilitate classes and skill groups as assigned
• Prepare meals for participants
• Support meetings and day center activities; coordinate partner meetings
• Prepare meeting spaces for external partners
• Conduct periodic building inspections and monitor safety
• Clean common areas and coordinate household chores
• Ensure timely documentation of services and progress notes
• Uphold ethics, boundaries, confidentiality, trauma-informed communication

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Conflict de-escalation

Crisis response

Documentation

Communication

Team collaboration

Cultural responsiveness

Education

GED/High School Diploma

Food handler's card

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic health records

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Multnomah County Gresham - N/A, OR 97080, Position Type: Full Time, Job Category: Peer (PWS, CRM, PSS, etc), Job Summary

Job Summary

This full-time Resident Assistant is community-facing and serves individuals across diverse identities, genders and cultural backgrounds that are accessing low-barrier recovery supports and transitional housing. The Resident Assistant provides building coverage and participant support by greeting and directing residents, monitoring activities, completing regular building inspections, and documenting interactions and incidents. The role also assists with conflict resolution, crisis response, medication access, partner meetings, and regular documentation while upholding BTC policies, professional boundaries, and confidentiality standards.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve a diverse population effectively, providing support and basic resource information to participants, regularly interacting and relationship building.
• Greet and direct participants, clarifying site expectations and access to available resources.
• Document participant interactions and incidents using factual and observation-based documentation and provide information and updates to the team.
• Mediate and de-escalate conflict and respond to crisis situations in accordance with BTC policy and procedure.
• Provide access to medication lockers; report and document medication related activities.
• Facilitate classes and skill groups, as assigned.
• Prepare meals for participants.
• Support external partner and participant meetings, day center activities and after-hour recreation, per calendar of events.
• Prepare meeting space of external partners, as assigned.
• Conduct periodic inspections of all areas in the building to monitor building and participants; periodically monitor camera screen(s) in the office.
• Clean assigned common areas, coordinate household chores and report maintenance issues promptly.
• Complete documentation of services, progress notes, and client interactions in accordance with organizational standards within 24 hours, not to exceed 72 hours.
• Uphold organizational ethics, including professional boundaries, confidentiality, and trauma-informed communication standards.
• Respond to participant crises with a trauma-informed approach, utilizing de-escalation strategies, administering Narcan in overdose situations, and activating emergency and supervisory support in accordance with BTC procedures.
• Administer and document intake and random urinalysis screenings in accordance with program standards.
• Participate in regular supervision, team meetings, and training as assigned.
• Adhere to organizational policies and procedures, confidentiality regulations, and all applicable federal and state behavioral health standards.

Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• State ORCHARDS BCU background check clearance, required
• Food handler's card within 30 days of hire, required
• Demonstrated competency in supporting participants from diverse genders and communities, including understanding how social determinants, systemic inequities, and cultural factors influence engagement, safety needs, and recovery goals
• Prior experience providing participant support in residential, recovery, or behavioral health settings, strongly preferred
• Computer literate; functional ability with Microsoft programs and electronic health record systems, required
• GED/High School Diploma, preferred
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain clear professional boundaries while holding participants and staff accountable with compassion and consistency
• Strong communication, trauma-informed engagement, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to navigate emotionally charged or complex situations
• Experience with crisis prevention, de-escalation, and intervention strategies in behavioral health or related settings
• Ability to remain calm, regulated, and exercise sound judgment in high-stress or crisis situations
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining attention to detail and participant safety
• Ability to maintain high professional standards in interactions with participants, staff, and community partners
• Demonstrated success working effectively in diverse, collaborative team environments, with strong skills in promoting inclusion and cultural responsiveness

Working Conditions

Environment and Physical Requirements: This position is based onsite at a BTC program location that operates as a community living environment where participants reside and/or stay overnight. The role requires regular movement throughout the facility, including participant common areas, offices, and designated outdoor areas such as smoking spaces, building perimeters, and parking areas. Staff may be required to perform routine checks of indoor and outdoor spaces to ensure safety and program compliance. Those locations are subject to a variety of environmental weather conditions including rain, snow, wind, and dust. This position interacts constantly with staff, visitors, program participants, government agencies, and others. The role may involve exposure to substances such as alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, and biohazards (including bodily fluids) in the course of routine duties. Appropriate precautions, PPE, and training are provided in accordance with BTC policy and OSHA standards. The position stands, walks, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours. The incumbent must be able to lift, push, pull and move files, supplies and equipment in excess of 50 pounds.

Emotional and Cognitive Demands

Work in behavioral health settings involves regular exposure to individuals experiencing emotional distress, crisis and/or unpredictable behavior. Staff may encounter verbally escalated interactions, trauma-related content, and situations requiring rapid assessment, sound judgment, and effective de-escalation skills. The role requires sustained emotional regulation, the ability to maintain professional boundaries, and resilience when supporting participants with complex behavioral health, substance use, and psychosocial needs. Crisis situations may occur with little warning and require immediate attention, adherence to safety protocols, and clear communication with team members.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time, hourly non-exempt position. Employees in this role are generally scheduled for either three 10-hour shifts or four 10-hour shifts per week, primarily during overnight (graveyard) hours. Specific schedules are assigned based on program and operational needs and may include occasional coverage of other shifts when required. Additional evening, weekend, or holiday hours may be assigned to ensure adequate program coverage.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

This job description is a summary of the essential duties and responsibilities for this job, and it does not necessarily represent an all-inclusive list of duties, responsibilities, tasks or procedures. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instruction or assignments. Nothing in this description restricts Bridges’ right to assign or reassign duties at any time.

Accommodation Statement

Accommodation Statement: Essential job duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform the job successfully, an incumbent or applicant must possess the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform each essential duty and responsibility proficiently. If you require an accommodation in order to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job, please contact the Bridges to Change Human Resources Department.

Bridges to Change is an Equal Opportunity Employer