Program Assistant and Volunteer/Community Engagement Coordinator

TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter and a resume below. Position closes July 18, 2026.

PURPOSE: To provide clerical support, office management, and volunteer coordination for SOAR, a refugee resettlement program of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO).

REPORTS TO: SOAR Program Manager

DIRECT REPORTS: None.

LOCATION: SOAR offices at 7931 NE Halsey St., Portland, Oregon and other sites, as needed.

SCHEDULE: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (with occasional off-hour and weekend shifts)

CLASSIFICATION: Fulltime, non-exempt. 32 hours/week is considered full-time at EMO.

BENEFITS: Wage range starts at $31.19 per hour. All regular employees (does not include on-call or temporary) are eligible for vacation, holidays, sick leave, 401(k) retirement plan, employee assistance program and employee trainings. Employees that work 18 hours per week or more, also receive medical insurance and dental insurance. Employees that work 20 hours per week or more receive disability insurance and life insurance.

EMO has an organization-wide Pay Equity Plan (PEP). This PEP provides standardized increases to base pay for staff who have technical skills or specialized training beyond the minimum qualifications for a job, significant prior experience in similar roles, language skills relevant to the position, and/or who hold academic/professional degrees or certifications related to the role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Assistant

• Serve as an administrative specialist for the office: phone and office reception, word processing, filing, meeting coordination, mail processing, photocopying, office supply ordering, and maintenance of cleanliness and organization of the reception area, conference rooms, and other shared spaces.
• Encourage a spirit of hospitality, organization and friendliness within the workflow of the office.
• Provide clients, office visitors, and phone callers with information, resource referrals, and routing to other staff.
• Light bookkeeping: monthly check, credit card, petty cash, and donation reconciliation and reporting.
• Maintain database with mailing lists.

Volunteer/Community Engagement Coordinator

• Plan, manage, and evaluate refugee sponsorship and volunteer services.
• Recruit, train, assign, supervise and evaluate sponsors and volunteers.
• Ensure sponsors and volunteers comply with all policies and procedures.
• Complete sponsorship and volunteer program reports.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Church World Service, faith communities, community groups, colleges and others to recruit sponsors and volunteers.
• Serve as a liaison between SOAR staff, sponsors, and volunteers.
• Travel to sponsorship sites, airports, and meetings - occasionally after normal working hours and on weekends.
• Participate fully and professionally in staff trainings and meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Commitment to the mission, vision and ethics of EMO, and maintaining an understanding of the services provided by the programs and projects of EMO.

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Ability to operate a telephone switchboard system.
• Knowledge of check reconciliation procedures.
• Experience developing and implementing short- and long-range plans, and an understanding of basic project management principles.
• Experience coordinating volunteers.
• Understanding of best-practices of community partnership principles.
• Strong organization skills and ability to handle multiple time-sensitive tasks with tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Sensitivity toward cultural, racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and sexual identity diversity, as well as physical/mental health abilities.
• Possess a valid driver's license, personal vehicle, insurance and be insurable by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
• Willing and able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to lift and carry items up to 50 lbs.

Preferred

• Language skills in another language, in addition to English.
• Knowledge of nonprofit operations.
• Familiarity with human services operations.
• Customer service background.

RESPONSIBILITY:

• Ability to maintain a calm and professional demeanor when assisting clients in stressful situations.
• Ability to work collaboratively and follow directions.
• Good judgement about when to consult for decision-making.
• Self-motivated to generate recommendations for process improvements.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Ability to work at a desk using a computer and phone up to eight hours a day.
• Ability to work in a respectful manner with people of diverse ethnicity, socio-economic circumstances, religion, culture and sexual orientation.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and change and willingness to learn and adapt to changing procedures and systems.

Equal opportunity employer

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is an equal opportunity employer and, as such, considers individuals for employment according to their abilities and performance. People of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and people living with HIV are encouraged to apply.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, age, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status, or any other classification protected by law. All employment requirements mandated by state and federal regulations will be observed.

Job Type: Full Time

Job Location: Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees