Society of St Vincent de Paul – Fort Wayne

What You’ll Do:

You’ll be the first point of contact when our neighbors—those we serve—call for help. Your job is to listen, gather information, and connect them with one of our 15 volunteer teams in Allen County. If SVdP cannot assist, you will connect them with other community resources as needed.

Your day-to-day:

• Answer calls from people in crisis with patience and care
• Ask clear questions to understand their situation and what help they need
• Enter information accurately into our database while on the call
• Connect callers to the right volunteer team or make referrals to other resources
• Use our resource database and guided tools to find appropriate help
• Keep accurate records for service coordination and reporting

Who We’re Looking For:

Someone who stays calm under pressure and can talk with people going through a difficult time. You need empathy without getting overwhelmed, and the ability to gather information quickly while still being patient and kind.

You’ll be successful if you:

• Know how to ask helpful questions (not interrogate)
• Are comfortable typing while talking on the phone
• Pay attention to details—accurate data ensures people get help
• Can explain things clearly and honestly, including when we can’t help
• Are bilingual (English/Spanish)—strongly preferred

Experience that helps: Customer service, crisis hotlines, healthcare, social services, or similar fields. Familiarity with Fort Wayne/Allen County is a plus. We’ll train you on our systems and provide you with a list of community resources.

What Makes This Job Different:

Your role is to be the warm, efficient bridge between someone in crisis and the volunteers who will walk alongside them. You’re not trying to solve their problems on the phone—you’re connecting neighbors in need to the right local team and communicating necessary information so the volunteers can follow up. You won’t rush someone who’s struggling to explain their situation, but you’re also not their caseworker. We’ve built tools to help you focus on the human part of the conversation while keeping things organized.

About the Society of St Vincent de Paul:

We’re a faith-based organization with 23 local service teams across northeast Indiana, providing housing assistance, food, clothing, utility support, and more. You don’t need to be Catholic to work here. We’re genuinely inclusive and welcome staff from all backgrounds, faiths, and walks of life. What matters is that you respect our mission of serving neighbors with dignity and can work collaboratively with our volunteers and community partners.

To Apply: Fill out the form below

Pay: $12.00 – $15.00 per hour

Benefits: Employee discount

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Job description:

Join our growing team! The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is looking for a part-time customer service associate to join its caring staff. Responsibilities will include operating the cash register, answering the phone, organizing sales floor displays, and helping customers find what they need. Retail experience preferred. Looking for a self-starter that treats everyone with kindness and respect. If you are looking to make a difference in your community and work in a dynamic environment with flexible hours, bonuses, great co-workers, and generous store discounts, this is the position for you! Opportunities for advancement are available.

Qualifications:

• Strong customer service skills with a focus on communication and problem-solving
• Experience in retail sales and cash handling
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Organizational skills
• Familiarity with basic math and strong attention to detail
• Bilingual proficiency is a plus for serving diverse customers

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds to apply. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Fort Wayne is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and compassionate environment for all employees, volunteers, and program participants.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $11.00 – $13.00 per hour

Benefits:

Employee discount
Flexible schedule
Paid time off

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person