Community and Outreach Specialist

accesscommunity; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

accesscommunity in Dearborn, MI, seeks a Community and Outreach Specialist to oversee local civic engagement programming and empower residents to participate in local government and public programs. Under direct supervision, you will blend relationship-building, public communication, and event coordination to meet outreach goals.

The role requires developing voter education strategies, building partnerships with residents, nonprofits, faith groups, and civic leaders; delivering workshops;

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Communications, Sociology, or a related field.
• 2 years’ experience organizing communications or community building.
• Proficiency with voter databases and outreach tools (VAN, GetThru, ThruText).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive field strategy for voter education, registration, and turnout.
• Build and maintain relationships with residents, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, faith organizations, and civic leaders.
• Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and materials explaining local government processes, voting, meetings, and services.
• Plan and maintain election protection programming for local elections.
• Plan and execute large-scale community events, town halls, listening sessions, and engagement activities.
• Create accessible outreach materials including newsletters, social media content, flyers, and digital campaigns.
• Manage voter-engagement platforms including VAN, GetThru, ThruText and provide support for member organizations.
• Track engagement metrics, analyze participation trends, and prepare reports.
• Recruit and retain volunteers and develop a volunteer pipeline.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Public speaking

Community engagement

Volunteer management

Multilingual

Education

Bachelor's degree in Political Science

Tools

VAN

GetThru

ThruText

Job description

Job Title: Community and Outreach Specialist

Job Status: Full-time

Job Summary: Under direct supervision the Community and Outreach Specialist will oversee all local civic engagement programming and will lead efforts to educate, activate, and empower community members to participate in local government, public programs, and civic life. The role blends relationship-building with key stakeholders, public communication, event coordination, data management, and strategic outreach to ensure civic engagement goals are met. This position focuses on underrepresented groups to ensure they have access to information, resources, and opportunities to engage with our community of interests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive field strategy for voter education, registration, and turnout
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders: residents, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, faith organizations, and civic leaders to increase awareness of public programs and engagement opportunities
• Develop and deliver workshops, presentations, and materials that help residents understand local government processes, voting, public meetings, and available services
• Plan and maintain election protection programming for all local elections across our community of interest
• Plan and execute large-scale community events, town halls, listening sessions, and engagement activities in our community of interest
• Create accessible outreach materials, including newsletters, social media content, flyers, and digital campaigns tailored to community needs
• Manage voter-engagement platforms including VAN, GetThru, ThruText, and related tools and provide support for NNAAC member organizations
• Track engagement metrics, analyze participation trends, and prepare reports to guide outreach strategies and measure impact
• Recruit, retain volunteers, and develop a volunteer pipeline
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Awareness and sensitivity to the specific needs of the population being served
• Social media, digital communication, and promoting public awareness campaigns
• Developing, running, and evaluating outreach programs
• Presenting information to community groups, stakeholders, and the public
• Recruiting, training, and managing volunteers
• VAN and voter databases, and digital election tools

Skill in:

• Public speaking
• Creating, planning, and implementing strategies to engage the public and build partnerships
• Conflict resolution, cultural competence, and proficiency in outreach strategies
• Exceptional verbal and written communication
• Representing the organization at events, fostering partnerships, and advocating for community needs
• Translating complex organizational information into easy-to-understand language for the public
• Multilingual; Arabic preferred
• Operating standard office equipment and using required software applications for program area and other applications, including Microsoft Office

Ability to:

• Build trust, rapport, and maintain professional relationships with diverse community members,

stakeholders, and organization staff

• Manage disputes and handle challenging or sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
• Understand local community needs, demographics, and cultural norms to effectively connect with

Specialized, underserved, or diverse populations

• Detail oriented management of multiple projects, community events, and outreach schedules
• Establish trust rapidly, connect with diverse stakeholders, and manage partnerships
• Identify community needs and bridge gaps with available services

Educational/Previous Experience Requirements:

• Minimum Degree Required:

• Bachelor’s degree

• Required Disciplines:
  • Political Science, Communications, Sociology, or a related field

~and~

• 2 years’ of experience organizing communications/or community building. Proficient in voter databasis such as VAN, Getthru, Thrutext and other voter engagement tools. Any equivalent combination of experience, education and/or training approved by Human Resources

Licenses/Certifications:

• Licenses/Certifications Required at Date of Hire:
  • None

Working Conditions:

Hours: Normal business hours, some additional hours may be required

Travel Required: Local, in-state, national, and international travel, up to 50%

Working Environment: Climate controlled office