Job/Internship Opportunity
Corridor Associate & Cantonese interpreter
Commitment: Part time 3-15 hrs/week. Minimum 3 hours per week, Monday - Friday during business hours. Occasional weekend hours.
Duration: 2-4 months. Minimum 2 months. Flexible start dates.
Pay: $18/hr
How to apply: To apply, email resume and cover letter to Valerie Luu, PNA Corridor Manager - valerie@portolasf.org
About the organization
The Portola Neighborhood Association (PNA) is a volunteer group of homeowners, renters, merchants, commercial property owners and other community leaders in San Francisco’s Garden District. The PNA has worked to improve the quality of life in the Portola neighborhood for over 10 years. Our mission is to support and foster activity that keeps our neighborhood healthy and vibrant and to partner with businesses along the San Bruno Avenue corridor and promote access to San Francisco city government programs and initiatives. The volunteer PNA Board, which meets monthly, guides PNA subcommittees and fundraising efforts, and maintains the PNA website.
About the position
The PNA is seeking a part-time Cantonese-speaking Corridor Associate (CA) to assist the Corridor Manager with merchant outreach in the Portola. The CA will be responsible for oral and written translation of City resources for Chinese-speaking merchants. The CA will also provide one-on-one application assistance to merchants and field their questions and concerns about COVID-19 relief resources and City programs. This is an independent contractor position, funded through a grant from the San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development (OEWD).
COVID-19:
Since many Portola businesses do not use email as their primary mode of communication, the job requires in-person communication with merchants -- socially distanced and with masks. In-person work will constitute over half of the hours. This involves door-to-door distribution of program fliers and in-person communication with merchants.
Certain projects can be conducted remotely or in our office on San Bruno Avenue with the Corridor Manager
Responsibilities:
Work with the Corridor Manager to provide consistent, in-person outreach to Portola Chinese-speaking merchants
Communicate with merchants in a timely manner, as many of the loan/grant deadlines are time-sensitive and have a short application window
Provide mainly in-person outreach, supplemented by WeChat, text message, phone calls and emails
Track merchant outreach by recording outreach method, merchant response and number of follow-ups (minimum 2)
Provide oral and written translation in Cantonese/Mandarin of loans/grants and community announcements such as PNA events and COVID-19 testing to distribute as handouts and posted on the PNA website, Portola Merchant Google Group and WeChat. Translate at least two postings per month.
Conduct merchant surveys to get their feedback and satisfaction level with PNA outreach and business assistance
Work with the Corridor Manager to offer merchants training on how to create new signage, update their hours on Google or Yelp, create a website and/or utilize tools for contactless commerce
Creation of commercial corridor marketing and promotional materials
Networking with area businesses, community leaders and organizations
Administrative support as needed
Skills to be gained:
Experience in economic development, small business support and case management
Networking with area businesses, community leaders and organizations
Knowledge of business support programs from City, federal and private sources
Required Skills:
Fluency in Cantonese (oral and written); Mandarin is a plus
Excellent computer skills, including Google Docs, Sheets and Forms
Desired Skills
Knowledge of Portola neighborhood community
Interest and experience in economic development, small business support, community organizing and public policy
Self-directed, independent worker who takes initiative and is able to create the systems and processes inherent to this position