Safety Specialist (6505)

Mercy House; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy House in Bakersfield, CA is seeking a Safety Specialist for the Emergency Shelter Program. The role requires a flexible schedule, including some weekends and holidays, with bilingual Spanish valued. You will help maintain a safe, trauma-informed shelter and support clients toward housing outcomes.

Key duties include shelter setup, administrative tasks, and collaboration with licensed security teams. Strong communication, dependability, and integrity are essential to serve a diverse guest

Qualifications

• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced shelter environment.
• Effective communication with guests, staff and vendors.
• Demonstrates personal integrity and respect for guests' dignity.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a safe, client-focused shelter environment.
• Assist with shelter activities and cleanliness.
• Support with vendor orders and supply organization.
• Perform perimeter checks and safety tasks as needed.
• Provide engagement support to drivers during shuttle service rides.

Skills

Flexibility

Spanish fluency

Communication

Reliability

Integrity

Crisis intervention

Teamwork

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Bakersfield, CA 93304Salary Range: $22.00 - $22.00 HourlyStatus: Full-Time, Non-Exempt | Payrate: 22.00/hr. | Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, & Friday - Sunday 6 AM - 2 PM

Job Summary:The Safety Specialistis responsible forproviding supportive services and logistical support to the Emergency Shelter Program during designated shifts. This position requires a flexible work schedule including some weekend,morningandeveningand holiday shifts. Dependability, responsibility, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully are mandatory skills. Fluency in Spanish is a significant value. The ability todemonstratepersonal integrity is a must.

Essential Duties andResponsibilities:

Shelter Support

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

• Assistin the implementation of shelter activities to ensure quality, guestfocused, and trauma informed delivery of services.
• Encourage and discuss progress toward housing with shelter guests
• Assistwith shelter setup and maintenance
• Assistwith general cleanliness and safety of facility including emptying trash cans and clean-up
• Assistwith receiving and verifying orders from vendors, completing tally sheets
• Assistin 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

• Assistwith keeping detailed daily summary sheets
• Assistwith record keeping and reporting
• Assistwith keeping perimeter check logs and fire watch duties

Miscellaneous

• Assistwith guest services and program activities if necessary
• Complete ad hoc projects as appointed by Supervisor

QualificationsRequirements:

Education and Experience

• This person mustpossessa high levelof 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 workin synchwith licensed 3rd-party security officer team

General

• Reliable transportationrequired
• A flexible work schedule including some schedule changes, some weekends, and evening shifts to meet the department’s needs
• Detail-oriented and computerproficientin Microsoft Word and Excelrequired
• Self-motivated, the ability to managea highvolume of emails, work independently and with a
• group, dependability, responsibility
• Theability to communicateclearly,effectivelyboth in written and verbal formas wellasrespectfullyaremandatory 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

• Commutein the field as needed throughout the week to meet with property managers, attend to property emergencies, conduct habitability inspections, post notices, unit assessments, etc.
• Enter units with program staff as needed
• Answer and respond to phone queries
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift, push, and pull50pounds at times

Core Competencies:

• Adaptability:Ability to adjust to different perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds, recognizing the diverse interconnectedness of individuals and communities
• Compassion:Demonstrateempathy and understanding towards others, acknowledging their interconnectedness and inherent worth
• Humility:Recognize one’s own place within the larger interconnected web of humanity, showing openness to learning from others and acknowledging the contributions of all
• Build Trust:Excel in building andmaintainingtrust within teams and across organizational levels, consistentlydemonstratingintegrity and honesty in communication, actions, and decision-making
• Accountability:Takeresponsibility for actions,admitsmistakes, and continuouslystrives for self-improvement, andencouragesa learning mindset within the organization
• Continuous Improvement: Commit to personal and professional development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and encourages a learning mindset within the organization
• Communication: Excel in communicating clearly and persuasivelythrough verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, conveying complex ideas with clarity, and fostering open dialogue across all levels of the organization
• Confidence:Exhibit courage in making bolddecisions,taking actionin the face of uncertainty, and embracing calculated risks on behalf of constituents
• CriticalThinking:Possessthe ability to critically analyze existing policies related tohomelessness and constructively advocate for changes that address systemic injustices
• Collaboration:Build and foster positive relationships with diverse range of stakeholders, including clients, coworkers, community organizations, and affected communities and effectively working toward the shared goal of ending homelessness
• Drive Change:Understand and embodies that every action is an opportunity to be innovative and draw ideas from others. Implements valuable change toforwardour mission and shares the “why’s” behind changes