Operations Coordinator

Location: On-site at DESC's The Morrison

About the role

The Operations Coordinator oversees and coordinates renovations and construction improvements from planning through completion at The Historical Morrison Hotel, DESC’s largest Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) site with 190 units. This role serves as the primary liaison between property management, contractors, vendors, facilities, clinical (care team), site staff, SFD, SPD, EMS, and other internal and external stakeholders related to renovation project activities. Position hours are 8 am to 4 pm and require full in-person attendance to align with construction working hours.

Responsibilities

• Assist with coordination and walkthrough of vendors and contractors throughout the building.
• Oversee building construction activities daily.
• Assist Housing staff with proper client notifications related to construction activities, such as posted notices.
• Coordinate with DESC Housing Team staff on permission to enter (PTE) for units.
• Use trauma-informed approaches to directly engage with clients, ensuring entry/access for scheduled work and directing clients to care teams when therapeutic interventions are necessary.
• Safeguard building and unit keys; never grant access to occupied tenant units without authorization.
• Provide safe access to units and various building areas for repair work.
• Prepare daily and weekly summaries of construction activities, including planning for future and upcoming projects, and report to the UCRT Project Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Lead coordination and communication of construction activities and timelines to the Housing team, including participating in daily briefs and weekly team meetings.
• Initiate and maintain appropriate social interactions with clients.
• Collaborate with staff and clients to improve safety and cleanliness around DESC projects.
• Perform unit cleanouts: remove unnecessary debris, box/label items, and transport them to identified locations for the duration of repair work; return items upon completion.
• Enforce the DESC Good Neighbor policy with clients using a collaborative, harm-reduction approach.
• Actively participate in staff meetings and trainings as assigned.
• Respond to custodial demands and building cleanliness.
• Oversee documentation standards related to quality and frequency.
• Handle a high volume of workload, understanding that PSH may have simultaneous site-based operational demands and varied working environments.
• Respond to emergencies, initiate emergency actions, clean up debris/water, and contact supervisors.
• Coordinate with and direct emergency first responders to developments requiring immediate attention.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 1 year of supervisory experience.
• 2-3 years of experience in maintenance, property management, or highly relevant comparative work in residential buildings with 100+ units.
• 1 year of janitorial/maintenance experience or one year in an operations role in DESC PSH (Permanent Supportive Housing) or shelter program or similar non-DESC site.
• At least 1 year of experience in human services (paid or volunteer), preferably working with adults challenged by homelessness, mental illness, and/or substance use disorder.
• Basic understanding of homelessness and characteristics of homeless adult populations; experience with mental illness and/or substance use disorder preferred.
• Commitment to the Harm Reduction model and incorporating it into all aspects of the position.
• Demonstrated de-escalation skills in unique settings.
• Basic understanding of construction activities or the ability to learn.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds and disciplines.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds and identities.
• Ability to work effectively with clients displaying a wide range of unpleasant and/or bizarre behavior.
• Subscribe to a philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs, and of consideration and respect for clients.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate and organize multiple stakeholders to complete complex tasks.
• Proficiency with computers and/or electronic work order systems.
• Ability to pass a Washington State criminal background check.
• Current Washington State Driver’s License, insurable driving record, and ability to drive agency van/vehicle.
• Ability to organize workload and complete duties with minimal direct supervision.
• Commitment to the philosophy and mission of DESC’s Permanent Supportive Housing and to the principles of equity.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of supervisory experience in settings serving people with histories of homelessness and/or behavioral health conditions.
• 2+ years of experience as a maintenance technician and/or providing in-unit repairs, cleaning services/mitigation.
• 2+ years of experience with occupied rehabs in a professional construction firm.
• Strong understanding of construction activities or the ability to strengthen current knowledge.
• Bilingual.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

• Stand for long periods, climb stairs, sit, and communicate with other employees.
• Lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds.
• Operate computer hardware systems.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

About DESC

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people actively receive services from DESC at any given time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and have a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered-site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Medical insurance (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• ORCA card subsidy
• Paid Time Off (34 days per year)
• Retirement Plan

Pay

$94,881.36 - $107,349.60 annually

Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm