Position Title: Project Coordinator- Housing Navigation
Program/Department: Veterans Services Division
Reports to: Assistant Director
Location: Washington, DC Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Hours: Monday-Friday (9 am-5 pm); Some evenings, holidays, and weekends may be required to support operations and respond to emergencies. (days and times are subject to change based on operational needs)
About Us: Friendship Place is a nonprofit organization serving the Washington, DC, region, empowering individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness to rebuild their lives with community involvement. Friendship Place offers the most effective model for addressing homelessness, with innovative, customized programs with positive, demonstrable results and a lasting impact on the community and beyond. Our programs are person-centric and individualized to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families, youth/young adults, and Veterans experiencing homelessness. We provide outreach, hospitality, health care, shelter, case management, housing, job placement services, and advocacy. We have established a national presence and are known for sharing best practices in the field.
Our Core Values: Friendship Place is a Person-First Organization that promotes transparency and ethical practices among our team and those we serve. All individuals in our organization are expected to perform their job duties in a manner consistent with our core values.
Summary: This position supervises the Housing Navigators in providing homeless prevention and services to low-income Veterans. The Project Coordinator will conduct in-office caseload supervision and field supervision to ensure that best practices are being used and that Housing Navigators are exhibiting participant-centeredness and adhering to program guidelines, policies, and procedures. The Project Coordinator will work to empower low-income Veterans in DC, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William, Fairfax, Montgomery, Frederick, Prince George's, Washington, Anne Arundel, Howard, Allegany, Carroll, and Garrett counties to become stably housed.
This role requires a high degree of professionalism, communication, accountability, and mutual respect.
This position requires the ability to independently and consistently travel to participant homes, community locations, and program sites multiple times per day, often on short notice, as an essential function of the job. Timely in-person response and field-based service delivery are fundamental to this role and cannot be modified without impacting operational needs and participant services.
This position is a hybrid role. Remote work may be approved based on job duties and organizational needs but is not guaranteed and may be adjusted or discontinued at any time based on performance, service delivery requirements, or operational considerations.
Essential Functions of Successful Job Performance
- Supervise Housing Navigators in field supervision, case review supervision and check-ins
- Decision-making authority regarding spending grant funds and implementation of policy and procedures
- Provide Quality Assurance and monitoring of SSVF grants and budgets
- Develop, review, update policy and procedure manual as needed and implement policy and procedures amongst staff
- Develop and manage goals, staff development and timekeeping of all direct report staff
- Ensure that best practices and participant-centeredness are utilized by Housing Navigators at all times
- Distribute VA satisfaction surveys to participants within 30 days prior to exit
- Monitor participants' electronic files for eligibility documents and completeness
- Monitor HMIS data quality and complete data quality reports as needed
- Promote self-care and growth amongst Housing Navigators.
- Collaborate with external agencies providing services to participants, including community agencies, government agencies, and the VA
- Maintain data and collect statistics on Excel documents for tracking purposes
- Assist with new staff development
- Receive and Complete HUD-VASH Referrals as needed
- Attend Core Meetings and Veteran specific workgroup meeting
- Provide support to CoCs with maintaining a coordinated entry system
- Provide program services directly to a smaller caseload when needed
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, supervision, and actively seek out professional development opportunities
- Communicate professionally and clearly in all interactions-both written and verbal-to support seamless service delivery and collaboration
- Demonstrate integrity, cultural responsiveness, and mission alignment in a fast-paced, equity-driven environment
- Maintain compliance with all assigned mandatory training and background clearances
- Consistently perform job duties in accordance with contractual obligations, funding source requirements, and program standards. Employees must maintain ongoing compliance with all applicable background requirements, policies, procedures, documentation, and service delivery expectations.
- Must be able to effectively exchange information, comprehend participant needs, and participate in critical conversations with participants, families, and team members, and remain responsive to adjust work activities in response to changing, urgent, or unplanned operational needs.
- Must demonstrate integrity, accountability, and professionalism in remote work by accurately documenting time worked, maintaining productivity during scheduled hours, remaining responsive and available by email, phone, and Teams, and ensuring honest reporting of work activities and job performance.
- This role involves working closely with individuals who may be experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. At times, the work may involve exposure to emotionally sensitive or challenging situations. Employees must be compassionate, self-aware, and able to maintain healthy boundaries while supporting others respectfully and in a trauma-informed way and utilizing supervision and organizational support as appropriate.
