Resilience Ambassador

ABOUT SPCA

The Sherman Park Community Association, Inc. (SPCA) is a 54-year-old, 501(c)(3) membership-based neighborhood association of residents, businesses, religious and community organizations in the Sherman Park neighborhood. Our purpose is to promote the advantages of living in a diverse neighborhood, to connect neighbors and residents, to support the community in the areas of home repair, public safety, economic viability, environmental justice, and other issues that affect our neighborhood and quality of life. SPCA is seeking a motivated Resilience Ambassador to support the Healthy Homes & ECO Neighborhoods Project.

Position Purpose: The Resilience Ambassador will work with SPCA, and in partnership with the City of Milwaukee’s Environmental Collaboration Office, to help implement strategies from the Milwaukee Climate and Equity Plan, specifically the Healthy Home Energy Upgrades. The Resilience Ambassador will conduct outreach about residential energy efficiency, and other resources and programs that can create a “healthier home environment” including environmental health resources, housing improvement and energy efficiency programs. They will also recruit individual households to receive free energy and healthy home assessments, and coordinate with the project’s energy assessor to provide resource recommendations for making Healthy Home improvements. 

This position reports to the executive director and provides general support to the organization as needed. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Project Coordination

• Assist energy assessor with recruitment and scheduling of new households to receive free energy and healthy home assessments. 
• Administer Healthy Home questionnaires, resource recommendations, feedback surveys, and follow up to the participating households.
• Track and monitor project activities to meet grant reporting requirements. 
• Collaborate with the project team to evaluate and adapt the program to ensure a high-level of participant satisfaction and overall efficacy.

Community Outreach and Engagement 

• Attend project meetings, relevant community meetings and events to promote the project and encourage alignment with community interests. 
• Collaborate with community partners and volunteers to coordinate presentations and canvassing across Milwaukee’s north and south sides. 
• Create and present engaging, plain language, digital and print outreach materials to increase community awareness and engagement with the project. 

SPCA–Related Duties, Activities & Outreach

• Empower residents to develop leadership skills to build capacity, raise community awareness of and connect residents to programs and resources that address safety, home repair, environmental justice, economic viability and other issues to improve their quality of life.
• Participate in all SPCA events and activities (meetings, canvassing, annual housing survey and civic/election activities) as needed
• Provide staff support to all SPCA volunteers as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Associate’s degree preferred. Significant experience and recognized community leadership may substitute for this requirement.   
• At least two years of professional experience in grassroots organizing, case management or community health education. 
• Availability to work evenings and weekends required. 
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and insurance with access to a vehicle is preferred. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS 

• Knowledge of building science/ trades, residential energy efficiency, stormwater management, or public health. 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish). 

QUALITIES OF THE RESILIENCE AMBASSADOR 

• Cultural competency with the desire and experience to work with diverse individuals and develop trusted partnerships. 
• Knowledge of local environmental and social issues, the Milwaukee area, and community-based organizations. 
• Ability to provide technical assistance and education tailored to meet the unique needs of the community.  
• Ability to articulate what climate resilience is and the social, economic, and ecological benefits it has for community members. 
• Commitment to helping create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.

  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 

Communication and Interpersonal 

• Written communications skills to be able to prepare outreach and educational materials, and technical reports.  
• Skilled in virtual and in-person meeting organization and facilitation.  
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate sensitive topics with individuals and large groups with patience, compassion and transparency. 

Technical 

• Ability to review, analyze, and understand work-related materials to gather information and compile reports. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Canva and social media platforms.  

Judgement and Responsibility 

• Ability to be thorough in the completion of assigned projects. 
• Ability to think critically to find solutions to problems. 
• Ability to multitask, manage multiple projects and deadlines and prioritize work requirements while maintaining a long-term vision. 
• Ability to work well both independently and as a member of a team. 

Conditions of Employment: The Resilience Ambassador must be able to perform physical activities that require walking, bending, lifting heavy objects up to 50 pounds, climbing stairs and ladders, and sitting or standing for extended periods of time in indoor and outdoor environments. Note: this position is grant-funded and will be full time and limited-term until January 2027. The ambassador will be based at SPCA offices located at 3526 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Milwaukee, WI. 53216. 

Compensation:  The salary range for the position is $50,000 – $55,000 commensurate with skills and experience. Benefits package includes health and life insurance, paid sick leave and vacation after probationary period.