Seasonal Surge Shelter Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Seasonal Surge Shelter Lead

Do you thrive in fast-paced environments and want to make a real difference when it matters most? Join our team as a Surge Shelter Lead Staff and be part of a mission-driven crew that shows up when our community needs us most. Whether it's freezing cold or snow, you'll be the compassionate, steady presence that ensures safety, dignity, and care for our shelter participants. This isn't a 9-to-5 role; it's an opportunity to step in during critical moments, create a welcoming space, and use your skills in compassion, problem-solving, and crisis support to impact lives in a meaningful way.

Job Description :

The Surge Shelter Lead Staff plays a key role in ensuring the safety, dignity, and well-being of participants during periods of extreme weather. This position is intermittent and requires flexibility to respond promptly when weather conditions require shelter activation. The Lead Staff provides compassionate, trauma-informed care while maintaining clear boundaries and enforcing program policies to foster a respectful and safe environment.

Responsibilities :

• Serve as part of a dynamic and compassionate team to provide trauma-informed care to all participants.
• Meet participants with compassion and care at entry
• Complete all intakes with participants, ensuring all documents are completed correctly.
• Assist community partners on-site to work with participants.
• Provide direct supervision of the emergency shelter and facilitate a safe environment by compassionately enforcing program guidelines and policies.
• Engage with and monitor participants who are assigned to your caseload, ensuring needs are met in a supportive, respectful manner.
• Engage with and direct shelter monitors as needed.
• Build rapport with participants and shelter monitors while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Support in overseeing and facilitating daily shelter operations, participant onsite appointments, and community partner visits.
• Ensure all duties outlined in the shift checklist, including safety and cleanliness tasks are completed by shelter monitors and leads.
• Ensure all documentation is completed accurately and on time.
• Engage, support, and direct interns and volunteers as needed.
• Apply de-escalation techniques when necessary and provide crisis intervention support.
• Participate actively in staff meetings and required trainings.
• Complete all mandatory trainings to increase knowledge and skills related to trauma-informed care, safety, and emergency response.
• Promptly respond to Surge Shelter Opening phone calls and be prepared to report for duty.
• Ensure shelter space remains welcoming, organized, and inclusive.
• Document incidents, participant updates, and shift activities accurately and on time.
• Collaborate with team members and supervisors to continuously improve shelter operations and participant experience.

Qualifications :

Status : Part-time, seasonal, temporary position, December 1st- March 31st.

Hours : 8-hour shifts, 8-4 pm, 4-12 am, or 12-8 am

Compensation : $21 an hour

Location : 2220 Stockton Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Computer Skills

Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, Google Docs.

Work Environment

CARITAS Values : Achievement, Innovation, Integrity, Passion, Servant Leadership. The CARITAS

culture reflects these values. Professional and timely communication is expected as well as an understanding of and appreciation for all the programs of CARITAS : Shelter, the Furniture Bank, Works, The Healing Place, and the Recovery Residences.

Physical Demands. 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 regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to lift up to 10 lbs.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Drug-Free Workplace

The unlawful manufacture, sale, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance or marijuana is prohibited in the CARITAS workplace. As such, while on CARITAS' premises, performing CARITAS-related duties, or operating any CARITAS equipment, whether during work time or non-work time, employees are prohibited from being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and are strictly prohibited from possessing illegal drugs, marijuana, or excessive quantities of prescription or over-the-counter drugs.