Safety Specialist (6496)

Mercy House; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy House in Santa Barbara, CA is seeking a Safety Specialist to support the Emergency Shelter Program during designated shifts, including some weekends and evenings. The role requires dependability, strong communication, and trauma-informed service delivery to help guests move toward housing.

The position involves shelter operations, safety tasks, basic administrative duties, and coordination with on-site security and staff to maintain a safe, client-centered environment.

Qualifications

• Patience, tolerance, and understanding for individuals with urgent multiple needs.
• Ability to perform crisis intervention as needed.
• Clear written and verbal communication in a respectful manner.
• Detail-oriented and computer proficient (MS Word, Excel).
• Self-motivated, able to manage high email volume, work independently.

Responsibilities

• Shelter Support: Ensure a safe, guest-focused, trauma-informed environment.
• Assist with shelter activities, and discuss progress toward housing with guests.
• Assist with shelter setup, maintenance, and safety tasks.
• Verify orders from vendors and manage supplies and facilities needs.
• Maintain perimeter checks, fire watch duties, and traffic control.
• Provide client engagement support to drivers during shuttle service ride-along.
• Administration: keep daily summary sheets and records; assist with reporting.
• Miscellaneous: support guest services and ad hoc projects as assigned.

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Salary Range: $24.00 - $24.00 Hourly
Job Category: Shelter Services

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt | Payrate: $24.00/Hour | Schedule: Sunday, Monday, Thursday, & Friday 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Job Summary

The Safety Specialist is responsible for providing supportive services and logistical support to the Emergency Shelter Program during designated shifts. This position requires a flexible work schedule including some weekend, morning and evening and holiday shifts. Dependability, responsibility, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully are mandatory skills. The ability to demonstrate personal integrity is a must.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Shelter Support

Goal: Ensure a safe and client focused environment for guests to quickly end their homelessness.

• Assist in the implementation of shelter activities to ensure quality, guest focused, and trauma informed delivery of services.


• Encourage and discuss progress toward housing with shelter guests


• Assist with shelter setup and maintenance


• Assist with general cleanliness and safety of facility including emptying trash cans and clean-up


• Assist with receiving and verifying orders from vendors, completing tally sheets


• Assist in the organization of supplies and facilities needs


• Maintain a safe and functional shelter facility by providing traffic control and gate service


• Perform basic searches of persons or their property


• Demonstrate responsibility during perimeter checks and fire watch duties


• Provide client engagement support to drivers during shuttle service ride-along

Administration

Goal: Oversee administrative duties that support program services

• Assist with keeping detailed daily summary sheets


• Assist with record keeping and reporting


• Assist with keeping perimeter check logs and fire watch duties

Miscellaneous

Assist with guest services and program activities if necessary

• complete ad hoc projects as appointed by Supervisor

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• This person must possess a high level of patience, tolerance and understanding for individuals who present for services with urgent multiple case management and health needs


• Ability to perform crisis intervention as needed


• Ability to complete job duties that are guest-focused, trauma-informed, and housing-focused.


• The ability to direct and professionally control crowds while preserving their right to personal dignity


• Ability to work in synch with licensed 3rd-party security officer team

General

• Reliable transportation required


• A flexible work schedule including some schedule changes, some weekends, and evening shifts to meet the department’s needs


• Detail-oriented and computer proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel required


• Self-motivated, the ability to manage a high volume of emails, work independently and with a group, dependability, responsibility


• The ability to communicate clearly, effectively both in written and verbal form as well as respectfully are mandatory skills


• Multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment


• Navigate urgent matters while upholding a degree of flexibility


• Work effectively with a diverse population


• Rapid prioritization


• Speak effectively before landlords and/or small groups


• Knowledgeable about fair housing and legal concerns to advocate for the organization and the clients we serve

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift, bend, push, and pull up to 50 pounds


• Answer and respond to phone queries


• Prolonged periods of walking around facility and perimeter