APS Community Engagement Specialist

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation and holidays

Dental and vision insurance

Flexible spending accounts

Employee discounts

Job summary

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in San Antonio seeks an APS Community Engagement Specialist to coordinate and enhance community partnerships, volunteer programs, and public outreach. The role focuses on improving APS awareness and collaboration with local organizations.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and at least four years in community engagement or related work; strong communication and presentation skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of community resources and services available for vulnerable adults and families.
• Knowledge of Adult Protective Services program, policies and procedures.
• Skilled in public speaking and developing presentations.
• Skilled in effective written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work with diverse populations including DFPS staff and leadership, media, community partners and the general public.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain working relations with community partners to ensure client needs are met and to support APS goals and objectives.
• Identify and forecast service needs; meet with community leaders and coordinate meetings.
• Manage volunteer and intern opportunities, applications and background checks; assess performance.
• Coordinate a community relations program through media outlets and speaking engagements; develop educational materials.
• Prepare monthly and annual reports and participate in internal staff meetings.

Skills

Public speaking

Community engagement

Volunteer management

Communication

Partnership development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s What You Get As a Full-time Employee

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance —at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

Functional Title: APS Community Engagement Specialist Job Title: Community Engagement Spec Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc Department: APS Program Support Posting Number: 21187Closing Date: 10/14/2026Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Community and Social Services Salary Range: $4,020.33- $6,070.12Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-19 Shift: Day

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework Travel: Up to 50% Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt

Job Location City: SAN ANTONIO

Job Location Address: 3635 SE MILITARY DR

MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS

Brief Job Description

The APS Community Engagement Specialist performs complex consultative services and technical assistance work. Work involves coordinating, developing, implementing and analyzing specialized projects and programs. Increase the number of community groups involved in APS programs at the local, district and state level. Develops and maintains collaborative working relationships between DFPS and community groups to ensure client needs are met and to support APS goals and objectives. Provides consultation and assistance to governmental agencies, community organizations, community leaders and the public. Develops and maintains collaborative intra-agency relationships. Helps manage local and/or district volunteer and intern programs. Conducts a community relations program through media outlets and personal speaking engagements. Develops educational and training materials and programs. May train, mentor or supervise the work of others. Works under limited supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

Develop and maintain working relations with community partners to ensure client needs are met and to support APS goals and objectives. Identify and forecast service needs. Meet with community leaders. Coordinate and facilitate internal and external meetings and work groups. Serve as the liaison to and collaborate with community organizations, professional groups, and local public officials, provide technical assistance, training and policy guidance to agency staff and external stakeholders. Develops and maintains collaborative intra-agency relationships. (30%)

Helps manage volunteer and intern opportunities. Processes volunteer and intern applications and background checks. Matches agency needs with volunteer and intern skills. Monitors and evaluates volunteer and intern performance. (30%)

Coordinates a community relations program through media outlets and personal speaking engagements. Coordinates the preparation of educational and training materials and programs that educate the community about the work of DFPS and Adult Protective Services in particular. Make presentations at community gatherings and outreach events. Promote APS and agency public awareness campaigns. (20%)

Tracks any donations and/or contributions that are received or distributed. Ensures that contributions and donations are acknowledged in a proper manner. (10%)

Prepares monthly and annual reports. (5%)

Attends internal staff meetings. Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. (5%)

Knowledge Of

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of community resources and services are available for vulnerable adults and families.
• Knowledge of Adult Protective Services program, policies and procedures.

Skill In

• Skilled in dealing with the general public both virtually and in person.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the public and community organizations.
• Skilled in public speaking and developing presentations.
• Skilled in effective written and verbal communication.
• Skilled in the use of a computer and applicable software such as Microsoft suite.

Ability To

• Ability to work with diverse populations including DFPS staff and leadership, media, community partners and the general public.
• Ability to develop, coordinate, and promote volunteer programs.
• Ability to develop training.
• Ability to identify resources conducive to volunteer programs.
• Ability to explain policies and procedures
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Ability to organize, plan and set priorities in a timely manner.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements Or Certifications

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Minimum of four years’ experience in community engagement and partnership development, volunteer management and/or Adult Protective Services work. Education and experience may be substituted on a year for year basis.

Additional Information

N/A

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC .

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at [e-mail] with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show your identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.