Position Summary
The Community Organizer and TA Manager organizes residents of manufactured housing communities (MHC), trains them to operate a business as a resident-owned cooperative (ROC), and helps residents understand the responsibilities of owning and operating their community. In partnership with the MHCDC team, this position coordinates all post-purchase activities in the ROCs that CASA assists, ensuring each ROC in the portfolio receives timely and appropriate technical assistance and guidance on compliance issues.
This position prefers a bilingual Spanish-speaking individual and requires extensive travel throughout the state to attend meetings during the day and evenings, and possibly weekends. A valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation are required.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
– Work with members of the MHCDC team to convert communities to cooperative resident ownership
– Introduce residents to the idea of cooperative resident ownership
– Identify leaders within the community
– Provide direct support to residents in forming a non-profit cooperative and cooperative development, including:
- Electing an interim board of directors
- Forming various park committees
- In cooperation with committees, board members, and legal counsel, facilitating the production of interim and permanent bylaws, community rules, membership agreements, space leases, and other corporate documents
- Developing and conducting resident surveys
– Assist the board of directors in the selection of an attorney, property management company, and other service providers
– Provide training and support to the board in their governance role, including but not limited to parliamentary procedure, working with outside vendors, financial analysis and monitoring, developing policies and procedures, forming and using committees, resolving inter-community conflict, capital improvement and funding plans, effective communications, legal and regulatory compliance, bylaws and community rule development, and contract negotiations
– Provide training to members in areas such as creating a shared vision for the community, members’ rights and responsibilities, and corporate structure
– Collaborate with national partners to develop strategies and share lessons learned
– Develop or adapt the education curriculum and supporting handouts for cooperative members, non-members, and the board of directors
– Provide direct, ongoing support to the cooperative post-purchase, including:
- Assisting in the election of a permanent board of directors
- Delivering management and operations training for the board of directors
- Conducting periodic evaluations of cooperative operations
– Provide appropriate training and direction to the cooperative’s property management company
– Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
– Facilitate and manage ongoing board member leadership development and training by attending monthly cooperative board meetings
– Oversee asset management of the cooperative through monitoring compliance with lender requirements, financing documents, and regulatory agreements, including submittal of compliance reporting to investors, lenders, monitoring agencies, and other stakeholders
– Involve the cooperative attorney as needed to ensure cooperative adherence to Oregon nonprofit cooperative law
– Assist cooperative board members with annual renewals and business requirements, including taxes, insurance, and state business registration
– Work closely with cooperative board members and the property manager on annual operating budgets and short- and long-term capital improvement plans, use of replacement reserves, and reserve fund transfer requests
– Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Education/Experience: AA or BA/BS in communications, sociology, social work, community organizing, or a related field preferred. Experience in community building and organizing may be substituted for education. Three years of demonstrated success in community building and resident organizing required. Knowledge of cooperative formations and functions preferred.
Note: A combination of education, training, and work experience demonstrating general qualifications for the position may be accepted in lieu of the degree requirement.
Additional Requirements
– Works collaboratively with other members of the department to successfully convert manufactured parks to resident ownership
– A demonstrated capacity to work independently and perform complex tasks with minimal supervision
– Strong people skills and emotional intelligence
– Demonstrated communication, consensus-building, facilitation, and analytical skills
– Demonstrated success in creative problem-solving with small and large groups
– Experience developing and delivering a comprehensive education program
– Ability to develop timelines, goals, and benchmarks
– Ability to develop tools to assess, monitor, and measure success, including dissemination and application of lessons learned
– Ability to speak and write clearly and concisely in English; ability to do so in Spanish is preferred
– Ability to work with diverse groups of residents, as well as town and state officials, attorneys, engineers, and other professionals
– Working understanding of budgeting and real estate financing
– Knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order
– Proficient in Microsoft Office and Excel, as well as Google Workspace
– Comfortable speaking in front of large groups
– Calm demeanor; able to think on one’s feet and perform under pressure during difficult interpersonal conflict
– Plans ahead and able to complete tasks and meet tight deadlines
– Strong attention to detail
– Able to understand and manage multiple complex tasks, including adapting training materials as necessary
– Works collaboratively and professionally; self-motivated, flexible, enthusiastic
– A commitment to working in a bicultural/bilingual environment
– Valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation. This position requires regular and frequent travel to resident-owned communities across the state and will regularly require weeknight and weekend work. Out-of-state travel to conferences, trainings, and meetings is periodically required.
Work Environment
– This is currently a hybrid position, with employees working primarily from home and the office
– Work is in an indoor, office setting, with occasional meetings at or visits to project sites in various settings throughout the state
– Requires regular travel both in-state and to trainings and/or conferences out of state, which may include day and evening work
– CASA’s work culture is inclusive, equitable, and collaborative. CASA makes transparent and shared decisions and cultivates staff through professional development
– CASA encourages and supports staff involvement in internal and external committee work during regular work time. Internal committees include the Equity Committee, Health, Safety & Wellness Committee, Sister Adele Scholarship Committee, and Fun Committee
Physical and Sensory Capability Requirements
The following capabilities are required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the company are available to address the following requirements:
– Ability to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
– Lift, carry, and place items of up to 25 pounds
– Maintain sustained concentration on computer screens
– Use keyboards and a variety of computer peripherals
Employment & Benefit Details
Salary Range: Grade 6, $67,671 – $90,070
Position Type: Full-Time, Exempt; union position represented by CWA Local 7901
Reports to: MHCDC Senior Technical Assistance (TA) Manager
Department Director: Alex Annand, alex@casaoforegon.org
Supervisor: Emily Rodriguez, emily@casaoforegon.org
Equal Employment Opportunity
CASA is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or (dis)ability status. CASA of Oregon also complies with federal and state (dis)ability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with (dis)abilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the department director.