Jobs at NAYA

JOBS

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) serves self-identified American Indian youth and their families in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Founded in 1974, NAYA provides a continuum of year-round services for children, youth, and young adults, including middle and high school educational case management and after-school tutoring, employment services, financial wellness and housing education, foster care, cultural arts classes, and sports and recreation programs. NAYA also provides domestic violence case management, crisis intervention services, parenting classes, and emergency food supplies.

NAYA’s mission is to enhance the diverse strengths of our youth and families in partnership with the community through cultural identity and education.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

NAYA is committed to bringing quality, culturally-specific services to our community members.
Applicants for our vacancies should have a strong connection to the Native American population, as well as a significant understanding of Native American history, the diversity of the local American Indian/Alaskan Native community, and issues surrounding the Urban Indian experience.

NAYA JOB LISTINGS (AS OF APRIL 17, 2017)

Homeownership Administrative Specialist (Accepting applications through May 4, 2017)

(YES) Youth Advocate (Applications received by April 24, 2017 will receive priority)

Executive Assistant – Community Reception Manager (Accepting applications through April 19, 2017)

(YES) Community Mentor Specialist (Accepting applications through April 5, 2017)

(YES) Youth Advocate Region 3 (Accepting applications through April 9, 2017)

Director of Community Development (Accepting applications through April 2, 2017)

SUN Staff Position (Part-Time, Temporary; Always Accepting Applications)

Early Head Start Infant Toddler Teacher (Accepting applications through March 31, 2017)

ECA Substitute Classroom Teacher (On-Call Position; Always Accepting Applications)

http://nayapdx.org/about/jobs/

Courage

The Passion Problem

It is pretty cliche in business articles the adage, "Hire for passion."  In non-profit in particular, passion is everything.  How can employees be behind a mission fully, and with unwavering dedication without it?

But I would say passion is overrated.

"Hire for passion. Train for skill," the full saying goes.  In the non-profit sector, there is no shortage of passion.  In any programmatic position, I'll have 100-200 qualified, often over-qualified, applicants.  But when it comes to hiring for critical skills such as operations or finance, there is a glaring lack of qualified applicants (admittedly, this is in part because the positions are not paid nearly as much in the private sector - so really we are running on passion after all).  Often core competencies around communication, decision making, project management and personnel management are lacking and need significant cultivation in most hires (and in leadership), to the detriment of team functioning and effective, critically evaluated program delivery.  What all to often gets overlooked in the emphasis on passion is competency.

In turn, hiring an effective project manager or a program manager who can cultivate the best in their team and a director of finance who can smooth out the cash flow bumps can be truly transformative to the smooth operations, effective program delivery and team culture of an organization.  Sh*t gets done.  Everyone on the team can also learn and grow from it as well. 

Passion is also a double edged sword.  While team member will be inspired, driven and dedicated to support the mission and innovate, they often will do so at the expense of their personal development and health.  In combination with resource constraint, it can create a culture of overwork, where staff are stressed and exhausted (and arguably less effective) and where team members don't feel they can take time for themselves as they may appear to be not "passionate enough."  It's a trap!  A common symptom is a constant sense of overwhelm.

Where working all weekend becomes twisted a badge of honor, I have resorted to implementing policies that forbid answering e-mails after certain hours and ask people to just stay home when they are sick.  I encourage staff to take vacations and develop work-plans and coverage plans that allow for that, rather than miring in a sense that they cannot leave because things will fall apart.  The miraculous thing that happens when staff get to turn off is that they can show up to work more present and effective.

The passion that is there is more alive.

Luna Jimenez Seminars is hiring a Finance Manager (PT)!

Description:
Luna Jimenez Seminars & Associates (LJS)
Position: Finance Manager
Salary: Competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. Part-time salary 20 hours per week commensurate with experience.
Location: North Portland, Oregon

Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates, Inc. is currently seeking a part-time Finance Manager. Interested candidates should review the responsibilities and requirements carefully and respond using the application process found at the end of this posting. Only complete applications will be considered.