- Attend and actively participate in all supervision meetings, staff meetings, agency training, professional training, and conferences as required.
- Perform all other duties as assigned
Background and Qualifications:
Education:
- A High School diploma or GED and one year of direct human service experience providing counseling and/or case management services to vulnerable or at-risk populations
- A bachelor's degree in any field and two years of direct human service experience providing counseling and/or case management services to vulnerable or at-risk populations, preferred
Qualifications:
- Valid driver's license, current auto insurance and ability to operate a motor vehicle
- Must have or be able to obtain a First Aid/CPR/AED certification that includes a hands-on skills testing module. Friendship Place will provide First Aid/CPR/AED training
- Excellent time management, detail-oriented, organized, capable of maintaining confidentiality, and able to work independently with minimal supervision
- Understanding and/or experience working with Veterans
- Experience with HMIS data entry preferred
- Experience with adult rehabilitation, mental health, addiction, and co-occurring disorders
- Ability to work well under pressure and as part of a diverse team
- Able to demonstrate professionalism across all levels of the organization at work and any organization-sponsored event
- Strong commitment to the organization's mission, vision, and values
- Proficiency in Office 365 system, specifically Word and Excel
Essential Leadership Duties and Responsibilities:
- Individuals in leadership roles are held to a higher standard of professional communication, accountability, and workplace conduct. Leaders are required to:
- Model respectful, timely, solution-focused communication and demonstrate professionalism in all interactions while fostering a positive, respectful, and accountable workplace culture.
- Provide clear, concise, and consistent expectations to staff regarding job duties, performance standards, deadlines, workplace conduct, and operational requirements to promote accountability, understanding, and successful performance.
- Consistently completes all assigned job duties in a timely and reliable manner and serves as a role model for direct reports by demonstrating strong accountability, follow-through, and performance standards.
- Build strong relationships with team members, creating a positive work environment, and fostering collaboration to motivate, inspire, and guide teams towards shared goals.
- Handle disagreements and resolve conflicts constructively to maintain a positive work environment.
- Initiate and oversee ongoing employee performance management plans, including tracking progress, evaluating performance, and providing regular feedback through coaching, performance monitoring, and timely corrective action when needed.
- Demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to apply, federal and state employment laws and regulations impacting workplace management, including but not limited to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodation requirements, payroll laws, and other applicable employment standards; responsible for ensuring compliance in supervisory decision-making, appropriately identifying situations requiring HR consultation, engaging in the interactive process for accommodation requests in good faith, maintaining confidentiality of protected employee information, and applying all attendance, performance, and conduct standards in a consistent and legally compliant manner.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous growth by actively seeking out and participating in professional development opportunities, training, and learning experiences to enhance leadership effectiveness and stay current on best practices.
- Demonstrate strong intra- and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively express ideas and needs. This includes the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with participants, colleagues, and supervisors.
- Demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt their communication style to different individuals and situations.
- Demonstrate exceptional communication responsiveness and professionalism, including timely responses to emails, phone calls, messages, and other forms of communication within established organizational timeframes.
- Understand that timely communication is an essential function of the position, and failure to maintain consistent communication may impact performance expectations.
Essential Leadership Duties and Responsibilities:
- Individuals in leadership roles are held to a higher standard of professional communication, accountability, and workplace conduct. Leaders are required to:
- Model respectful, timely, solution-focused communication and demonstrate professionalism in all interactions while fostering a positive, respectful, and accountable workplace culture.
- Provide clear, concise, and consistent expectations to staff regarding job duties, performance standards, deadlines, workplace conduct, and operational requirements to promote accountability, understanding, and successful performance.
- Consistently completes all assigned job duties in a timely and reliable manner and serves as a role model for direct reports by demonstrating strong accountability, follow-through, and performance standards.
- Build strong relationships with team members, creating a positive work environment, and fostering collaboration to motivate, inspire, and guide teams towards shared goals.
- Handle disagreements and resolve conflicts constructively to maintain a positive work environment.
- Initiate and oversee ongoing employee performance management plans, including tracking progress, evaluating performance, and providing regular feedback through coaching, performance monitoring, and timely corrective action when needed.
