Helps others find relief from conflict, stress and anger
Join MARS Staff in our mission to provide affordable mediation and restorative services to underserved populations and empower individuals to resolve their own conflict.
THE ORGANIZATION
Mediation & Restorative Services (MARS) is a community-based, non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. Since 1987, MARS has been helping families, neighborhoods, schools, landlords, tenants, businesses, consumers, manage and resolve conflict through education and conflict resolution services. Professionally trained and supervised volunteer mediators assist individuals and communities to successfully resolve problems and disputes on their own using alternative dispute resolution methods. MARS is proud of its high quality, volunteer mediator panels, its effective partnerships with area government and nonprofit organizations, and the high level of community and donor support received by the organization.
MISSION
The mission of MARS is to provide accessible, affordable mediation and restorative services to help people in Anoka County and neighboring communities resolve their own conflicts and repair harm.
$18 – $24 an hour
Full-time position
Role Summary
The focus of this role is to help individuals and families overcome barriers and maintain or obtain stable housing. You will be responsible for meeting with participants who are at elevated risk of eviction or homelessness, and to a lesser extent those already experiencing homelessness, to help them create a plan to achieve stable housing. This position reports to the Mediation and Restorative Services (MARS) Housing Program Manager.
You will communicate with participants via a combination of Zoom, in person, telephone, email, and text. In addition to providing direct funding through our agency, you will partner with peer agencies and programs to help tenants resolve immediate housing crises. You will also work closely with other MARS staff members.
Responsibilities/Duties:
- Research online court records for eviction case details as well as for outreach mailings to tenants facing eviction.
- Attend housing court via zoom multiple times per week (may move to in person in the future) and meet with tenants who request our assistance. Ascertain their needs, provide support during court, and schedule follow up meetings with them.
- Partner with participants to determine what resources are appropriate and available to them including financial, legal, mediation, and/or additional resources.
- Respond to referrals of new participants in a timely manner, including contacting them when scheduled and following through on your commitments to them.
- Obtain all documents needed to determine if eligibility criteria are met, document detailed case notes, obtain required signatures, complete forms, scan and store documents, and enter all data into one or more systems.
- Communicate with landlords and property managers to provide updates on potential assistance and to build partnerships for both resource navigation and mediation as an alternative to filing future evictions.
- Utilize and grow our existing network of providers in our service area and facilitate warm handoffs for tenants needing related services.
- Periodically follow up with participants after crisis is resolved to ensure stable housing solution continues.
- Actively participate in all staff, housing program, and agency planning meetings as well as represent MARS at outreach events in the community.
- Comply with all requirements of various housing programs and grants that provide funding for our housing program.
Qualifications/Requirements
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a commitment to serving others and building relationships.
- Perceptive and curious with ability maintain confidentiality and integrity.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
- Computer literacy (working knowledge of Microsoft office, maintaining schedule and managing email on Outlook, Word, and Excel, as well as Zoom, Webex, and Adobe).
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
Job Type:
- Full-time
Pay:
- $18-24 per hour
Benefits:
- Health Insurance
- Paid Time Off
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Location:
- Hybrid in office 2 or more days per week (Blaine 55434)
Click HERE to Apply!
$20 an hour
Full-time position
Job Closes: September 30 by 4PM
Intake and Volunteer Coordinator – Job Description
Mediation/Housing Intake and Case Development Role and Responsibilities
- Maintain the general phone line and email inbox for intakes, service inquiries, etc.
- Complete intake process with all parties to determine fit for services
- Complete all data-entry in Caseload Manager for activities and cases
- Schedule mediation sessions with parties including:
- Setting up Zoom links if virtual/preparing site if in-person
- Scheduling volunteer mediators
- Completing and distributing appropriate paperwork pre/post mediation
- Evaluation of cases upon completion
- Provide referrals to additional appropriate resources as needed
- Provide materials and referral assistance to organizations that refer cases to MARS
- Respond to referrals of new clients in a timely manner, including assessment of the client’s needs and preferences.
Volunteer Coordinator
- Coordinate Anoka County and 10thJudicial District Court Mediation Program, including managing sign-up website for volunteer mediators, sending out appropriate court calendars, zoom links, and paperwork for volunteers on a daily basis, and completing necessary data-entry for court mediations
- Support volunteers as needed by debriefing mediations, providing opportunities for evaluation and feedback
- Recruit and onboard new volunteers
- Developing training materials for new and existing volunteers
- Organize peer group meetings for volunteers every other month
- Support volunteers by providing additional opportunities to connect and contribute to MARS.
Other Duties
- Assist with outreach, fundraising, and other organizational events as needed
- Work alongside staff to compile and evaluate data for reports, communications, etc.
Preferred Qualifications
- Must have, or be able to successfully obtain, Rule 114 Qualified Neutral status through a certified 30-hour mediation training
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Computer and technology literacy (MS Office, databases, Zoom, etc)
- Knowledge of and commitment to Alternative Dispute Resolution/Conflict Resolution methodologies
- Must have a high capacity for detail, should be tenacious and have a high level of curiosity
- Ability to work independently
- Special consideration for demonstrated ability in a second language
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
Work Location: Hybrid
Apply HERE: Indeed.com
