Community Advocacy Manager

Virginia Conservation Network; Richmond, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Groundwork RVA seeks a Community Advocacy Manager to advance youth-focused, trauma-informed support across its programs in Richmond. This grant-funded role emphasizes crisis response, systems of care, and strong community connections to promote resilience and long-term success.

The role requires a Bachelor's in social work and 3–5 years of experience in community engagement or advocacy, with a commitment to equity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work strongly preferred.
• 3-5 years experience in community engagement, case management, youth development, or advocacy.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices with equity, resilience, and culturally relevant lens.
• Strong relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders including nonprofits, government agencies, schools, and families.
• Experience working with vulnerable communities affected by social, economic, and environmental inequities.
• Familiarity with grant-funded program structures, including reporting and compliance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including outreach and informational materials.
• Ability to track, evaluate, and report participants and outcomes.
• Commitment to celebrating diversity across race, ethnicity, gender identity, and expression.
• Spanish language proficiency preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management-style support for apprentices and youth participants experiencing crises, connecting them with appropriate resources.
• Build and maintain a supportive resource service guide with community-based organizations and agencies.
• Develop strong partnerships with nonprofits, schools, social service agencies, and healthcare providers to enable warm referrals for participants and their families.
• Support families and youth engaged through Groundwork RVA's urban farm at Hillside Court, Green Team, Bike Shop, Highland Park community initiatives, and Parent Café programs, ensuring culturally relevant and trauma-informed practices.
• Integrate community feedback into program design, ensuring participant needs are met holistically.
• Collaborate with program staff to incorporate life skills and advocacy training into the apprenticeship curriculum.
• Mentor and cultivate leadership among youth and family participants to strengthen their capacity for community and youth-led advocacy and civic engagement.
• Track and document participant engagement, referrals, and outcomes to meet grant reporting requirements and internal evaluation benchmarks.
• Support preparation of program impact reports for funders, including data, outcomes, and success stories.
• Attend evening and weekend community events as needed to engage youth, families, and partners across neighborhoods.
• Collaborate with internal program teams (Green Workforce, Green Team, Bike Shop, and Farm) to ensure wrap-around support for all participants.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Relationship building

Community engagement

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work

Job description

The Community Advocacy Manager plays a vital role in advancing Groundwork RVA's community-based initiatives and ensuring holistic support for program participants. This grant-funded position (for the life of the 4-year grant) focuses on supporting youth and apprentices in moments of crisis, while building systems of care and community connection that promote resilience, thriving, and long-term success. In addition, the Manager will support Groundwork RVA's broader mission by:

• Building a supportive services resource guide for program participants and families.
• Developing relationships with key partners to ensure warm referrals to community-based resources.
• Providing trauma-informed, equity-focused support to staff and youth and families engaged through Groundwork RVA's programs and initiatives.

The role requires professional experience in social work, and trauma-informed care with resilience, equity, and culturally relevant lens.

This position is grant-funded for the life of a current grant (four years), with continuation dependent on future funding.

Responsibilities

• Provide case management-style support for apprentices and youth participants experiencing crises, connecting them with appropriate resources.
• Build and maintain a supportive resource service guide with community-based organizations and agencies.
• Develop strong partnerships with nonprofits, schools, social service agencies, and healthcare providers to enable warm referrals for participants and their families.
• Support families and youth engaged through Groundwork RVA's urban farm at Hillside Court, Green Team, Bike Shop, Highland Park community initiatives, and Parent Café programs, ensuring culturally relevant and trauma-informed practices.
• Integrate community feedback into program design, ensuring participant needs are met holistically.
• Collaborate with program staff to incorporate life skills and advocacy training into the apprenticeship curriculum.
• Mentor and cultivate leadership among youth and family participants to strengthen their capacity for community and youth-led advocacy and civic engagement.
• Track and document participant engagement, referrals, and outcomes to meet grant reporting requirements and internal evaluation benchmarks.
• Support preparation of program impact reports for funders, including data, outcomes, and success stories.
• Attend evening and weekend community events as needed to engage youth, families, and partners across neighborhoods.
• Collaborate with internal program teams (Green Workforce, Green Team, Bike Shop, and Farm) to ensure wrap-around support for all participants.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field strongly preferred;
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in community engagement, case management, youth development, or advocacy work.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practices, with equity, resilience, and culturally relevant lens.
• Strong relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders including nonprofits, government agencies, schools, and families.
• Experience working with vulnerable communities impacted by social, economic, and environmental inequities.
• Familiarity with grant-funded program structures, including reporting and compliance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to assist with outreach and informational materials.
• Ability to track, evaluate, and report participants and outcomes.
• Commitment to celebrating diversity across race, ethnicity, gender identity, and expression.
• Spanish language proficiency is preferred but not required.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required for community events.

Compensation

This is a full-time, grant-funded position for the life of the 4-year grant (2025-2028). Salary range: 55,000 to 65,000 based on experience. Benefits include 4 weeks of personal leave, 75% paid medical, dental and vision coverage, as well as access to a retirement savings plan with employer match.

Groundwork RVA is an equal opportunity employer, committed to maintaining and growing a diverse team, and an anti-racist organization committed to doing business in keeping with core values of relevance, equity, diversity, and inclusion.