Firm Description:
Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates, Inc is a local consulting firm dedicated to providing training, facilitation, coaching and public speaking to assist individuals and organizations to address and eliminate the effects of institutional oppression. Founded in 1994, LJS has established an excellent national and international reputation for developing innovative seminars on cross cultural communication, leadership development, and alliance building, as well as facilitated events supporting organizational growth and development. Clients include state, regional and local government agencies, non-profits, leadership training programs, elected officials, universities and colleges, and corporations throughout the US.

Position Description:
The Finance Manager is responsible for ensuring optimal effectiveness and success of the organization. Duties consist of: Finance – budgeting and forecasting, collaborating with President and Financial Planning team to support organizational and personal financial goals; Accounting – bookkeeping (or potentially managing contract bookkeeper), billing and accounts payable, accounts payable and payroll; preparing tax documents for accountant and preparing 1099s for contractors; Contracts Management – preparing draft and final contracts, reviewing client contracts, setting up and managing Docusign account for contracting, working with legal departments or securing sound legal guidance for customized contracting; Human Resources – maintaining and regularly updating HR Manual, policies and procedures, managing benefits including enrolling in insurance or other benefits programs; Business Management – contractor and vendor contracting and compliance, insurances and licensing, professional membership and credential management, update and manage Board Meeting notes and records. The Finance Manager will be supervised by the President and work closely with the Executive Assistant.

Applicant needs to have excellent oral and written communication skills, strong financial acumen, demonstrated project management skills, attention to detail and high-level functionality and discretion in a home office environment with a passion for social justice. This is a fast-paced, small business environment, so the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines with grace, high-quality results, and a positive attitude is a must. We seek applicants who are energetic, reliable, self-starters, have experience with and understand the unique benefits and challenges of working in a small business, and have the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

This is a growth-filled opportunity for a person who is open to professional development and rewarding work. We have an office that reflects our core organizational values: courage, caring, connection, grace and transformation. We have created an environment that treats employees as full humans with their dreams supported, while committing to complete the projects at hand with consistent excellence. We look forward to adding to our LJS team!

Position Responsibilities:
Finance and Accounting
• Develop annual budget and manage revenue goals and expenditures in accordance to budget.
• Update financial reports and forecasting, including cash flow, monthly.
• Maintain up-to-date and thorough books, or oversee contract bookkeeper as needed: accounts payable, accounts receivable, monthly payroll posting, banking and credit card reconciliations.
• Prepare client billings monthly and ensure timely collection of revenue.
• Prepare monthly payroll for review by President and submit to Prime Pay upon approval.
• Collaborate with accountant on tax matters, as well as quarterly and annual filings, and with financial planners to meet organizational and Presidents’ financial goals.
• Prepare all personal and business tax materials for Accountant.
• Update Accounting Policies and Procedures as needed.

Human Resources
• Update Employee Manual annually.
• Collaborate with President to update policies and employee benefits enhancements in alignment with organizational goals and values.
• Update HR policies and procedures as needed.
• Manage company benefits and prepare annual renewals for approval by President.
• Develop job descriptions and postings and support Executive Assistant in hiring process.

Business Management/Operations
• Maintain business licensure and insurance policies.
• Maintain professional memberships for President and company.
• Prepare contracts for clients and ensure contract compliance.
• Manage vendors and vendor agreements.
• Support LJS Associates from contracting to billing.
• Update Operations Manual as needed, with support of Executive Assistant.
• Manage organizational password protocols.
• Act as back up to Executive Assistant in office management and IT coordination.
• Update and manage Board meeting notes, records and notebooks.

