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Community Outreach Specialist

Class Title: Community Outreach Specialist

Salary: $34.55 - $51.83 Hourly

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Quality Improvement Manager, this position engages with communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies to create new means to address community needs and achieve strategic goals of the county. Scott County is advancing a community-based service orientation that decenters government to improve outcomes for all residents. This position’s core purpose is to develop impactful partnerships and co-create new program avenues and opportunities to advance the County’s strategic goals. Work will be focused on connecting with diverse communities, collaborative service development, leveraging funding from multiple sources, and enhancing well-being within the community. An initial focus of this role will be on faith communities with flexibility for the emphasis to shift based on current priorities.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

  • Initiates relationships and builds trust with partners from communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies to collaborate on strategic initiatives.

  • Finds opportunities to collaborate to the mutual benefit of partners, the county, and residents.

  • Plans, hosts, and facilitates engagement events and community meetings.

  • Maintains awareness of the needs of different communities and identifies ways to meet those needs based on the priorities and capabilities of partner organizations.

  • Creates outreach and information campaigns to cultivate awareness and energy around opportunities for involvement in community-focused work.

  • Uses a variety of communication and outreach tools to effectively reach different audiences.

  • Maintains and coordinates community partner relationships to support and strengthen community engagement programming outcomes.

  • Identifies supports and addresses barriers to communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies engaging with the county to meet community needs.

  • Consults and collaborates with other county staff on engagement efforts.

  • Promotes internal awareness and shares learnings from engagement conversations and efforts with stakeholders.

  • Serves as a resource and advocate for priority projects and initiatives in other county divisions and departments, enhances their capacity and ability to forward the work of their programs and services.

  • Organizes and coordinates special projects between communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies within the county to improve resource and data sharing opportunities.

  • Works the hours and/or shifts assigned. Includes occasional evening and weekend hours.

  • Moves between work locations as needed, sometimes working at more than one location in a day. Public transportation is not available to all work locations in Scott County.

  • Performs other related duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

MUST HAVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • High school diploma or GED and 6 years of experience in community engagement and/or outreach, program development, marketing, or conducting program assessment and evaluation.

  • High school diploma or GED plus one year of post-secondary education and 4 years of related experience

  • Associate's degree and 2 years of related experience

  • Bachelor’s degree

Access to reliable transportation for the performance of work responsibilities is required.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The employee is under general guidance and direction from the Quality Improvement Manager. With considerable allowance for independent judgment, work is performed according to established procedures and supervisor consultation for difficult or unusual problems as they occur. Work is reviewed for accuracy and quality through observation, examination of records and reports generated, and meetings.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND ABILITIES

Customer Service - Delivers government services in a respectful, responsive, and solution-oriented manner.

Communication - Is always clear about what we're doing and why we're doing it.

Collaboration - Works with partners – communities, schools, faith groups, private business, and non-profit agencies – to see that services are not duplicated but rather are complimentary, aligned, and provided by the partners who can deliver the service most effectively.

Stewardship - Works proactively to make investments, guided by resident input, which will transform lives, communities, and government.

Empowerment - Works with individuals and families to affirm strengths, develop skills, restore hope, and promote self-reliance.

Resiliency - Fosters public preparedness and responds when families and communities face health and safety emergencies.

Innovation - Takes informed risks to deliver services more effectively and learns from successes and failures.

Knowledge – Knowledge of the priorities, norms, and needs of diverse faith-based organizations.

Knowledge of the varying needs of Scott County residents.

Ability to communicate effectively and authentically engage with diverse organizations, groups, and individuals.

Ability to work with and drive collaboration between people of varying backgrounds.

Ability to organize and coordinate work, individually and as part of a team.

Ability to instruct, motivate, and inspire others to action.

Ability to remain flexible with ever changing priorities.

Ability to use appropriate discretion in dealing with matters of a confidential nature.

Ability to effectively collaborate with external and internal partners to accomplish service delivery and goals.

Ability to speak, present, and interact in public arenas with professionalism, and discretion.

Ability to use MS Office software for the performance of essential duties.


WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS


Typical characteristics of the regular, ongoing work environment of this position requires inside work, typically in an office setting.
Physical activities include sedentary to light work: Reaching, sitting, standing, walking, pushing, lifting, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, stooping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Lifts and/or navigates up to 35 pounds on a routine basis in handling files and equipment necessary for performing the essential duties of the job. 

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection for this position will be based on a minimum qualifications screening and rating of training and experience. Top candidates will be forwarded to hiring manager or supervisor for consideration for interview and/or additional assessments. Final selection will include a background check and approval by the County Board.