Community Outreach Specialist

True Friends; Minnesota; Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan with employer

Professional development opportunities

Volunteer time off

Employee referral program

Cabin rental discounts

Job summary

True Friends in Minnesota is seeking a Community Outreach Specialist to build and nurture partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, disability-serving organizations, and community groups. You will design outreach strategies, coordinate with program teams, and represent True Friends at events and conferences to grow referrals and awareness.

This role blends community work with collaboration across True Friends teams, requiring strong relationship-building, storytelling, and project

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• 3–5 years of experience in sales, channel marketing, field marketing, business development, community outreach, partnership development, or a related area
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to tell compelling stories for a variety of audiences
• Ability to manage multiple outreach initiatives, relationships, and shifting timelines simultaneously
• A genuine passion for the True Friends mission and creating life-changing experiences for people of all abilities
• Ability to successfully pass the required organizational background study

Responsibilities

• Develop and carry out community outreach strategies that increase awareness of True Friends' programs, services, mission, and community presence
• Build and maintain relationships with schools, healthcare providers, disability-serving organizations, community groups, and other strategic partners
• Develop referral and partnership networks that help individuals and organizations connect with True Friends' programs and services
• Collaborate with program and service teams to understand their goals and identify appropriate outreach and partnership opportunities
• Create resources and materials that help community partners and referral sources effectively share information about True Friends
• Represent True Friends at conferences, community events, career fairs, service organization meetings, and other community and industry events
• Build relationships within the community to identify stories, testimonials, and other opportunities to share the True Friends mission and impact
• Partner with internal teams to ensure information shared through outreach efforts is accurate, relevant, and current
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking community relationships, referrals, partnerships, and engagement
• Track and report on outreach activity and effectiveness, including partnership growth, referrals, event participation, and other relevant measures
• Manage relationships with public relations, copywriting, and other outreach-related freelancers and contractors
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Relationship building

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Marketing / Communications / Business or related field

Equivalent education and relevant work experience

Job description

Hybrid work option

Join us in our mission to provide life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities!

About The Role

At True Friends, adventure and experiences belong to everyone, and as our Community Outreach Specialist, you’ll help make sure the community knows it.

In this role, you’ll build and strengthen relationships with schools, healthcare providers, disability-serving organizations, community groups, and other partners to increase awareness of True Friends and the opportunities we provide.

You’ll spend time both in the community and working alongside teams throughout True Friends to understand their goals, identify opportunities to connect with the right audiences, and develop partnerships and referral networks that expand our reach.

This is a great opportunity for someone who loves connecting with people, building relationships, representing an organization in the community, and turning those connections into meaningful opportunities.

What You’ll Do

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and carry out community outreach strategies that increase awareness of True Friends' programs, services, mission, and community presence
• Build and maintain relationships with schools, healthcare providers, disability-serving organizations, community groups, and other strategic partners
• Develop referral and partnership networks that help individuals and organizations connect with True Friends' programs and services
• Collaborate with program and service teams to understand their goals and identify appropriate outreach and partnership opportunities
• Create resources and materials that help community partners and referral sources effectively share information about True Friends
• Represent True Friends at conferences, community events, career fairs, service organization meetings, and other community and industry events
• Build relationships within the community to identify stories, testimonials, and other opportunities to share the True Friends mission and impact
• Partner with internal teams to ensure information shared through outreach efforts is accurate, relevant, and current
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking community relationships, referrals, partnerships, and engagement
• Track and report on outreach activity and effectiveness, including partnership growth, referrals, event participation, and other relevant measures
• Manage relationships with public relations, copywriting, and other outreach-related freelancers and contractors
• Perform other duties as assigned

Why You’ll Love It

• Make meaningful connections: Build relationships with organizations and individuals who can help more people discover True Friends
• Get out into the community: Represent True Friends at events, conferences, meetings, and other opportunities throughout the region
• Make an impact: Help increase awareness of programs and services that create meaningful experiences for people of all abilities
• Work across the organization: Collaborate with program, service, HR, Development, and Marketing teams to support a variety of organizational goals
• Bring ideas to life: Identify new audiences, relationships, partnerships, and outreach opportunities that expand True Friends' community presence

What You’ll Gain

• Community engagement experience: Strengthen your ability to develop and maintain relationships across a wide range of organizations and audiences
• Partnership development skills: Gain experience building referral networks and identifying mutually beneficial community partnerships
• Strategic outreach experience: Develop and evaluate outreach strategies using relationship, referral, event, and engagement data
• Cross-functional experience: Work with teams throughout the organization and learn how programs, services, recruitment, fundraising, and marketing work together
• Meaningful experience: Use your skills to help connect more people and communities with the mission of True Friends

Benefits

Health & Wellness

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and families, including HSA option
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• CPR/First Aid training opportunities

Time & Flexibility

• PTO — accrue up to 20 days annually to start
• 16 hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) each year
• 8 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays annually
• Hybrid work option

Employee Perks

• Retirement savings plan with up to a 3% employer match upon eligibility
• Employee referral program
• Cabin rental discounts
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Organizational events and opportunities to connect with coworkers

Schedule

• Full-time, year round
• Regular schedule primarily during standard business hours
• Frequent local travel to community events, partner meetings, conferences, and True Friends locations
• Some evening and weekend availability is required based on community events and outreach opportunities
• Schedule may vary based on organizational and community needs

What You’ll Bring To The Table

We’re looking for someone who enjoys connecting with people, developing relationships, and finding new ways to introduce individuals and organizations to the True Friends mission.

You’ll bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• 3–5 years of experience in sales, channel marketing, field marketing, business development, community outreach, partnership development, or a related area
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Confidence representing an organization at public events and with external partners
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to tell compelling stories for a variety of audiences
• Ability to manage multiple outreach initiatives, relationships, and shifting timelines simultaneously
• A genuine passion for the True Friends mission and creating life-changing experiences for people of all abilities
• Ability to successfully pass the required organizational background study

Nonprofit experience is not required. We welcome candidates who bring relevant experience from corporate, agency, community, or other professional environments.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This position combines office-based work with regular activity throughout the community and at True Friends locations. The Community Outreach Specialist should be prepared to:

• Sit for extended periods of time
• Stand, walk, reach, and use hands and fingers throughout the workday
• Hear and communicate verbally with community partners, coworkers, and other stakeholders
• Routinely use standard office equipment, including computers and phones
• Travel locally for community events, conferences, partner meetings, and visits to True Friends locations
• Work occasional evenings and weekends based on community events and outreach needs

Compensation

Annual Salary: $51,187.50