Required Qualifications & Qualities:
• Minimum 5 years of finance, accounting and human resources experience, particularly in small business executive support contexts.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. Masters preferred.
• Exceptional computer and typing skills, including database, word processing and contact management, using MS Office Suite 2013 with Windows 7 & 8, Outlook, Constant Contact and Mail Chimp and Word Press. Project management software expgerience a plus.
• Demonstrated accounting and project management skills.
• Experience with business networking, outreach and marketing via social media (including but not limited to blog, Facebook, Twitter and Linked In) and other sources.
• Commitment to deliver consistently excellent results and outstanding attention to detail.
• Initiative and eagerness to excel in all responsibilities, with the ability to take instructions while innovating for improvements and flexibility to address unexpected issues as they arise.
• Warm personality with exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills, a sense of humor, integrity, and a passion for social justice.
• Polished, professional and clear-written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work discreetly and respectfully within a home office environment and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Proven time management and prioritization skills, and ability to successfully and proficiently manage multiple simple and complex tasks under time constraints.
• Ability to think quickly and proactively analyze situations and solve problems.
• Flexibility to address unexpected issues as they arise.
• Ability to work gracefully under pressure in fast-paced environment.
• Ability to calmly work with and troubleshoot problems with computers and other technology.
• Confidence to take responsibility and be accountable for mistakes and exercise sound judgment.
• Commitment to beauty, order and respect for property/supplies, and love of plants and caring for things.

Additional Desirable Qualifications:
• Ability to lift 40 lbs. safely.
• Bilingual (oral and written skills) in Spanish.
• Comfort with emotions and commitment to own emotional and self-work.
• Loyalty and ability to make long-term commitment to this position.

Position Details:
Schedule and Compensation:
• Competitive wage and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. Starting salary range, depending on experience.
• Part-time position, weekly 20 hours.
• Typical work schedule Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm. Some evening and weekend availability and scheduling flexibility may be required. Advance notice will be given when evening and weekend work is needed.


Application Guidelines/Contact:
Application Process:
Email the following information to hiring@lunajimenezseminars.com with the title “Finance Manager” in the subject line:
• Cover letter clearly outlining the specific skills and expertise you would bring to the job and how you are a good fit for the responsibilities of this position and LJS.
• Resume detailing relevant experience, work history, education and accomplishments.
• Contact information for three (3) professional references.
• Salary history and desired salary.

Incomplete and generic applications will not be reviewed.

Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary:
Part Time, DOE.

Luna Jimenez Seminars is hiring for an Executive Assistant!

Luna Jimenez Seminars & Associates (LJS)
Position: Executive Assistant
Salary: Competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. Salary starting $38,000 to $42,000 per year depending on experience.
Location: North Portland, Oregon

Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates, Inc. is currently seeking a full-time Executive Assistant. Interested candidates should review the responsibilities and requirements carefully and respond using the application process found at the end of this posting. Only complete applications will be considered.

Firm Description:
Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates, Inc is a local consulting firm dedicated to providing training, facilitation, coaching and public speaking to assist individuals and organizations to address and eliminate the effects of institutional oppression. Founded in 1994, LJS has established an excellent national and international reputation for developing innovative seminars on cross cultural communication, leadership development, and alliance building, as well as facilitated events supporting organizational growth and development. Clients include state, regional and local government agencies, non-profits, leadership training programs, elected officials, universities and colleges, and corporations throughout the US.

Position Description:
The Executive Assistant is responsible for ensuring optimal effectiveness and success of the organization. Duties comprised of: administrative support for the Owner/President, including calendaring, travel logistics, personal projects and event assistance; office administration; support Chief Operating Officer (COO) with office operations, technology and IT; and support services for seminars, meetings, workshops, and speaking engagements, including travel logistics, coordination with Associates and client care. The Executive Assistant will be supervised by the COO.

Applicant needs to have excellent oral and written communication skills, demonstrated project management skills, attention to detail and high-level functionality and discretion in a home office environment with a passion for social justice. This is a fast-paced, small business environment, so the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines with grace, high-quality results, and a positive attitude is a must. We seek applicants who are energetic, reliable, self-starters, have experience with and understand the unique benefits and challenges of working in a small business, and have the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

This is a growth-filled opportunity for a person who is open to professional development and rewarding work. We have an office that reflects our core organizational values: courage, caring, connection, grace and transformation. We have created an environment that treats employees as full humans with their dreams supported, while committing to complete the projects at hand with consistent excellence. We look forward to adding to our LJS team!

