Community and Client Relations Specialist

Description

COMMUNITY AND CLIENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST OVERVIEW:

The Community and Client Relations Specialist (CCRS) will be the primary point of contact for all applicants, the connector to resources and community support, and the key communicator with all Client Partners. Together with the Lending Team, the CCRS will facilitate the primary mission of the Fountain Fund (FF) which is to improve the lives of formerly incarcerated people through its low-interest lending program. The CCRS will build relationships and rapport with our Client Partners and encourage full participation and success at the Fountain Fund. The CCRS serves as a key FF representative in the community and a partnership broker with related service providers.

Job Duties

Connections to Community and Peer Support

The Community and Client Relations Specialist thinks holistically about the needs of our Client Partners and makes connections with people and resources that could be beneficial. The Fountain Fund seeks to be a conduit to services that we don’t provide, and the CCRS facilitates warm hand-offs to those resources. The CCRS also considers how to best connect our Client Partners to each other so they can be of assistance to one another. 

Building connections includes: 

• Conducting outreach and connecting formerly incarcerated people to the Fountain Fund.
• Developing partnerships and maintaining relationships with organizations and people who can make referrals.
• Maintaining contact with Client Partners to foster a positive relationship that promotes engagement and accountability. 
• Together with the Lending Team, monitoring loan repayment schedule and secure payments.
• Being familiar with the local landscape of reentry services, establishing relationships with other needed resources and creating opportunities for our Client Partners. 
• Serving as a connector for Client Partners to appropriate resources for their individual needs (i.e. housing, employment, health care, transportation, etc.). 
• Making contacts and maintaining positive relationships with clerks of courts, DCSE, DMV, probation officers and jails/prisons.
• Facilitating connections between Fountain Fund Client Partners. This can include creating activities, events and programs to build peer support for Client Partners.
• Educating and encouraging participation by Client Partners in the FF Financial Education Program.
• Completing annual Impact Data Questionnaires with existing Client Partners.
• Representing FF in the community.

Intake and Processing of Loan Applications

The Community and Client Relations Specialist guides applicants through all stages of the loan application process and works with applicants who are in development. The CCRS is focused on setting the applicants up for success by thoroughly reviewing the process and providing guidance to successfully complete all aspects of the loan process. 

Intake and processing includes: 

• Facilitating the completion of the loan application for review, including gathering information from applicants, courts, outside organizations and references to ensure the availability of complete and accurate information to inform loan decisions.
• Presenting complete applications to lending team on a weekly basis for underwriting.
• Presenting recommendations about loan structure (i,e, how much, to whom) to the lending team.
• Disburse checks as needed in keeping with the terms of the loan agreements.

Skills Required

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Direct or Indirect experience navigating the criminal legal system and / or incarceration.
• Computer and technology skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work in collaborative partnerships.
• Strong work ethic, timeliness, ability to interact professionally with all persons in all settings.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage time effectively.

Additional Info

TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should send a cover letter describing why you are interested in this position and how your past experience would enable you to be successful and a resume or list of prior work experiences and any training and certifications to hireme@fountainfund.org. We will have rolling interviews. Position is open until filled with outstanding team member.