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Community Resource Specialist 

 

Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) is a community-based non-profit legal aid agency governed by a local Board of Directors. PLS has an annual budget of $11.1 million from a multitude of funding sources. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina (WNC), Pisgah Legal Services provides free civil legal assistance to low-income people in WNC. With over 120 dedicated staff, including over 30 attorneys plus program staff, and an active group of 200 volunteer attorneys, the program provides free services to over 20,000 people per year to meet their basic needs, primarily in the poverty law areas of housing, public benefits, domestic violence prevention, health care, immigration, and consumer law. 

 

Pisgah Legal Services will not discriminate against a member on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, nor political affiliation. 

 

Position Context  

PLS is fortunate to host many different types of volunteers. Volunteer (pro bono) attorneys provide legal representation, brief consultation and advice to clients, allowing PLS to expand its capacity to deliver services in a wide array of civil legal matters. In 2021, PLS launched the WNC Health and Economic Opportunity Program (HEOP), thanks to funding from Dogwood Health Trust. The program combines our Affordable Care Act (ACA) Navigator services with tax assistance, that is delivered by a cadre of certified volunteers alongside PLS staff. The work helps people in 18 Western North Carolina counties claim tax credits that will help them access increased income and enroll in health insurance through Healthcare.gov. and NC Medicaid. 

 

Community outreach and communicating our impact are critical components to maintain a strong donor base, engage with community partners across a wide geography, recruit and support volunteers, and ensure that clients know who we are and how we can help. 

 

Position 

The Community Resource Specialist works as part of a dynamic team of staff and volunteers to provide these services and to reach out to potential clients, volunteers and community partners. The Specialist will contribute to increasing the impact of PLS services through supporting the volunteer program, contributing to client outreach through community partners and events, and helping to capture and share the impact through client stories and overall communication efforts. The specialist will gain skills in nonprofit management, leadership, and community engagement.  A unique opportunity offered, though not required, is gaining federal government certification to be a healthcare navigator and/or a volunteer tax preparer. 

 

Essential Functions  

 

  • Volunteer Program Support 

  • Assist Pro Bono team and HEOP Volunteer Coordinators in developing and maintaining systems to respond to volunteer inquiries, onboard, train and support volunteers.  

  • Work with program directors on volunteer orientation/training, performance and appreciation campaigns/events. 

  • Contribute to community partner outreach for ongoing volunteer recruitment and engagement, including identifying volunteer sources and prospects. 

  • Assist with tracking volunteer hours and client service data collection and analysis. 

  • Administrative support to community legal, healthcare and tax clinics along with volunteers and staff 

 

 

  • Communications and Community Outreach Program Support 

  • Support the development, distribution and maintenance of publications, including, but not limited to newsletters, brochures, videos, social media and website.   

  • Develop content for advocacy campaigns, outreach efforts, policy changes, and other initiatives.   

  • Identifying and coordinating community outreach opportunities.  

  • Helping develop and implement system to track PLS contacts with community partners. 

  • Draft press releases as appropriate with sign-off from Director of Communications.  

  • Interview clients and write stories about how they have benefited from PLS programs.  

  • In collaboration with other team members, contribute to PLS’ social media accounts and ensure they are supporting PLS’ advocacy, outreach, and fundraising efforts.   

  • Create data infographics, one-pager explainer flyers and other materials for WNC HEOP, and other PLS Programs, with a focus on accessibility and aesthetics.   

 

Marginal Functions 

 

  • Represent PLS at select community events, including some evening and weekend events. 

  • Help with outreach to client-eligible populations and organizations who can refer clients to PLS 

 

 

Qualifications 

  • Strong preference for bilingual (English-Spanish) skills 

  • Passion for and commitment to PLS’ mission, values, and vision. 

  • Must be able to meet all essential job functions. 

  • Ability to work with low-income clients and communities within a multi-ethnic/ multi-cultural environment. 

  • Has a lived connection and/or a deep understanding of Western North Carolina and the assigned counties (preferred). 

  • Self-motivated, able to work independently but has the ability to shift from working autonomously to working collaboratively. 

  • Detail-oriented, accurate and organized. 

  • Flexible and capable. Ability to manage changing priorities with ease. 

  • Excellent interpersonal and customer-service skills. 

  • Highly proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. 

  • Experience with data analysis and reporting. 

  • Good writing skills. 

  • Possess a valid driver’s license. 

 

Commitment 

 

  • Full-time engagement of 37.5 hours per week for period of AmeriCorps Service Year 

 

Immediate Supervisor: 

Jennifer Collier Wilson (She/Her/Hers) 

Director of Volunteer Engagement  

828.435.2031 | jennifer.collierwilson@pisgahlegal.org| www.pisgahlegal.org 

P.O. Box 2276 Asheville, NC 28802 

 

 

Reasonable accommodations can be made for interviews and service. 

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