Position Responsibilities:
Office Management
• Answer phones and email, and perform general administrative duties such as electronic and hard copy filing, scanning, faxing, organizing, maintaining supply inventory, etc.
• Contact management and schedule coordination for President & COO.
• Support COO with research on new technology and equipment, and maintain working order of all technology, including president’s smart phone, office phones, printer, fax, computers, voice recorder digital cameras, router, Airave, apps, back-up drives and other technology. Occasional interface with IT subcontractor.
• Prepare receipt sheets and reimbursements for President; collect and sort mail.
• Maintain a neat, elegant and functional office environment, including watering plants, sweeping office, taking out garbage, recycling and compost, collecting laundry, emptying dishwasher, etc.

Seminar and Workshop Coordination
• Support monitoring and follow-up on all client and Associate communications in a pro-active and professional manner via email, social media, written correspondence, and phone.
• Coordinate seminar, workshop and event logistics from scheduling event and planning, logistics and debrief meetings; securing travel arrangements for LJS team and Associates; to coordinating room, venue set up and materials with client logistics point person; and thank you notes.
• Prepare client folders, agendas and guides for President and Associates.
• Prepare and customize workshop/ seminar materials and set up distribution lists and client web pages.
• Coordination, planning, marketing and registration management of all public workshops, community events and internal staff events.
• Assist at local workshops with set-up and clean-up of space; photography with digital camera; distribute, collect and track waivers and evaluations; greet and support participants; and track supplies, as appropriate.
• Pack and unpack materials for events.
• Compose and promptly send post-workshop outreach emails to participants; identify and collect additional resources to send to past participants on an ongoing basis..
• Log participant quotes from session evaluations for posting or use in marketing materials.
• Support marketing, promotion, recruiting and registration of participants for public workshops and events.

Executive and Personal Support for President
•Manage and update the President's calendar and schedule meetings.
• Prepare President for internal and external meetings (arrange travel, organize conference calls, prepare meeting agendas and documents, pack workshop and client materials.)
• Prepare and manage print, phone, and email correspondence.
• Maintain and update all certifications, association memberships and licensure.
• Coordinate and manage special projects for President, as needed.
• Maintain and update President’s bios, résumé, CV and promotional materials.
• Coordinate and research personal travel arrangements and itineraries.
• Assist with house care and projects when President is on travel.

Community Building, Social Media/e-Newsletter, Website
•Contribute to research on websites, books, events and other resources aligned with LJS’ values and branding and share with LJS team and contract Copywriter/ Content Strategist and support deployment of content on social media channels.
• Post LJS event announcements, photos and participant quotes from workshops to social media pages.
• Post blog and video blog entries on website and publish/ distribute monthly newsletter.
• Post articles, newsletter and blog content to Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages in a timely fashion.
• Maintain and regularly update website content, calendar, Amazon Associates page, and resource page.
• Create and maintain registration page for public workshops, and monitor registrations.
• Regularly track, update and maintain newsletter database.
• Attend and represent LJS at targeted networking events and conferences, as appropriate.

Required Qualifications & Qualities:
• Minimum 3-5 years providing professional administrative assistance for a business, preferably for a C-level Executive.
• Education and experience in fields such as management, planning, communication, marketing or public administration desirable. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Exceptional computer and typing skills, including database, word processing and contact management, using MS Office Suite 2013 with Windows 7 & 8, Outlook, Constant Contact and Mail Chimp and Word Press. Project management software experience a plus.
• Demonstrated project management, meeting planning and event coordination skills.
• Experience with business networking, outreach and marketing via social media (including but not limited to blog, Facebook, Twitter and Linked In) and other sources.
• Commitment to deliver consistently excellent results and outstanding attention to detail.
• Initiative and eagerness to excel in all responsibilities, with the ability to take instructions while innovating for improvements and flexibility to address unexpected issues as they arise.
• Warm personality with exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills, a sense of humor, integrity, and a passion for social justice.
• Polished, professional and clear-written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work discreetly and respectfully within a home office environment and maintain strict confidentiality.
• Proven time management and prioritization skills, and ability to successfully and proficiently manage multiple simple and complex tasks under time constraints.
• Ability to think quickly and proactively analyze situations and solve problems.
• Flexibility to address unexpected issues as they arise.
• Ability to work gracefully under pressure in fast-paced environment.
• Ability to calmly work with and troubleshoot problems with computers and other technology.
• Confidence to take responsibility and be accountable for mistakes and exercise sound judgment.
• Commitment to beauty, order and respect for property/supplies, and love of plants and caring for things.

