Engagement Specialist

Job Title

Housing Engagement Specialist

Location:

4915 SW Griffith Dr. Suite # 216, Beaverton, OR 97005 (IRCO Greater Middle East Center, GMEC)

Type:
Full-time (1.0 FTE) – On-site position

Salary:
Starting at $48,600 per year based on experience

The Greater Middle East Center (GMEC) supports communities from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia living in Oregon and Southwest Washington. GMEC is guided by an advisory council and has a Beaverton office.

The Housing Engagement Specialist will provide housing resource navigation assistance, including linkages to internal and external programs, support with applications, rental assistance, and follow‑up support. The role also includes holding educational workshops on tenant rights and responsibilities.

• Conduct outreach in target communities and collaborate with service providers to identify eligible clients; accept referrals from community leaders, IRCO staff, and other organizations.
• Conduct face‑to‑face screenings, obtain consent forms, enrollments, and support clients with housing applications as needed.
• Provide resource navigation and connect clients with rental assistance, housing resources and other support available at IRCO.
• Connect clients with relevant community resources to address needs related to housing, employment, health, education and financial assistance.
• Assist participants in filling out applications for benefits such as SNAP, TANF, and medical assistance when needed.
• Deliver educational workshops that align with the program goals.
• Serve clients using bilingual, strengths‑based and trauma‑informed practices.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and follow all IRCO and funder policies and procedures.
• Provide a client‑centered approach and excellent customer service sensitive to the challenges of the community served.
• Maintain connections with GMEC and IRCO staff and community leaders to effectively support clients’ needs.
• Transport clients in personal vehicle to visit housing options when needed.
• Ensure that IRCO policies and procedures are followed in all GMEC activities.
• Participate in staff meetings and training to support IRCO’s goals and objectives.
• Perform other tasks as requested.

• Support IRCO and GMEC events as needed.

Minimum Job Specific Qualifications

• Experience working with multi‑background communities, including Greater Middle East communities.
• Strong local network within Greater Middle East communities.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, leadership, and communication skills; ability to communicate professionally by email, phone, and in person with diverse audiences.
• Excellent time‑management skills.
• Bilingual in English and at least one of Dari, Pashto, or Farsi.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in case management.
• Training and/or facilitation skills and experience.
• Effective verbal, written, and phone communication.
• Strong communication skills in a multilingual, multi‑background team and organization.
• Knowledge of the social service landscape and understanding of unique challenges and opportunities in the Tri‑County area.

• On‑site position; no remote or hybrid work.
• Regular communication inside and outside the organization to exchange ideas.
• Experience with interim personalization of process or procedure.
• Ability to manage regularly varied tasks and decide order of completion.
• Moderate physical effort, carrying, moving, lifting light to moderately heavy objects; driving major responsibility.
• Ability to analyze problems and make decisions within limited supervision.
• Must manage work independently with moderate supervision on new tasks.
• Must anticipate issues and plan for future needs of supplies and resources.
• Stable and well‑protected work environment with minimal hazards.
• Schedule may fluctuate based on organizational or client needs.

Not responsible for supervisory functions, but may orient or train new employees or volunteers.

• Flexible working arrangements and schedule.
• Opportunity to work with a global community.
• Meaningful work that helps the community.
• 3‑6…