Energy Intake Specialist

Here is a great opportunity to be the face of the Kitsap Community Resources Energy Department and work directly with Kitsap County residents in need of energy assistance. The Energy Assistance program assists income-eligible renters and homeowners by providing financial assistance to pay their electric, natural gas, oil, propane, and wood. You can go home knowing you helped members of the Kitsap County community!

KCR offers comprehensive benefits including paid time off for vacation, sick days, and holidays, along with 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage for employees. In addition, we provide a 6.5% employer contribution to 401K after the first year, plus access to employee assistance, wellness initiatives, and professional growth and development training programs.

Please apply at kcr.org/career-opportunities/. If you need assistance with your application please contact Human Resources.

Job Title: Energy Intake Specialist
Department: Energy
Fixed Hourly Wage: $23.37
Position Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt, Monday- Friday
Direct Supervisor: Energy Manager
Work Environment: In person, office setting. Meets with employees and clients.
Location: Primary work location is at KCR's Port Orchard site. The first few weeks of training will be held at KCR's 845 Bremerton office.

Job Summary

This position works directly with individuals seeking assistance with their energy bills. Primary responsibilities include assessing client needs for eligibility, screening for PSE HELP, CASCADE NATURAL GAS programs, and LIHEAP. Processing client applications, identifying resources within the agency and community, and responding to all phone and email inquiries in a timely manner. This position provides crisis intervention for a high volume of clients on a daily basis, and will require de-escalation skills and conflict management when necessary. Must be comfortable working with vulnerable populations: elderly, disabled, mentally ill, as well as those with a history of alcohol and/or substance abuse.

KCR Mission, Vision, & Core Values

Mission:
Kitsap Community Resources (KCR) is a nonprofit, private, social services agency. We are committed to creating hope and opportunity for all low-income Kitsap County residents by providing resources that promote self-sufficiency and stability.

Vision:
We exist with a clear vision of creating a community where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

Core Values:
Kitsap Community Resources core values are a vital part of each position, and employees are expected to uphold them to the fullest.

• Integrity – taking care to honor our commitments in an ethical manner
• Compassion – genuinely empathizing with those we serve
• Excellence – demonstrating a high level of performance in all we do
• Diversity – showing honor and respect to all individuals we serve
• Collaboration – so we seek out partnership opportunities
• Teamwork – supporting our employees and partners as we fulfill our mission

Job Requirements

Qualifications:

1. Required Education: High school diploma or GED plus 2 years in social services or related field.
2. Preferred Education: Pertinent experience may be substituted year for year for education
3. Bi-lingual Spanish or other language a plus
4. Energy work experience or work experience in a related field that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
5. Ability to pass State and/or Federal Background Checks as determined by position (prior to hire date).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Must demonstrate recognition and compassion for low-income peoples.
2. Pays attention to detail and accuracy
3. Demonstrates articulate written and verbal communication
4. Has basic math skills and is able to use a 10-key calculator or regular calculator
5. Must have organizational skills
6. Has competent computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
7. Collaborates with other staff members to reach program goals
8. Has aptitude for making accurate assessments of client needs
9. Able to handle stress of working with clients in crisis
10. Understands de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques
11. Demonstrates ability to interact directly with low-income households and community partners
12. Understands the socio-economic problems and needs of low-income populations

License(s) and/or Certifications:

1. Valid Washington State Driver’s License. To operate company vehicles and/or utilize other vehicles for company business
2. Ability to obtain proof of insurability for operating an automobile. To operate company vehicles and/or utilize other vehicles for company business.

Essential Physical and Mental Functions

1. Position requires intermittent sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending
2. Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds
3. Cognitive ability to recognize and address safety concerns
4. Cognitive and emotional ability to work directly with clients in need, which may include homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, or other mental or physical barriers.
5. Cognitive ability to discern accuracy and apply to work as necessary.

Responsibilities- Included but are not limited to

1. Ensure compliance with KCR Polices & Procedures
2. Reports to and accepts assignments from the Energy Program Supervisor and Energy Program Manager.
3. Screens clients for program eligibility for PSE HELP, CASCADE NATURAL GAS, and LIHEAP programs.
4. Identifies client needs, provides intake services, and advocates for clients when appropriate.
5. Identifies immediate stabilization methods to relieve crisis and address current needs
6. Gathers all information needed for processing from the energy vendors
7. Provides Energy Conservation Education to clients and increases client knowledge of using energy efficiently.
8. Tracks all client pledges for each program and emails in pledges to energy vendors to prevent disconnection of service or to reconnect service.
9. Tracks all completed, pending, denied, and over income applications.
10. Maintains good working relationships with community partners and energy vendors.
11. Provides energy assistance at outstations in the community.
12. Learns Energy reception duties and assists receptionists as needed for coverage purposes.
13. Attends and participates in program and agency staff meetings, conferences, and training sessions.

Work/Life Balance

KCR offers a robust benefits package to support balance between work and life outside the workplace.

1. Vacation, Sick, Personal Holiday, and other time off for life events such as Jury Duty, Bereavement, etc.
2. 100% Employer paid Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Long-term and Short-term Disability for employee only (dependents can be covered through payroll deduction)
3. 6.5% Employer Contribution to 401K after first 12-18 months of employment
4. Employee Assistance Program
5. Employee Wellness Program
6. Employee Growth & Development Training Programs

All duties and requirements listed in this job description are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position; employees will be requested to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. Kitsap Community Resources reserves the right to determine the contents of KCR job descriptions.

Kitsap Community Resources is an “at-will” employer.

KCR recognizes that ideas come from a varied mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. KCR is committed to attracting and retaining a varied and highly skilled staff, by honoring experiences, perspectives and unique identities of the community in which we serve. KCR provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state, and local law.

KITSAP COMMUNITY RESOURCES (KCR) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. KCR is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.

All employment decisions at KCR are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, pregnancy, age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. KCR will not tolerate discrimination or harassment.