Community Development Specialist

Gabriel Group; Dodgeville (WI); On-site; USD 48,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

SWCAP seeks a Community Development Specialist to lead regional efforts welcoming and empowering immigrant communities across southwest Wisconsin. You will build partnerships, identify leaders, and connect residents with advocacy, legal, and service resources to foster thriving communities.

The role requires passion for culturally responsive services, ability to work evenings/weekends, and experience in diverse, multilingual settings. Salary reflects full-time exempt status in Wisconsin.

Qualifications

• Fluency in English and Spanish, both written and spoken.
• Experience living or working in rural, multicultural environments.
• Understanding of or strong interest in learning about Latino cultures.
• Strong empathy and human-centered understanding of migration and immigrant experiences.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and prioritize the safety and trust of community members.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple relationships and projects across a broad geographic area.
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively with diverse audiences in both English and Spanish.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, lead group discussions, and speak confidently in public settings.
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with local immigrant communities and community leaders.
• Identify, support, and cultivate current and emerging community leaders.
• Serve as a liaison between immigrant communities and advocacy, legal, and service organizations.
• Develop partnerships with local governments, economic development agencies, and community service providers.
• Identify community needs and opportunities for immigrant-focused community and economic development initiatives.
• Provide translation and cultural support to organizations serving immigrant communities.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support for immigrant-led projects and initiatives.
• Develop and share Spanish-language business development resources for immigrant entrepreneurs.
• Connect aspiring business owners with organizations and resources that support small business development.
• Collaborate with cooperative development organizations to provide bilingual cooperative education and support the development of new and existing cooperatives.
• Stay informed about immigration policies relevant to Wisconsin residents.
• Convene and expand rotating legal clinics in key communities and connect residents with qualified legal resources.
• Provide navigation support to local immigrants when appropriate and realistic.
• Help develop local support systems for needs such as ITINs and work permits.
• Listen actively to community concerns and identify local immigration needs and challenges.
• Track and report on events, partnerships, projects, and outcomes.

Skills

Bilingual EN/ES

Public speaking

Project management

Relationship building

Communication skills

Multicultural experience

Confidentiality

Organizational skills

Flexible schedule

Evenings/weekends

Job description

• Base Pay $47,646.14 - $50,547.79 / Year
• Employee Type Full Time Exempt
• Manage Others No

Contact information

• Name SWCAP HR
• Phone [phone]
• Email [e-mail]

Description

The Community Development Specialist will lead regional efforts to welcome, connect, and empower immigrant communities across southwest Wisconsin. This position builds relationships, develops partnerships, and creates opportunities for immigrants to thrive as integral and influential members of their communities.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about community development, culturally responsive services, and supporting immigrant leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations. This role offers the opportunity to build meaningful partnerships and develop initiatives that create lasting community impact. The Community Development Specialist is expected to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong, trusting relationships with local immigrant communities and community leaders.
• Identify, support, and cultivate current and emerging community leaders.
• Serve as a liaison between immigrant communities and advocacy, legal, and service organizations.
• Develop partnerships with local governments, economic development agencies, and community service providers.
• Identify community needs and opportunities for immigrant-focused community and economic development initiatives.
• Provide translation and cultural support to organizations serving immigrant communities.
• Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support for immigrant-led projects and initiatives.
• Develop and share Spanish-language business development resources for immigrant entrepreneurs.
• Connect aspiring business owners with organizations and resources that support small business development.
• Collaborate with cooperative development organizations to provide bilingual cooperative education and support the development of new and existing cooperatives.
• Stay informed about immigration policies relevant to Wisconsin residents.
• Convene and expand rotating legal clinics in key communities and connect residents with qualified legal resources.
• Provide navigation support to local immigrants when appropriate and realistic.
• Help develop local support systems for needs such as Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) and work permits.
• Listen actively to community concerns and identify local immigration needs and challenges.
• Track and report on events, partnerships, projects, and outcomes.

Requirements

• Fluency in English and Spanish, both written and spoken; C1 CEFR or Advanced High ACTFL proficiency recommended.
• Experience living or working in rural, multicultural, and multilingual environments.
• Understanding of or strong interest in learning about Latino cultures.
• Strong empathy and human-centered understanding of migration and immigrant experiences.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and prioritize the safety and trust of community members.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple relationships and projects across a broad geographic area.
• Ability to communicate complex information effectively with diverse audiences in both English and Spanish, including individuals with low literacy levels.
• Ability to facilitate workshops, lead group discussions, and speak confidently in public settings.
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, identify opportunities, develop initiatives, and execute projects with limited oversight.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• Comfort with experimentation, adapting approaches, and learning from failure.

Preferred

• Experience in community development, immigrant services, economic development, small business development, cooperative development, or a related field.
• Experience working directly with immigrant or multilingual communities.
• Experience providing technical assistance, facilitating workshops, or developing community-based initiatives.
• Knowledge of immigration-related resources and services available in Wisconsin.

Physical Requirements

Ability to work in office, community, and client settings and travel throughout a broad geographic area. Requires the ability to walk, sit, stand, bend, reach, and communicate effectively, as well as use standard office equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SWCAP is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type with regard to characteristics protected under state or federal law.