Open Communities Alliance (OCA) is a Connecticut-based civil rights non-profit. We work to confront the state’s deep levels of residential segregation in order to provide low-income families of color access to opportunity, spur investment in Black and Latino communities, and counteract racial disparities.

Position Overview

OCA seeks a self-motivated, organized Fair Housing Specialist and Communications Coordinator to support fair housing investigations and assist with the organization’s outreach and communications efforts.  Fair housing investigations will involve providing intake and follow up investigation of potential violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and similar laws.  In addition, the Coordinator will assist with external outreach, social media, and other communications and office needs.

Responsibilities

The Fair Housing Specialist and Communications Coordinator will:

• Case Intake and Investigation
• • Conduct intake of potential cases of housing discrimination.
  • Inform clients and complainants of housing rights and make appropriate referrals, with the support of legal staff.
  • Contribute to OCA's fair housing civil rights investigations.
  • Conduct community outreach to provide information about fair housing rights.
  • Spearhead OCA’s testing program, an investigative technique using paired testers designed to assess whether discrimination is occurring, including recruitment and retention of testers and administration and analysis of tests. Learn more about testing here.
    

• Outreach and Communications
• • Conduct outreach regarding upcoming events. 
  • Implement elements of the organization’s social media strategy.
  • Work with staff on social media strategy and implementation.
  • Design and manage eblasts and website.
  • Coordinate media outreach.
  • Other outreach and communications tasks as needed.

• Additional office tasks, as needed.

Who we are looking for:

This is a full-time permanent position that includes a competitive benefits package. Occasional evenings and weekends required, as this position necessitates non-traditional work hours for training sessions, meetings, and contact with fair housing testers (i.e. evenings and weekends). Candidates must be able to be present in Connecticut for some of the stated responsibilities. Strong preference for candidates who reside in Connecticut and have community connections.

Successful applicants will have the following characteristics:

• Demonstrated commitment to and interest in civil rights and fair housing. (Knowledge of federal, state, and local fair housing, fair lending, and accessibility laws preferred.)
• Proficiency in word processing, data entry, Excel, and internet research required.
• Experience in volunteer coordination or housing advocacy preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and strategize, plan and implement programmatic initiatives.
• Commitment to working within and among people from diverse socio-economic, racial, faith, and political backgrounds.
• Effective communication and listening skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
• Ability to deal with confidential information and sensitive issues.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in detailed and thorough record-keeping for reporting to government and other entities.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks in high-paced, low-structure organization.
• Ability to speak publicly and represent the organization in community and professional settings.
• Experience in conducting investigations, volunteer coordination, or housing or legal advocacy preferred. Fair housing testing experience highly desirable but not required (training and mentorship will be provided).
• Ability (when needed) to work flexible hours to meet community needs, including evenings and weekends.
• Command of Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and E-mail, and comfortable learning other platforms.
• Background or interest in communications, including experience with social media strategy, extremely helpful.
• Graphic design background a plus.
• Bilingual Spanish/English highly desirable.
• Valid driver’s license and insured vehicle required.

The ideal candidate will operate with a strong equity and diversity lens, contributing to organizational values of objectivity, integrity, civility and diversity and supporting the inclusive culture of OCA.

If you are an experienced advocate and a strong leader who has a passionate belief that Connecticut must achieve greater equity and opportunity in housing - and if you want to work with a passionate, dynamic, and supportive team - we hope you will apply!

Salary & Benefits

Salary is commensurate with experience and is between $65,000 to $70,000 annually. OCA offers the option of a flexible schedule and hybrid working environment. OCA also offers excellent benefits, including medical and dental insurance (employees’ medical premiums are 100% paid by OCA and dependents’ 75%, while dental insurance premiums are 100% paid by the employee), 15 vacation days (increasing to 21 days after the first year), 15 sick days, 3 personal days, 2 flex-holidays and 11 standard holidays, along with, after the first six months, a 401K retirement plan with a 3% contribution from OCA regardless of employee contribution.

To Apply:

Please submit your cover letter and resume to [email protected] with “Fair Housing Specialist & Communications Coordinator” in the subject line. We will review applications on a rolling basis, with priority to applications received by June 15, 2023.

If you require a disability-related accommodation to submit your application, please email [email protected]. Otherwise, due to high volume we are unable to respond to queries about application status.

OCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. 

Research has shown that traditionally marginalized communities (people of color, people with disabilities, etc.) often don’t apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. If you think you can do this job but don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to still apply.

We seek to build diversity, equity and inclusion both within our organization and in partnership and allyship with the communities we serve.