YWCA Seattle

Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?

YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.

We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!

What You'll Do

BABES Network-YWCA is a peer-based program, a sisterhood of women facing HIV together. BABES reduces isolation, promotes self-empowerment, enhances quality of life and serves the needs of women facing HIV and their families through peer support, advocacy, education and outreach.

Operating on the concept that HIV positive women are uniquely qualified to understand and support one another, BABES Peer Advocate provides non-medial case management, psychosocial support, peer mentorship and education to other HIV positive women. Peer Advocates may also perform community outreach and prevention as well as education at schools, treatment centers, shelters, justice centers, churches, businesses, and other groups.

This position has a social justice component that requires critical thinking through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. Knowing the core principles of antiracism and grounding those principles in everyday work are required job skills and core values. As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

Expectations of your role:

• Engage HIV+ members in conversations about treatment adherence, medical care, and support
• Support healthy behaviors and attitudes among BABES’ multi-cultural membership with active listening, strength-based counsel, education, and modeling
• Achieve monthly/quarterly/annual contact goals for one-on-one peer counseling via phone, written communication and in person
• Keep accurate and timely records of services provided by entering all communications, data entry and updated information in Provide database
• Respond to provider referrals and self-referred women to provide welcoming service entry point for newly diagnosed or those re-entering the care system
• Facilitate weekly support groups, quarterly events, and day retreats
• Visit members in community, hospital or at home
• Work with co-workers to develop an effective team to fulfill BABES mission
• Provide resources and referrals to women living with HIV/AIDS including food, housing and transportation assistance, medical care, immigration and case management
• Maintain relationships within HIV and social service providers; Stay up-to-date on medical developments related to HIV and changes to HIV services
• Assist other staff members with community outreach, volunteer management, and newsletter production
• Attend trainings to maintain proficiency in case management, peer advocacy, medical treatment, trauma informed care, de-escalation, and race and social justice issues
• Meet regularly with Program Manager to assess performance and adjust workload
• Help keep the kitchen and other common spaces clean and orderly
• This position description generally describes the principle functions of the position, the level of knowledge and skills typically required and the general scope of responsibility. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities and should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals will perform other duties as assigned 

Must have's to be successful:

• Knowledge, sensitivity, and/or lived experience with and towards women living with HIV/AIDS
• Ability and comfort in discussing medical information including sexual history and sexual practices and other information that may be graphic in nature
• Must be able to navigate transportation through King, Snohomish, Island and Pierce counties independently via public transportation, personal vehicle or occasional ride sharing.
• Ability to understand and maintain strict confidentiality and set healthy boundaries
• Must have demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as emailing, calendaring, and familiarity with Microsoft Office products, especially Outlook, Excel and Word
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Spanish or other language proficiency a plus
• One year or more experience providing referrals to medical and/or support services for HIV positive people in Washington State
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as emailing, calendaring, and familiarity with Microsoft Office products, especially Outlook, Excel and Word
• One year or more experience with data entry preferred
• Willingness to speak publicly about lived experience around HIV to a variety of audiences including youth, incarcerated women, church groups and shelters
• Ability to represent the program to health care providers, multicultural community groups, media outlets and women who are at-risk for HIV infection, newly diagnosed and/or previously underserved
• Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own

Hours, Rate, and Benefits

• Hourly Rate: $22.00
• Hours: 20 hours per week
• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans
• At the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan
• After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund

Physical Requirements

• Occasionally moves items up to 20 pounds
• Frequently stands, walks, moves, bends and stretches
• Frequently uses speech, hearing, and sight abilities in exchanging information with clients, agency staff, employers, representatives of community organizations and other individuals in the community
• Continuously uses hands and wrists, fingering, handing, grasping and reaching in using telephones, computers, and other office equipment and supplies
• Frequently sits for extended periods while performing desktop activities 
• Occasionally stands and walks in performing duties in the office and in traveling to off-site meetings
• Indoor office environment
• Occasional local travel to multiple locations for off-site meetings
• All positions at YWCA of Seattle King Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to: domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc. As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients 
• Continuously = Over 80% of the time * Frequently = 20-80% * Occasionally = Under 20% 

#LI-Onsite

YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!

At YWCA, we recognize that lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.

Valuing lived expertise helps build trust with program participants, develop culturally responsive programs, and break down barriers to equity. It enriches our collective understanding and enhances our ability to serve communities that are furthest from opportunity.

Vaccination Requirement

All new hires must be vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidelines before their first day of employment.

Mental Health Considerations

All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of secondary trauma. We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.

Equal Opportunity Employment

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law Poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

For more information

Contact us at careers@ywcaworks.org with any questions or if you need accommodation for your application.