Call Specialist, Full-Time at United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County

San Antonio, Texas, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

27 May, 26

Salary

16.0

Posted On

26 Feb, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Customer Service, Information & Referral, Crisis Intervention, Active Listening, Trauma-Informed Techniques, Assessment, Problem-Solving, De-escalation, Cisco, Voip Systems, Live Chat Tools, Data Entry, Attention To Detail, Multitasking, Microsoft Office Suite, Communication Skills

Industry

Non-profit Organizations

Description

Description ABOUT US United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County unites the community to identify and solve our most critical issues. We are dedicated to improving people's lives and creating community-level change. Our work includes leading cross-sector collaborations, advocating for public policy changes and investing in programs that prevent problems from happening in the first place for those in need. Improving quality of life and advancing the greater good involves focusing in four impact areas: preparing children for kindergarten; empowering students to graduate and reach their full potential; helping individuals and families become self-sufficient; providing a safety net of services for those in crisis. BENEFITS Employer-subsidized healthcare plan with employer-funded HRA offered. Group dental, vision, life insurance and other insurance products available. Paid holidays, personal and sick leave time. 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching available. JOB SUMMARY The 2-1-1 Call Specialist provides high-quality, compassionate assistance to individuals and families seeking help with essential needs such as food, housing, healthcare, financial assistance, and other community resources. This role is responsible for answering incoming calls, conducting thorough assessments, identifying the caller’s underlying needs, and providing accurate referrals using the 2-1-1 resource database. This position supports a 24/7 operation, and applicants must be available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES Direct Information & Referral (I&R) Service Provision Deliver exceptional customer service as the first point of contact for United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County’s 2-1-1, providing comprehensive Information & Referral (I&R) and crisis intervention services as needed. Offer accurate, thorough, and appropriate referrals, information, and intervention services that effectively address each caller’s identified needs. Establish clear, respectful, and empathetic communication using active listening and trauma-informed techniques in a non-judgmental manner. Conduct accurate assessments to identify underlying needs and engage in collaborative problem-solving with callers to develop realistic action plans without offering personal opinions or advice. Provide follow-up and advocacy services when necessary to ensure continuity of care and support for community members. Protect client confidentiality at all times and adhere to all agency, program, and 2-1-1 network privacy guidelines. Demonstrate professionalism, patience, and skill while handling difficult or emotionally charged calls, using approved de-escalation and engagement techniques. Use technology platforms—including Cisco, VOIP systems, and live chat tools—to interact with clients and deliver services effectively. Uphold and model the UWSA mission, values, and Code of Ethics in all interactions with callers, colleagues, and community partners. Crisis Intervention Services Provide crisis intervention by helping callers move from a heightened emotional state to a more cognitive, solution-focused state, and create safety plans as appropriate. Deliver crisis intervention services by phone, in person, and at community outreach events as required. Service Utilization Documentation Conduct accurate and complete interviews and enter all required data into I&R software systems, maintaining a minimum accuracy/completion rate of 95%. Ensure records reflect a clear assessment, actions taken, referrals provided, and follow-up as appropriate, supporting consistency, accuracy, and data integrity. Requirements EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s Degree Preferred, however, in lieu of a degree. A minimum of four (4) years’ work experience in a related field and a High School Diploma or GED Certificate; OR A minimum of two (2) years if call center experience delivering social services and a High School Diploma or GED Certificate. Ability to work effectively under stress while maintaining productivity, professionalism, and composure. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Demonstrates flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly to changing situations, priorities, and call demands. Strong judgment, problem-solving skills, and assessment techniques used to evaluate caller needs and determine appropriate referrals. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES INFORMATION Maintains a professional, courteous, and service-oriented demeanor in all interactions. Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to generate creative solutions to challenges. Works effectively under stress while maintaining productivity, accuracy, and composure. Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Demonstrates flexibility and readily adapts to shifting priorities, processes, and caller needs. Exercises strong judgment, assessment skills, and sound decision-making. Proven ability to independently analyze situations, solve problems, and make decisions within established guidelines. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and professionally. Strong attention to detail and the ability to multitask without compromising accuracy or service quality. Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams). Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud products preferred. UNITED WAY COMPETENCIES Core Competencies (all United Way Professionals): Mission Focused, Relationship Oriented, Collaborator, Results Driven, Brand Steward WORK ENVIRONMENT Normal nonprofit office environment with little exposure to dust, noise and extreme temperatures. Extended work on personal computing equipment, telephone, multi-functioning printer and calculator. Reliable transportation required, with the ability to travel to and from meetings, training sessions or other business-related events locally, routinely and around the state and nationally, occasionally. Monday-Friday, 8:15 am to 4:45 pm work week with occasional evening and weekend hours. PHYSICAL DEMANDS Sedentary work on a PC; sitting for extended periods of time, routinely. Movement within the office and during external meetings and events, regularly. Bends, stoops and twists, occasionally. Exerts up to 25 lbs. of force, occasionally. Facilitates, presents and collaboratively interacts with others, routinely. Perform repetitive tasks, i.e., typing and texting, routinely. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by associates assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. The contents of this job description may change as deemed necessary by United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. APPLY To submit your application visit https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/All/c1a895ce-f28e-4dac-88db-d5fb796d20f5/UNITED-WAY-OF-SAN-ANTONIO-BEXAR-COUNTY. Applications WILL NOT be accepted via email. Contact uwjobs@unitedwaysatx.org should you experience problems submitting your application. United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, UWSA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations if reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application, interview process, or to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County | 700 South Alamo St., San Antonio TX, 78205 | www.uwsastx.org

Responsibilities

The Call Specialist provides compassionate assistance by answering incoming calls, conducting thorough assessments, identifying underlying needs, and providing accurate referrals using the 2-1-1 resource database for essential needs like food, housing, and healthcare. This role also involves delivering crisis intervention services, creating safety plans when appropriate, and ensuring accurate data documentation in I&R software systems.