Shift Leader Homeless Services - CASPAR Emergency Shelter

Shift Leader - Housing & Homeless Services - CASPAR Emergency Shelter

Cambridge, MA, USA

Posted Monday, June 22, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Mission Statement:

Bay Cove Human Services’ mission is to partner with people to overcome challenges and realize personal potential. Bay Cove pursues this mission by providing individualized and compassionate services to people facing the challenges associated with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance use disorders, and homelessness at more than 175 program sites throughout Greater Boston and southeastern Massachusetts.

* Scheduled: Sunday - Monday 12am - 12pm (24 hours)

Job Summary: The Shift Leader assists the Director to set the overall direction and provides on‑site oversight of the shelter and Shelter Support Workers. The Shelter Manager contributes to Bay Cove’s mission by ensuring that services are accessible, inviting, effective, and efficiently operated, thus making the services an ideal environment in which individuals can pursue their personal goals.

This is a non‑exempt position.

Essential Functions of Position:

• Support the shelter support workers to ensure that they are providing safe, respectful, and compassionate services in a low‑threshold environment that is anchored in evidence‑based and emerging best practices, including harm reduction and trauma‑informed care principles.
• Provide care for guests and maintain safety by visual monitoring of all guests, actively and respectfully interacting with guests and the team to ensure routines and safety procedures are followed and recognize that the majority of guests have endured trauma and employ trauma‑informed care in all interactions.
• Ensure safety of the guests and facility by assisting shelter support workers with conducting scheduled safety checks, monitoring common areas inside the facility (entrances, stairwells, bathrooms, and other accessible locations), outside the program (parking lot, front of building, and area that trash is maintained, etc), and provide supportive feedback and redirection to guests when needed.
• Complete required documentation at intake, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), as required.
• Follow safety plans and restrictions established by shelter leadership.
• Immediately communicate any safety concerns to colleagues and work collaboratively to identify and carry out a response plan and report incidents verbally to the supervisor on duty or on‑call as soon as it is safe to do so and follow up with a written incident report as soon as the situation has stabilized and duties allow, but before the end of the shift.
• Provide crisis intervention and de‑escalation as needed. Contact 911 when issues arise that cannot be managed safely in the setting (medical emergencies, guests not responsive to de‑escalation techniques, etc.) and provide emergency intervention to stabilize the situation until professional help arrives (naloxone administration, basic first aid, CPR, etc.).
• Support shelter support workers in following established policies and procedures and assisting guests with issues/concerns.
• Participates in regularly scheduled staff meetings and supervisions.
• Other job‑related duties as assigned.

Requirements for the position:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred, in psychology or other human service fields preferred.
• Two (2) years of experience in health or human service‑related fields preferred.
• Two (2) years of experience working with those who are unhoused and those experiencing behavioral health and/or substance use disorders preferred.
• Demonstrated professional writing, interpersonal, and organization skills.
• Basic proficiency in word processing and other computer functions using Windows, Word, and Google Email and Apps.
• Individuals with lived expertise encouraged to apply

Personal Characteristics:

• Utilizes a flexible and responsible work style that meets evolving needs of the agency.
• Works with integrity and respects the dignity and value of all individuals.
• Exhibits mission through job knowledge, pride in work role, and advocacy.
• Promotes diversity and inclusion of all individuals.
• Works in a collaborative, compassionate manner with stakeholders/partners.

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