Energy Assistance Specialist

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization•Portland, OR

2h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) is a non-profit organization established in 1976 to serve immigrants, refugees, and the broader community in Portland, Oregon. IRCO's mission is to welcome, serve and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. The Energy Assistance Program provides home energy assistance to households with low income, supplementing home heating and electric costs. The Energy Assistance Specialist is responsible for meeting with potential clients, assessing program eligibility, completing intake, maintaining case files, and preparing reports. This role involves case management to help clients define and reach housing-related goals, making commitments to utility companies, assisting with TriMet Hop applications, and referring clients to other sources of assistance. The specialist will interact with IRCO staff, community partners, and other parties as needed, requiring excellent communication, case management knowledge, and strong time management skills.

Requirements

Bilingual in English and any Asian or Pacific Islander language (Vietnamese preferred).
Ability to pass an extensive background check.
Reside within commuting distance to based worksites and able to work onsite at least three days per week.
Possess a valid driver’s license, current auto-insurance, and full use of an automobile during work hours.
Some college coursework.
Less than one year of experience.
Experience working with refugee and immigrant communities, underserved and low-income families.
Ability to work effectively with people from all backgrounds.
Good communication skills.
Ability to courteously interact with employees, organization representatives, vendors, contractors, and the public.
Ability to use initiative and judgment in completing tasks.
Ability to function positively in a demanding work environment and demonstrate flexibility.

Nice To Haves

Strong communication skills in a multilingual, multibackground organization.
Strong ability to work with multi-background staff in a team setting.
Ability to use nonstandard procedures and techniques to resolve unusual problems or address management requirements.

Responsibilities

Assess program eligibility for potential clients and check eligibility before scheduling appointments.
Complete intake, maintain case files, and submit required paperwork and reports on a timely basis.
Provide case management to clients, helping them define and achieve housing-related goals.
Make commitments to utility companies and assist with TriMet Hop applications as needed.
Refer clients to other sources of assistance and interact with IRCO staff, community partners, and other parties.
Learn and utilize the Online Processing and Unified System (OPUS) for the energy program.
Manage multiple tasks and deadlines, preparing clear and concise reports.
Maintain confidentiality and effectively communicate with clients and colleagues.
Utilize basic office equipment and a laptop for data analysis and communication.
Attend required training and meetings for energy assistance programs.
Travel occasionally to client residencies.
Maintain punctuality and a good attendance record, working flexible hours as needed.

Benefits

Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
Work that helps your community
3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
3% match for student loans or college savings
12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
Flexible spending account