The Community Engagement Specialist (CES) is a relationship oriented, field-based position that has a primary objective to develop, build and support local community collaboratives. The CES is charged with building a community collaborative that represents a broad cross-sector of the community and connects families, community and schools.
The CES is responsible for coordinating and facilitating the US Programs & Advocacy (USPA) community-engagement process including supporting the community in conducting a comprehensive community assessment, visioning and goal setting, development of a programmatic blue print, building community capacity and creating a multi-year resource plan.
The CES reports to the State Director/Deputy Program Director in the assigned state. The CES works collaboratively with USPA national staff, state team, and site based staff to ensure seamless program operations at the community level.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Community Building and Engagement: Engage community and partners including parents, libraries, early childhood education services, schools, not-for-profit organizations, local government, funders, businesses, faith-based organizations, public officials, other key constituents and non-affiliated community members in the implementation of the project through the development of a community collaborative. Ensure that the needs of culturally and economically diverse communities are met and identify and remove barriers to participation. 25%
- Facilitation and Convening: Provide ongoing support and leadership of meetings and ongoing communication with community stakeholders to achieve community support and engagement in the project, including community engagement programming and events. Use training, one-on-one interviews, and small group meetings and other techniques to facilitate engagement. Implement meetings, surveys, and other vehicles for effective two-way communication with the community. 25%
- Capacity Building: Build community based leadership capacity to ensure that leadership skills and abilities are enhanced and strengthened by cultivating informal and formal community-wide leadership. 15%
- Internal Program Coordination: Successfully integrate community engagement work into all elements of other USPA work within a community and collaborate with USPA staff to accomplish this task. 10%
- External Partnerships: Identify, initiate, and deepen relationships with various community stakeholders. Identify funding and resource partnership opportunities to enhance each local initiative: Seek opportunities to share knowledge and experience through external presentations, training and collaborations. Attend community meetings, provide information about community engagement, and advocate for participation. Attend other programs and events relevant to each local initiative, community interests and community activities. Identify other relevant opportunities that will assist in realizing the stated goals. 10%
- Data Collection & Management: Maintain community engagement databases to facilitate efficient and effective contact and relationship management. Assist in developing and collecting surveys and implement other methods of evaluating and analyzing progress toward goals. Provide needed data points for report writing upon request. 10%
- Materials Development: Work with other local team members and USPA staff to manage the production of all printed and online materials related to community engagement efforts. Ensure materials are in alignment with Save the Children strategic communications. 5%
Educational Background:
High School Diploma
Skills/Experience:
- Minimum 3-5 years' experience in volunteer management, social impact design, community relations, project management, community organizing or other related areas required;
- Valid driver's license also required.
- This position requires a broad skill set centered on cultural awareness, human development and group dynamics including:
- The ability to build trust and assist people in managing change;
- The ability to foster an environment where culturally diverse people can work together cooperatively and effectively to meet common goals;
- The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across cultural differences with public entities, businesses, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and the general public;
- Skill at influencing and motivating people to be involved without use of authority or force;
- Skill at nurturing individuality and independent thinking amongst group members while simultaneously building consensus in working toward common goals;
- Thorough knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques related to designing effective engagement strategies, conflict management, systems thinking, collaborative decision making, consensus building, and meeting facilitation that fosters accountability and asset based approaches are key skill sets needed for this role.
- Knowledge of project management principles, practices, techniques and tools.
- Must have strong oral and written English language communications skills and the capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in challenging working environment.
- Strong organizational skills with experience in scheduling and event/training coordination.
- Demonstrated ability to present information and respond to questions from groups or individuals.
- Demonstrated ability to create and produce clear, concise paper and electronic documents.
- Demonstrated to work effectively with diverse levels of individuals and coordinate with many different agencies/organizations.
- Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
- Strong ability to multi-task multiple projects at the same time.
- Excellent attention to detail, flexible and adaptable to change.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in standardized situations.
- Demonstrated knowledge and skill in using Microsoft Office Suite
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in human services, psychology, education, public health, social impact design, social work, public policy or related field preferred.
Compensation/Benefits:
- Meaningful work, with a knowledge that you are changing the lives of children all around the world
- A family friendly work environment
- Highly collaborative and innovative teams
- Generous paid vacation days, holidays, family leave days, and sick time
- Healthcare plans including medical, dental, and life insurance
- Retirement savings account with matching company contributions
- Structured and formalized management development and coaching programs for mid and senior level managers
- Extensive e-learning opportunities on a variety of topics offered through our affiliation with several prestigious universities and with the American Management Association, as well as language learning opportunities
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jul 17 2018
Active Until:
Aug 17 2018
Hiring Organization:
Save the Children US
industry:
Nonprofit