Additional Desirable Qualifications:
• Ability to lift 40 lbs. safely.
• Bilingual (oral and written skills) in Spanish.
• Comfort with emotions and commitment to own emotional and self-work.
• Loyalty and ability to make long-term commitment to this position.

Position Details:
Schedule and Compensation:
• Competitive wage and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. Starting salary range, depending on experience, $38,000 - $42,000/year.
• Hourly 40-hour, full-time benefited position.
• Typical work schedule Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm. Some evening and weekend availability and scheduling flexibility will be required when assisting President with local events and attending promotional, networking events and conferences. Advance notice will be given when evening and weekend work is needed. Some travel may be involved.


Application Guidelines/Contact:
Application Process:
Email the following information to coo@lunajimenezseminars.com with the title “Executive Assistant” in the subject line:
• Cover letter clearly outlining the specific skills and expertise you would bring to the job and how you are a good fit for the responsibilities of this position and LJS.
• Resume detailing relevant experience, work history, education and accomplishments.
• Contact information for three (3) professional references.
• Position is open until filled. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Incomplete and generic applications will not be reviewed.

Luna Jiménez Seminars & Associates, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Salary:
$38,000 - $42,000/ year

Non Profit Addiction

Our dirty secret is that many of us non-profit professionals will invariably find ourselves over cocktails talking about how utterly f*cked up our jobs are.  It's a strange conundrum we have: loving our jobs, loving our work, loving what our organizations do and yet finding ourselves mired in dysfunction, overwhelm, ongoing resource constraint and, often, bad management.

This does beg two questions: A) Why do we do it? B) Why are so many non-profits so dysfunctional?

I'll focus on the first question for this post.  The second will likely be a series of posts as there is no simple answer to that question!

As we find ourselves hiding in a restaurant booth opening up about the latest grant snafu or spat between a program manager and the development team or stories of CEO incompetence, we check that our voices are not too loud as someone who may know the organization may be there.  Whether in HR, development, programs or finance we are also acutely aware a bad word could affect receiving funding, and with funding maybe things would get better and the work itself is so good, so....  And yet we still may find ourselves threatening to go to the "dark side" or "go corporate," exclaiming, "We don't get paid enough for this!"  We'll get it out of our systems and head home and buck up for another day of battles at the office hoping with that next conversation or big donation or board meeting, things will get better.

It has to, the work is too important, right?

So why do we do it?  I joke that I have a "meaning problem."  I know I could not be happy as a financial manager for a company just making some kind of widget.  I have always had a calling to do something that would change the world or make my community a better place in the face of injustice.   I certainly did not realize I would be doing that through numbers, but there it is.

A colleague of mine, a non-profit consultant, once joked that working in non-profit is like an addiction.  You love it, it's messed up, and you keep going back for more.  It may be held together with scotch tape and reused manila folders, and everyone is essentially doing three jobs while being paid for half of one and aren't sure if they will have them next year, and scraping together limited funds from the same limited pools every other non-profit is competing for.  A child has school supplies he may not have had, a woman starts a new business when she couldn't get financial backing from a bank, innovative green technologies are piloted in rural villages around the world and it's worth it!

Plus, there is the unfailing belief that if it were just for THIS it could work so much better, be it more funding, more experience, a better boss, better systems, a better policy, or being seen on Oprah.  Often the "that much better" is just on the horizon.  So we keep fighting the good fight, not just to make the world a better place, but to make the organizations we work for better places too.

Besides, what is the alternative?  Going to the dark side?

This Cheered Me Up Today Just Because