REACH Opportunity Center Manager

AKRON METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY

Job Title: Reach Opportunity Center Manager

Reports to: Resident Services Director

Department: Resident Services

FLSA Status: Exempt

Minimum: $53,700 - Salary is based upon background, education, and experience related to the position.

General Purpose:

The Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake Snapshot:

Since 2014, The Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake has stood as a beacon of hope and opportunity, providing vital services and fostering a supportive environment for individuals and families in need. As an effort of the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and its non-profit arm, Building for Tomorrow, Reach has been at the forefront of community development, offering innovative educational programs, a commitment to STEAM education, community-based initiatives, and a dedication to breaking down barriers. The longstanding strategic partnership between Akron Public Schools and Community Action Akron Summit Headstart make the Center a vital education hub directly committed to innovative programming through transformative experiences. The Center values collaboration among key stakeholders including community organizations, residents and community leaders.

Position Overview:

This position plays a pivotal and direct role in the administration and operational leadership of the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake. The Center Manager serves as a forward facing conduit to community impact and is an integral position that creates synergy among the community, AMHA residents, partners and all key stakeholders. The incumbent will be responsible for the implementation of the daily operations, partnerships, programs, fiscal, data and customer excellence management of the Center. The Manager is responsible for building partnerships, maintaining and developing new and continued rental leases, and for coordinating with property management, maintenance and janitorial for building needs. The Manager supervises applicable direct reports, volunteers, and contract workers. This position reports to the Director of Resident Services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Oversees the daily operations of the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake, ensuring the facility is consistently maintained in a safe, clean, and well-functioning condition. Effectively organizes and prioritizes tasks, adapting workflows to meet the evolving needs of the site and its users. Communicates with the Summit Lake Property Manager for maintenance needs as issues arise.
• Supervises staff including, but not limited to, community ambassadors, temporary work program participants, interns and volunteers.
• Establishes clear and meaningful performance objectives for staff and monitors progress to ensure successful outcomes.
• Fosters a collaborative and efficient team environment by motivating staff and promoting accountability.
• Participates in the hiring process, ensures adherence to performance standards, and conducts regular coaching and feedback sessions. Administers or recommends disciplinary actions as necessary, including suspensions and terminations.
• Serves as the vendor and construction project liaison (maintain/monitor cleaning contracts, lawn care contracts, yearly maintenance contracts for grease traps, system flushing/sewer, IT, fire suppression and extinguisher, alarms and security monitoring)
• Initiates, supports and follows up on maintenance projects including IT issues, partner projects and capital improvements. Weekly maintenance compliance walk-through to ensure safety and NSPIRE compliance.
• Leads staff meetings, manages payroll functions, and provides overall supervision of appropriate personnel-related matters. Additionally, oversees the recruitment, coordination, and engagement of volunteers, including participants from no-cost State Work Experience programs and internship initiatives.
• The Manager is responsible for cultivating and maintaining an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment where all residents, both from the surrounding neighborhood and those accessing services at the Reach Opportunity Center, feel respected, supported, and valued.
• Engages in service coordination assisting the public, community and AMHA residents with referrals and resources to various community services and programs regarding basic and emergency needs, redetermination of public benefits, acquisition of public benefits, connection to community resources, resume building, job acquisition and retention, and job skill building, STEAM educational and broad educational pathways.
• The Manager coordinates with community partners to maintain communication through hosting consistent center meetings, center wide programming and special events, and develops and communicates the center's mission, purpose, and outcomes to the Akron community and Summit Lake neighborhood stakeholders and greater community.
• Serves on local committees and grant acquisition teams related to the success and future planning of the center.
• Conceptualizes the Center's broad goals via the strategic plan and plans accordingly to ensure that procedures and schedules are implemented to carry out the total center's mission.
• Creates and implements work plans, supports the implementation of marketing plans and conducts presentations to educate local, state and national stakeholders on the innovative programs of the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake.
• Works with Director of Resident Services and Reach partners to review and update the annual goals and strategies for the Center.
• Facilitates, creates and manages various committees that include key stakeholders that support the Reach Opportunity Center's strategic goals. Responsible for accuracy and consistency of data entry and case notes regarding new and existing clients, programs, services and partner programs.
• Maintains information as appropriate for various grants and reports as required by program.
• Prepares correspondence, technical and status reports, etc. to keep management informed of the center's progress.
• Organizes and participates in outreach to AMHA residents and residents in the Summit Lake neighborhood to promote the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake. Assists residents in problem solving and identifying resources to improve their understanding of family and personal needs.
• Responsible for partner orientation, onboarding and ongoing collaboration and customer service
• Supports processes through regulatory compliance with AMHA and Resident Services procurement, contract, partnership and budgetary processes.
• Conducts various administrative duties including but not limited to: equipment and room assignment, security access for partners, partner requests, overall building management between the partnership with APS and Community Action Akron Summit Headstart.
• Makes recommendations, coordinates and leads additional services and events that could be offered at the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake to meet the needs of the community aligned within the strategic vision of the Center. Supports fundraising efforts in collaboration with Building for Tomorrow such as contributing to grant writing, hosting special events etc..
• Administers, plans and coordinates that execution of applicable grants that enhance programming and funding streams.
• Supports the efforts of the Reach Opportunity Center at Summit Lake's endowment fund.
• Responsible for creating, reconciling and tracking the center's budget.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Behavioral Competencies: This position requires incumbents to exhibit the following behavioral skills:

Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works hard/smart to achieve them; strives for results and success; conveys a sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; persists despite obstacles and opposition.

Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind. Recognizes working colleagues as customers.

Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively orally or in writing. Demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; listens effectively.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness; holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work; does fair share of work.

Leadership: Provides direction by clearly and effectively setting course of action for department and subordinates; manages performance by providing regular feedback and reinforcement to subordinates.

Job Competencies:

• Ability to follow policies, procedures, goals, objectives, operational entities, requirements, and activities as they apply to the assigned organizational entity in the AMHA.
• Ability to follow applicable HUD rules and regulations as applicable.
• Ability to exercise initiative, use sound judgment in analyzing situations, and make decisions in a timely manner
• Ability to present information, both orally and through writing, effectively and in a clear, concise, and convincing manner

• Ability to develop relationships with agencies, schools, businesses, and other local organizations to expand the program through community partnerships

• Knowledge of resources available through community agencies
• Knowledge of the needs and attitudes of the physically, socially, and economically disadvantaged, including the youth and elderly population, and ability to communicate with individuals of varying social, educational, and economic backgrounds
• Ability to maintain tact and professionalism.
• Ability to understand and practice the rules of confidentiality
• Proficient mathematical and statistical skills and ability to understand and interpret data reports and tracking

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, clients and the general public
• Ability to maintain operating budget and control costs to ensure budget compliance

Education, Experience and Certifications:

Bachelor's degree in social services or related field and 3-5 years of experience in a social service setting involving facilitating services, programs and partnerships, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Experience in building management, programming and fiscal responsibility strongly preferred. Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license and be insurable under AMHA's policies.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills and become proficient in case management software and Microsoft Office applications. Must be able to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to maintain a stationary position, operate computers and other office equipment, move about the office, attend onsite and offsite meetings, and communicate. The employee must be able to accurately exchange information in person, in writing and via e-mail and telephone. The employee must occasionally transport up to 70 pounds.

Working Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job:

Office Environment

AMHA offers a safe work place culture; comprehensive compensation and benefits program including, but not limited to: Competitive salary; Participation in the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System; Excellent medical, free dental and vision plans with minimal out of pocket cost; Basic Life insurance; Fourteen paid holidays; Paid vacation, personal and sick plans.