Community Engagement Manager - Illinois Metro-East region - Illinois Legal Aid Online

Ascend Justice; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in Illinois seeks a Community Engagement Manager to direct the Community Navigator Program. This role involves recruiting and training volunteers, conducting educational presentations, and collaborating with community organizations to provide legal resources. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and experience with communities impacted by incarceration. This full-time position offers a comprehensive benefits package and supports remote work.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Flexible Workplace Policy

Paid Time Off

403(b) Retirement Plan

Qualifications

• Experience with communities impacted by incarceration.
• Experience recruiting, training, and managing staff or volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and train Community Navigators.
• Conduct 'Know Your Rights' presentations.
• Monitor and track Community Navigator activities.

Skills

Leadership

Public Speaking

Community Organizing

Customer Service

Tools

Google Apps

Job description

Community Engagement Manager - Illinois Metro-East region

Location

The Community Navigator (CN) Manager directs Illinois Legal Aid Online’s (ILAO) Community Navigator Program for communities in and around southern Illinois that are impacted by incarceration, with an initial focus on the East St. Louis/St. Clair County area. The Navigator Program promotes an asset-based approach to family stability and community welfare by recognizing the role, talent, and expertise of community members directly affected by incarceration.

The CN Manager will recruit, train, and support volunteer Community Navigators from communities impacted by incarceration in and around the target communities. These Navigators act as community educators and connectors by engaging with members of affected communities and conducting public educational “Know Your Rights” (KYR) presentations to provide access to and assistance with legal self-help information that helps people overcome barriers to work and other collateral consequences of incarceration, with the goals of strengthening and promoting community safety and prosperity.

The CN Manager will engage and partner with local community organizations to expand ILAO’s reach to communities in need of legal resources and to increase the capacity of local organizations to help the people they serve. The CN Manager will also assist community members with legal issues through the use of ILAO’s resources and tools. The Community Navigator Manager reports to ILAO’s Community Engagement Director.

People who have had interactions with the criminal justice system as defendants and meet the other qualifications are encouraged to apply.

What you’ll do:

• Recruit Community Navigators from the target communities;
• Assist in developing educational curriculum for Navigators;
• Plan, schedule, and conduct Community Navigator training sessions;
• Supervise Community Navigators and provide timely, constructive feedback; support Navigators remotely via email and web conferencing (and in person, when possible); participate in educational presentations as needed;
• Assist Community Navigators in scheduling and promoting “Know Your Rights” (KYR) presentations to meet their goals;
• Monitor and track Community Navigator activities, including contacts they make with community organizations and leaders;
• Use attendee surveys and observation to evaluate Community Navigators’ participation and performance in educational presentations;
• Identify and cultivate community organizations and leaders to be partners, including hosting and promoting KYR presentations;
• Train community partners on how to find and use the legal information resources and tools on IllinoisLegalAid.org to help their clients resolve their legal issues;
• Provide one-to-one assistance through legal information and referrals to community members to help them resolve their legal issues;
• Collaborate with ILAO’s content managers and technical team to ensure IllinoisLegalAid.org resources meet community needs;
• Work with the community engagement team to continually evaluate and improve ILAO’s community partnerships, outreach, and engagement activities;
• Meet periodically with the Community Engagement Director to report on program status;
• Participate in staff meetings and other organizational administrative meetings;
• Participate in organizational ARDEI activities; and
• Conduct other activities as assigned.

Qualifications

Core competencies

• Demonstrated leadership and motivational skills
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Self-directed and self-motivated learner; able to work independently and remotely
• Superior technology skills, including fluency in using the Internet and proficiency in Google Apps
• Experience with communities and people impacted by incarceration (people who have had interactions with the criminal justice system as a defendant are encouraged to apply)
• Experience recruiting, training, and managing staff or volunteers
• Experience in community organizing, advocacy, or otherwise working with the public and offering responsive customer service
• Live in and willing and able to travel in and around southern Illinois, and possess a valid driver's license

Pay scale and benefits

Benefits: ILAO offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental insurance, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, health and dependent care flex spending account; 15 paid days off and 15 holidays in the first calendar year of employment; and, 403(b) retirement plan, to which ILAO contributes a required 1% of salary monthly. ILAO has a flexible workplace policy that supports remote work, wellness, and work-life balance.

Position type

Full-time

How to Apply

Apply online . No recruiters and no snail mail, please. Must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer.