Program Assistant - Eviction Diversion Program (EDP)

About the role

CORA Services is a dynamic and growing not-for-profit organization in Philadelphia. For more than 50 years, CORA has served children and families experiencing emotional, academic, and social challenges that impact their development and productivity. Our mission is to empower children, young people, and families to thrive through quality and compassionate service.

CORA Good Shepherd Mediation is seeking a full-time (40 hours/week) Program Assistant in its busy Eviction Diversion Program (EDP). The City of Philadelphia’s nationally recognized Eviction Diversion Program (EDP) provides an opportunity for landlords and tenants to resolve residential rental disputes without going to court. CORA GSM processes 500-600 EDP applications weekly and manages the high-volume virtual mediation portion of the EDP. Approximately 75 telephonic mediations are scheduled weekly and facilitated by trained volunteer mediators.

Responsibilities

• Coordination of Mediated Agreements and Other Mediation Closure Documents
  • Receive, file, and code private mediation-related documents promptly
  • Edit written mediated agreements for clarity, style, and programmatic consistency; this may require interacting with volunteer mediators
  • Distribute mediated agreements to all relevant parties
  • Input time-sensitive outcomes for all applications scheduled for mediation
  • Maintain forms and templates for volunteer mediator use
  • Assist in scheduling as needed
• Direct Negotiation Support
  • Facilitate negotiations between landlords and tenants, and confirm negotiated agreements (in cases where EDP participants are not assigned to participate in mediation)
  • Record outcomes and maintain agreement records
  • Build impartial rapport with a diverse pool of landlord applicants
• Landlord Liaison Support
  • Assist in fielding and delegating questions from landlords about the EDP process
  • Oversee and facilitate processes unique to the variety of landlords that participate in EDP (including law firms representing large volumes of landlords)
  • Assist in the development of protocols based on changing demographics of participants
• Additional EDP Project Functions
  • Application review support
  • Scheduling mediations
  • Assigning mediators
  • Facilitating mediations as needed
  • Entering data into EDP portal
  • Outreach and/or training
  • Other tasks as assigned, including support of other CORA GSM programs
  • Attend meetings with program partners to review program guidelines and processes

Requirements

• Paralegal or Bachelor’s degree required
• Demonstrated experience handling sensitive documents required
• Mediation training and experience highly preferred
• Demonstrated database proficiency required
• Expertise with Microsoft Office, Excel, and Zoom
• Ability to learn and use new technology tools
• Ability to work independently
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Interpersonal skills demonstrating an ability to work as a team member (remotely), not only with fellow staff but also with partners at multiple diverse organizations
• Ability to think creatively and to assist in the refinement of an emerging and extremely complex city-wide program
• Enthusiasm for the mediation process in a non-profit environment
• Flexibility and a sense of humor
• Familiarity with Eviction Diversion Program and/or landlord-tenant law preferred
• Loyalty to the goals and objectives of CORA Services and its Good Shepherd Mediation division, including visible support for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, restorative, and social justice

Schedule

This is a full-time (40 hour per week) hybrid position. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM. A portion of the 40 hours, every week, will be spent at an office in Center City that is shared with City of Philadelphia staff who also work on EDP. Occasional in-person trainings and meetings at the CORA Services building in Fox Chase are also required.

Pay

• $19.17/hr. with HS diploma + 3 years experience
• $20.64/hr. with BA degree + 3 years experience

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverages with a competitive company premium contribution (eligible 1st day of the month following date of hire)
• Company-paid life/AD&D and LTD coverages
• Supplemental voluntary benefits including STD, accident, critical illness, etc.
• 403b retirement plan with generous company contribution after one year of service
• Paid time off + paid agency holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Family Planning Benefits (including cash benefit to assist with IVF, egg freezing, adoption, or surrogacy)