AMERICORPS NYC - Brush With Kindness Construction Crew Leader

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ONE YEAR OF FULL TIME SERVICE WITH HABITAT NYC INCLUDES:

• Living stipend of approximately $1,200 per month
• Additional rent stipend of $400 per month
• Monthly Metro Card
• Limited medical plan if you choose to enroll
• Gain experience with hands-on training
• Sponsored week of travel to build at a Habitat affiliate (Build-a-thon)
• Educational grant award of $5,500 available upon completion of service
• Relocation Allowance

Brush With Kindness (BWK) focuses on deepening the impact in the communities that we build in by serving more families and a broader population. We partner with non-profit organizations and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to work in community centers and spaces throughout the five boroughs. We paint and revitalize centers that serve thousands of people in local communities who utilize these facilities every year. We schedule volunteers who come in teams ranging from 20-60 people.

Crew Leaders paint and beautify community spaces and ensure the day runs smoothly, including providing orientation, safety demonstrations, and onsite educational discussions about affordable housing issues in NYC to all volunteers. This role will serve primarily for the BWK program working in all 5 boroughs, but will also serve on our construction sites in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island as needed.

Due in part to the work of the AmeriCorps members in this role, thousands of community members will be ensured a more beautiful, well maintained and overall brigher space in their community.

Responsibilities of the Position:

• Brush With Kindness (BWK) crew leaders will paint and assist with mural design and implementation, as well as ensure quality work is performed by volunteers. Members will also perform minor construction, patch work, tiling, landscaping, gardening, or repair work. Crew leaders will receive training to complete these tasks.
• Monitor the worksites for safety compliance and model safety procedures. Maintain site safety through modeling of safety practices and guidelines, volunteer education, and site monitoring. Attend safety trainings with our construction staff.
• Lead and train volunteers and family partners in the completion of Habitat-NYC projects and record and submit all volunteer-related paperwork to proper personnel in a timely manner.
• Work closely with the staff at the centers being revitalized to help ensure continued and positive engagement with the BWK team.
• Promote team building and lead volunteers in the engagement of onsite educational training on affordable housing issues in New York City. Model an ethic of service to Habitat- NYC and the larger New York City community and learn about housing issues relevant to the New York City affiliate.
• BWK crew leaders will be asked to serve on Habitat’s construction projects in Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island on occasion. These projects may include tasks such as site prep, framing, insulation, drywall, flooring, finish carpentry and landscaping. May also include demolition tasks during rehabilitation and critical home repair projects such as the removal of debris, flooring, drywall, or other common items.
• Achieve a 95% satisfaction rating on the daily site evaluations completed by volunteers who have served on the work sites.
• Use volunteer management techniques to facilitate positive experiences for volunteers and partner families working on site.
• Collaborate with construction staff to identify skilled/enthusiastic volunteers and cultivate their involvement in Habitat’s work (i.e. encourage them to consider being trained as regular site leaders and/or returning volunteers).
• Provide on-site orientations, demonstrations, and safety talks to groups of volunteers and family partners.
• Help with materials management on site and at the affiliate warehouse and storage unit. Pick up and organize materials needed for projects, receive and unload deliveries of supplies at the warehouse, and load and unload necessary equipment at each new project site.
• Set up and cleanup project sites.
• Check in volunteers every morning using Volunteer Hub and hand out Thank You cards at the end of every day.
• Participate in regular planning and debriefing meetings as needed.
• BWK crew leaders will be asked to identify, research and implement a new project over the course of their term to provide them with a leadership and program management opportunity. (Example: finding a location for a mural, designing the mural, and then leading volunteers to have mural painted).

Required Meetings, Trainings and Events Minimum expectations are outlined below, with the understanding that further trainings may be required as determined by HFHI, CNCS or the Host Site.

• On Site Orientation to local host site
• First Aid/CPR
• HabitatLearns "Foundations of Habitat" series
• Lockton Safety Courses
• National Service Leadership Conference (fall)
• Build-a-Thon (spring)
• National Days of Service (MLK Day required, 9/11 Day of Remembrance and AmeriCorps Week encouraged)
• HFHI Host Site Monitoring Reviews and periodic check-in calls
• Monthly meeting with HSM (minimum)
• Bi-weekly meeting with direct supervisor (minimum)
• Life After AmeriCorps training (LAFTA)
• Staff meetings, Construction Committee meetings, Board meetings and home dedications, as appropriate
• Annual staff/AmeriCorps team build day
• Individual and/or group professional development trainings may be available based on AmeriCorps interest, HSM/supervisor recommendation and budget
• Host Site Events, including Women Build, the Habitat House Party (Gala) and other events as necessary. *Participation in these events will be in line with AmeriCorps program regulations/restrictions.

Education/Experience/Knowledge/Skills required for this position

• Valid Driver’s License and ability to meet host site’s insurance requirements
• Knowledge of, and willingness to promote, the mission and activities of Habitat for Humanity and AmeriCorps
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Ability to work with a diverse group of people
• Experience working as a member of a team
• Ability to drive large pick-up trucks preferred (or willingness to learn)
• Previous experience as a construction AmeriCorps member or with a residential homebuilder preferred
• Experience with power tools preferred
• Experience working with volunteers or teaching/group facilitation experience desirable
• Basic experience with Microsoft Word/Excel preferred
• Knowledge of community development practices preferred
• A second language is highly desirable, with preferred languages being Spanish or Arabic

Physical requirements for this position

• Ability to be on one’s feet for extended periods of time, often on rough and uneven terrain
• Ability to lift at least 50 lbs. on a regular basis
• Ability to work on ladders and heights of up to two-stories
• Ability to work in varying weather conditions - sites are often not heated during winter and not air-conditioned during summer

To apply, send cover letter and resume to Kelly Rossiter at krossiter@habitatnyc.org