- Demonstrate knowledge of, and ability to apply, federal and state employment laws and regulations impacting workplace management, including but not limited to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodation requirements, payroll laws, and other applicable employment standards; responsible for ensuring compliance in supervisory decision-making, appropriately identifying situations requiring HR consultation, engaging in the interactive process for accommodation requests in good faith, maintaining confidentiality of protected employee information, and applying all attendance, performance, and conduct standards in a consistent and legally compliant manner.
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuous growth by actively seeking out and participating in professional development opportunities, training, and learning experiences to enhance leadership effectiveness and stay current on best practices.
Essential Competencies and Work Expectations:
Communication:
- Demonstrate strong intra- and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to effectively express ideas and needs. This includes the ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with participants, colleagues, and supervisors.
- Demonstrate active listening, emotional awareness, and the ability to adapt their communication style to different individuals and situations.
- Demonstrate exceptional communication responsiveness and professionalism, including timely responses to emails, phone calls, messages, and other forms of communication within established organizational timeframes.
- Understand that timely communication is an essential function of the position, and failure to maintain consistent communication may impact performance expectations.
Accountability: Employee must:
- Demonstrate a high level of accountability, including ownership of responsibilities, meeting deadlines, following through on commitments, and accepting constructive feedback.
- Be committed to Growth and Development and strive to build knowledge, skills, and best practices.
- Maintain consistent attendance, dependability, and reliability as a critical function of the role.
- Demonstrate a strong work ethic, including integrity, honesty, professionalism, confidentiality, and accountability for actions.
- Work successfully in a team environment as well as independently.
- Respectful Workplace: Employee must:
- Treats all individuals with dignity, professionalism, and respect, including coworkers, supervisors, participants, vendors, and community partners.
- Demonstrates emotional professionalism, including the ability to communicate professionally during conflict or challenging situations.
- Contributes to a positive, respectful, and collaborative work environment, free from hostility, intimidation, gossip, disruptive conduct, or unprofessional interactions
Background Checks: This position is subject to successful completion of background investigations as required by contract and applicable law, which may include but are not limited to state and federal criminal history checks, fingerprint-based checks, child/adult protective services registry checks, and other required program-specific or funding-source clearances. Continued employment is contingent upon maintaining required clearances throughout employment.
Direct Reports: Housing Navigators (4)
Indirect Reports: None
Physical and Environmental Requirements: This position requires split time between office/desk settings and occasional traveling. Employees must be able to sit for extended periods with repetitive motion and positions. The employee must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a motorized vehicle. Some lifting may be required (up to 20-25lbs).
Specific Requirements:
This position requires frequent travel throughout the service area, including same-day and scheduled participant visits in community-based settings. Due to the nature and geographic scope of the role, employees must maintain access to a reliable personal vehicle at all times during employment to ensure timely response to participant needs, consistent service delivery, and same-day, time-sensitive travel across multiple locations
A valid driver’s license, current automobile insurance, and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) must be on file as a condition of employment. Mileage incurred while using a personal vehicle for approved work-related travel will be reimbursed at the applicable GSA rate. Public transportation, rideshare services, and other non-mileage transportation methods are not reimbursable unless specifically pre-approved
Additionally, employees are required to notify the employer and provide updated documentation within a legally appropriate timeframe if there are any changes to their driver’s license status or insurance coverage.
Compensation: The hourly pay is between $63,145 - $69,000. The starting pay is based on a step system. A candidate’s starting pay determination is made based on meeting the basic position requirements, and current completed education, credentials, and work experience. Please Note: The step system is set and not open to pay negotiation
Benefits: We offer an excellent benefits package including low-cost health insurance, health reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, employer-paid dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 403B defined contribution plan matching, employee assistance programs, professional development, employee resource groups, 14 paid holidays, 15 days of vacation and 10 days of sick leave during 1st year of employment, and much more! (Benefits are pro-rated for part-time employees).
Interview Process: Phone screening, panel style interview, final interview.
Website: www.friendshipplace.org
Equal Opportunity Statement: We support all qualified individuals within our workforce without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, personal appearance, familial status, family responsibilities, political affiliations, matriculation, credit, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement: Friend Place is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact human resources at humanresources@friendshipplace.org
How to Apply: Interested applicants should apply via the organizational website. All of our current career openings can be found by visiting www.friendshipplace.org