Lead Safety Advocate

Description

Program: The Harbor

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Status: Full-time, non-exempt

Position Summary

City Care is looking for a calm, steady and people-centered leader to help create a safe and welcoming environment at The Harbor.

The Lead Safety Advocate provides day-to-day leadership for The Harbor's Safety Advocate team while remaining actively engaged in the daily rhythm of the shelter. This person will coordinate safety operations, support and coach team members, respond to emerging concerns, and help ensure guests, staff and volunteers experience The Harbor as a place grounded in dignity, consistency and respect.

This is an unarmed, non-clinical role. Safety Advocates do not perform physical interventions. Instead, this work relies on visible presence, strong relationships, verbal de-escalation, sound judgment, clear boundaries and thoughtful risk mitigation.

The Lead Safety Advocate will also serve as an important bridge between The Harbor and Tulsa-area first responders, helping police, fire and other community partners understand when and how The Harbor may be an appropriate resource for a neighbor in need.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Safety Operations

• Provide day-to-day leadership for Safety Advocates during the assigned shift, coordinating coverage, priorities and communication.
• Maintain a visible, calm and welcoming presence throughout The Harbor.
• Pay attention to the environment, identify emerging safety concerns and take appropriate preventive action before situations escalate.
• Serve as the lead point of contact when safety concerns become more complex or require additional support.
• Coordinate clear shift handoffs so incoming staff understand significant incidents, concerns, follow-up needs and other important information.
• Ensure incidents, hazards, admission decisions and other significant events are documented accurately and consistently.
• Support emergency response in accordance with City Care procedures, including contacting outside responders when additional assistance is needed.
• Participate in incident reviews and help identify practical ways to improve prevention, communication and response.
• Perform other responsibilities consistent with the scope and level of the position as The Harbor grows.

Guest Engagement + De-escalation

• Engage every guest in a way that recognizes their dignity, autonomy and intrinsic value.
• Use verbal de-escalation, respectful communication and sound judgment to reduce conflict and support safe outcomes.
• Make guest admission determinations using established program criteria and procedures, communicating decisions clearly, consistently and respectfully.
• Maintain appropriate professional and non-clinical boundaries.
• Connect guests with program, clinical or emergency resources when their needs extend beyond the Safety Advocate role.
• Help balance individual guest needs, the wellbeing of the broader Harbor community and established program expectations using the least restrictive response appropriate to the situation.

Lead + Develop the Team

• Provide daily direction, coaching, support and accountability to Safety Advocates.
• Set clear expectations for communication, professionalism, documentation, teamwork and guest-centered safety practices.
• Facilitate shift briefings and debriefings that build shared awareness and help the team learn from what happens each day.
• Model calm decision-making, compassionate engagement, accountability and City Care's values.
• Support new Safety Advocates as they learn the role and help reinforce consistent practices across the team.
• Ensure required training is completed and applied in practice, including CPR, de-escalation, Mental Health First Aid and other City Care training requirements.
• Bring recurring concerns, significant incidents and needed improvements to the Senior Director of Facilities and Safety.

Build First-Responder + Community Relationships

• Build strong working relationships with Tulsa-area police, fire departments and other community response partners.
• Help first responders understand The Harbor's purpose, services, admission criteria and referral process.
• Work with City Care leadership and community partners to strengthen appropriate referral and diversion pathways for people experiencing homelessness.
• Help identify circumstances in which an eligible neighbor may be connected to The Harbor rather than entering deeper into emergency or justice systems, when appropriate and within responder authority.
• Provide responders with clear and relevant information while protecting guest dignity and respecting applicable privacy expectations.
• Represent City Care with professionalism, credibility, compassion and respect in all community interactions.

Skills & Experience

We're looking for someone who can remain steady when things are complicated, lead others with clarity and accountability, and build trust with people from many different backgrounds.

The right person will bring:

• Experience leading, coordinating or coaching a frontline team in a fast-moving service environment.
• A demonstrated ability to remain calm, observant and respectful while making timely decisions.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to build trust with guests, staff, volunteers, first responders and community partners.
• Experience with verbal de-escalation, conflict navigation or practical risk mitigation, or the ability and willingness to build those skills through training.
• The ability to apply established policies, procedures and admission criteria consistently while still recognizing the individual circumstances of each person.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including accurate and timely documentation.
• Strong judgment, healthy professional boundaries and the ability to recognize when a situation needs to be elevated or referred to someone with a different area of expertise.
• A commitment to serving people experiencing homelessness with dignity, compassion, accountability and respect.
• The ability and willingness to complete required training after hire, including CPR, de-escalation and Mental Health First Aid.

Experience in homeless services, shelters, crisis response, social services, public safety, behavioral health, healthcare, community outreach or another people-centered environment is preferred, but not required.

Requirements

Position Requirements

• This position works on-site at The Harbor in Tulsa and regularly interacts with guests, staff, volunteers, community partners and emergency responders.
• The regular schedule is 10:00–7:00 [a.m./p.m. to be confirmed].
• The position may occasionally provide guest transportation in accordance with City Care procedures.
• This is an unarmed, non-clinical position and does not perform physical interventions.
• The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties or responsibilities. Responsibilities may evolve as The Harbor and City Care grow.

 Benefits Package:

• Benefits for full-time employees begin on the first day of the month following date of hire.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision and company sponsored 401K plan 

Equal Opportunity

City Care is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse, inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.