POSITION: Michigan Advocacy Program is seeking a friendly, outgoing and organized individual for a full time Receptionist position based in its Ypsilanti location. The position is fully on-site at our office in downtown Ypsilanti with a workday that mimics the office hours of 9-5.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM: Michigan Advocacy Program (MAP) is founded on the belief that equal justice is a right, not a privilege. MAP’s mission is to advance the safety, independence, and economic stability of those most affected by poverty, racism, and other structurally oppressive systems by increasing access to justice and working for systemic solutions. MAP has provided civil legal aid for those unable to afford an attorney for more than 50 years. Today, MAP’s Legal Services of South Central Michigan (LSSCM) has five legal aid offices in south and central Michigan serving 13 counties. In addition to LSSCM, MAP manages six statewide programs serving immigrant communities (Michigan Immigrant Rights Center), vulnerable older adults (Michigan Elder Justice Initiative), victims of domestic violence and elder abuse (Crime Victims Legal Assistance Program), migrant and seasonal farmworkers (Farmworker Legal Services), providing training and litigation support to Michigan’s legal aid community (Michigan Poverty Law Program), and providing access to legal information to self-represented litigants (Michigan Legal Help Program). MAP has a staff of about 220 people in offices in Battle Creek, Detroit, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Monroe, and Ypsilanti. Visit miadvocacy.org for more information.
RESPONSIBILITIES: The receptionist for the Ypsilanti building will greet all visitors (clients and vendors) and cover all incoming calls to the local and main program lines. This person will need to have the capacity to j multi-task various communications (phone and in-person) simultaneously at any given time. This person will need to follow guidelines and systems on how to direct clients to the appropriate internal office or external community organization if the issue is not something we provide assistance for. Foreign languages are spoken by some clients, so this person will need to be able to navigate communication with individuals who speak limited English. We do have language assistance tools, but we are looking for someone who is proficient in Spanish.
Other duties expected of this person when not answering phone calls or welcoming clients include but are not limited to: sorting incoming and outgoing mail; maintaining and ordering building supplies; writing client receipts; tracking receipts from other offices; scanning and copying documents; assistance with other administrative tasks that might involve Word and Excel.
QUALIFICATIONS: Good people skills are necessary, as the Receptionist role requires direct client contact and ongoing communication with staff members. Applicants must have strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Applicants should be proficient in Microsoft SharePoint/365 and Google Workspace and have a willingness to learn more about other technology products used in our offices. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.
BENEFITS: This is a full-time position. Salary starts at $41,200 and is based on years of relevant experience. MAP offers a generous benefits package including life, short- and long-term disability, health, vision, dental and flexible spending accounts. If staff do not require health benefits, they have the option to take an annual $1,500 payout in addition to the base salary paid over the course of the year. MAP also has a generous leave policy allowing staff to accrue 3 weeks paid vacation the first year and 13 paid holidays, as well as an annual 2% contribution and 2% match to retirement plan subject to board approval for eligible staff. MAP is a qualifying employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
TO APPLY: Please complete this application and submit your resume and cover letter. You can also access the application by copying and pasting the following web address into your browser: https://miadvocacy.bamboohr.com/careers/63. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
The Michigan Advocacy Program is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.