Community Engagement Specialist

Mercy House; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercy House is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist to support the Development Team in fundraising, community outreach, and volunteer services.

The role is based onsite at the Brundage Navigation Center in Bakersfield and involves coordinating outreach events, recruiting volunteers, and managing in-kind donations to support Kern County residents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field preferred.
• Two years of direct life experience working with long-term homeless, low income and diverse populations accepted.
• Ability to work with a diverse population; plan, organize and prioritize duties; crisis intervention as needed; clear communication in verbal and written form.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee Community Outreach opportunities with Congregations, Service Groups, Corporations, and other community groups.
• Represent Mercy House at Community Outreach Events and build relationships with city staff, community organizers, and local partners.
• Oversee recruitment, interviewing, and training of volunteers; manage volunteer placement and reporting of hours.
• Coordinate with programs to identify major needs and oversee in-kind donations; tracking and thanking donors.

Skills

Community Outreach

Volunteer Coordination

Donation Coordination

Residential Services

Life Skills Workshops

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or related field

Job description

Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt | Payrate: $24.00/Hour | Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pmJob Summary: The Community Engagement Specialist is responsible for assisting the Development Team with the implementation of existing components and the creation of new components to Mercy House’s fundraising plans, community outreach, and volunteer services. This position will be based onsite at the Brundage Navigation Center in Bakersfield. Primary responsibilities for this role include providing residents with information about available services in the community, assisting residents to access services through referrals and advocacy, and organizing community building and/or other enrichment activities for residents.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Community OutreachCoordinate and oversee Community Outreach opportunities with Congregations, Service Groups, Corporations, and other community groupsRepresent Mercy House at Community Outreach EventsSeek out community partners that will support Mercy HouseMeet on a regular basis with community organizations to ensure a strong relationship is maintainedSupport all fundraising events for example the Pickle Ball TournamentSeek out community support to be represented on our Regional Advisory CouncilCreate and sustain relationships with city staff, community organizers, local business leaders, and church partners for the sake of building out a fundraising plan for Kern CountyVolunteer CoordinationOversee recruitment, interviewing, and training of volunteersOversee volunteer placement and performanceResponsible for reporting on volunteer/donation hours to managementRecognize volunteer achievementsCreate marketing content from volunteer groups for public relation purposesOngoing creative input/development of new volunteer programsOversee the coordination of holiday events and adopt a resident program and special volunteer projectsOversee the implementation and maintenance of volunteer platformLead volunteer orientations and other recruitment eventsDonation CoordinationObtain larger in-kind donations (e.g., maintenance work, painting, Easter baskets, adopt-a-resident gifts, etc.)Oversee Match in-kind donation allocation and budgetManage tracking and thanking donors who provide in-kind donationsCoordinate with programs to see what the major needs areResidential ServicesGoal: Deliver effective support services to all residentsAssist residents with establishing individual and family goals and maintain safe, stable affordable housingFacilitate resident’s participation with credit counseling, computer training, financial literacy education and job search assistance to help them achieve greater levels of success in their livesCoordinate life skills workshops on topics such as job search skills, parenting skills, time and stress management, health and wellness, and interpersonal relationship and communication skillsCoordinate job readiness workshops to support residents in job search job skills developmentProvide residents with information about available services in the communityAssist residents to access services through referral and advocacyOrganize community building and/or other enrichment activities for residentsAssist residents in building support networks with other residents, family and friendsDesign and coordinate holiday and community building eventsMiscellaneousAttend staff meetings and training workshops as neededEnhance job performance by applying up-to-date professional and technical knowledge gained by attending seminars and conferences and reviewing professional publicationsPerform ad hoc projects as appointed by SupervisorRequirements:Education and ExperienceBachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field is preferredPersons with less than a BA/BS degree but with at least 2 years of direct life experience working with long-term homeless, low income, and diverse populations and have a working knowledge of mental health and additional issues are welcome to applyGeneralAbility to work effectively with a diverse population; plan, organize and prioritize duties; perform crisis intervention as needed; clearly communicate information and instructions verbally and in written form; maintain a positive, professional and safe environment while on duty; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with othersDependability, responsibility, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfullyPhysical RequirementsAbility to lift up to 25 poundsProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computerCore Competencies:Adaptability: Ability to adjust to different perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds, recognizing the diverse interconnectedness of individuals and communitiesCompassion: Demonstrates empathy and understanding towards others, acknowledging their interconnectedness and inherent worthHumility: Recognizes one’s own place within the larger interconnected web of humanity, showing openness to learning from others and acknowledging the contributions of allBuild Trust: Excels in building and maintaining trust within teams and across organizational levels, consistently demonstrating integrity and honesty in communication, actions, and decision-makingAccountability: Takes responsibility for actions, admits mistakes, and continuously strives for self-improvement, and encourages a learning mindset within the organizationContinuous Improvement: Commits to personal and professional development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and encourages a learning mindset within the organizationCommunication: Excels in communicating clearly and persuasively through verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, conveying complex ideas with clarity, and fostering open dialogue across all levels of the organizationConfidence: Exhibits courage in making bold decisions, taking action in the face of uncertainty, and embracing calculated risks on behalf of constituentsCritical Thinking: Possesses the ability to critically analyze existing policies related to homelessness and constructively advocate for changes that address systemic injusticesCollaboration: Builds and fosters positive relationships with diverse range of stakeholders, including clients, coworkers, community organizations, and affected communities and effectively working toward the shared goal of ending homelessnessDrive Change: Understands and embodies that every action is an opportunity to be innovative and draw ideas from others; implements valuable change to forward our mission and shares the “why’s” behind changes