Crisis Responders (MPI) — Apply Here

About the role

Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is seeking a full-time Crisis Responder to join the Crisis Prevention Response Unit (CPRU) team. This role involves responding rapidly to crisis situations, mediating disputes, and building trust with diverse individuals and groups.

Responsibilities

• Respond rapidly to crisis situations to de-escalate.
• Mediate disputes to prevent escalation into violence during large gatherings, civil unrest, and mass shootings.
• Mediate conflicts, de-escalate tense situations, and build trust with diverse individuals and groups including at-risk youth and gang members.
• Maintain situational awareness while working in confined, fast-paced environments with continuous public activity.
• Work collaboratively with local businesses, residents, and organizations to promote safety.
• Cook up with public safety personnel, emergency responders, and community partners to ensure appropriate interventions.
• Identify and monitor potential conflicts and individuals/groups at elevated risk of violence.
• Connect community members to supportive services such as mental health care, housing, employment, or social services.
• Provide follow-up after crises to support healing and reduce the likelihood of retaliation or recurrence.
• Participate in team meetings, case reviews, and debriefings to share insights and improve practice.
• Maintain accurate documentation of incidents, interventions, and referrals while respecting confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or equivalent education, required.
• 1+ years of relative experience including (but not limited to): crisis intervention, verbal de-escalation, clinical work in a mental health setting, required.
• Experience in community outreach, violence prevention, youth development, social services, crisis intervention, or restorative justice programs.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Training or certification in mediation, de-escalation, or crisis response, preferred.
• Bilingual or multilingual abilities, particularly in Spanish or other languages common in the community, preferred.
• Lived experience with challenges related to violence, justice system involvement, or trauma, with the ability to serve as a positive role model.
• Knowledge of local resources such as housing, employment, mental health, and social services.

Additional Requirements

• Satisfactorily pass all screenings and criminal background checks.
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic violence.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong conflict mediation and negotiation skills.
• Basic data entry and documentation skills.
• Understanding of community violence dynamics and factors contributing to conflict in urban environments.
• Awareness of local community resources, social services, and support networks.
• Familiarity with public safety systems, restorative justice approaches, and community engagement best practices.
• Effective verbal and nonverbal communication, including active listening and empathy.
• Ability to respond calmly and strategically in high-stress or crisis situations.
• Relationship-building and trust development with diverse populations.
• Documentation and basic reporting skills to accurately record incidents and interventions.
• Problem-solving, situational assessment, and decision-making in dynamic environments.
• Remain composed and professional in volatile or high-pressure situations.
• Work independently and as part of a team while coordinating with multiple stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Willingness to work flexible on-call schedules, including evenings, overnight and weekends.
• Availability to respond and deploy to an event within a 60-minute notice period.

Transportation/Travel Requirements

• Driving for work is not required with a personally owned vehicle.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle, and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, and viewing a computer terminal.

Benefits

Metropolitan Family Services offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical coverage, dental coverage, vision coverage, HSA accounts, free Teladoc services, and a 401K plan with a 4% employer match.