Community Relations Specialist

College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS); Paterson (NJ); On-site; USD 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS) is seeking a Community Relations Specialist to foster relationships between the school and the local community. This role involves coordinating family involvement, organizing community events, and developing strategies to enhance students' educational experiences.

The ideal candidate will hold a Bachelor’s degree and have significant experience in community relations or educational support, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Salary ranges from $48,000 to $60,000, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in community relations.
• Working knowledge of State and Federal guidelines and procedures.
• Ability to effectively engage with diverse community members.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with community and educational stakeholders.
• Coordinate school-family involvement to enhance educational experiences.
• Organize events and community outreach programs.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Negotiation skills

Community service knowledge

Cultural sensitivity

English communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college

Master's Degree (Negotiable)

Job description

Basic Functions And Responsibilities

The Community Relations Specialist shall function under the immediate direction and supervision of the schools Principal or his/her designee.

Qualifications And Requirements

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of five years School Psychologist, School Social Worker, or School Counselor Certificate or Substance Awareness Coordinator experience.
• Working knowledge of State and Federal guidelines and procedures.
• One year of experience in community service work involved in explaining the role of the local school system and related educational programs to residents of the community.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, good presentation, and negotiation skills are essential as well.

Job Description

Community Relations Specialist - You will build and maintain relationships with individuals, students, communities, and organizations that can support your employers goals. You will coordinate and provide support for school-family involvement as it relates to enhancing the student educational experience by carrying out necessary communications between home and school, and other activities that promote positive home-school relations. Much of the job is completed in an office, but you will spend time also hosting community-wide conferences with families and staff, conducting after school meetings, supporting families with locating jobs and delivering speeches. Must be a team player to build rapport with various constituents in communities, schools, and organizations.

Duties

• Serve as a liaison between family and staff to ensure that school partners understand how to contact and best serve them.
• Serve on various committees in and outside of the school as is deemed necessary. Participate in planning teams and/or advisory board.
• Provide staff development for supporting service personnel and administration.
• Implement community outreach programs.
• Organize events.
• Release publicity material (i.e. press releases) and develop public relations strategies that will promote the organization’s mission.
• Involve community organizations and businesses in developing and implementing incentive programs for attendance, achievement, and behavioral improvement.
• Conduct and organize various workshops and meetings with organizations.
• Establish monthly, quarterly, and year-long priorities. Observe the status and progress of the work and making necessary adjustments in accordance with established priorities.
• Be proficient in school procedures, policies, regulations, and instructions.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to identify and relate effectively to cultural and sociological differences as they exist in the local population.
• Ability to learn quickly the significant facts in communities, schools, and organizations setting and weigh and evaluate such facts.
• Ability to maintain needed records and files.
• Perform other duties that may be within the scope of his/her employment and certifications as may be assigned by his/her supervisor(s).
• Provides assistance to students troubled by physical, emotional, medical, familial, or chemical dependency problems.
• Cooperates with community service providers or other officials in the rendering of critical, social, and emotional needs and related treatment services.
• Serves on various committees within the school as is deemed necessary. Participates in planning teams and/or advisory boards.
• Consultant available to provide information and support to schools experiencing a crisis or problematic incident.
• Arranges for the conducting of workshops at various schools for parents of children that are educationally and socially deprived in order to inform them of the education programs provisions, services, and other functions offered within the school system.
• Compiles and collects basic information and material to help the school involve the parents in the activities of the children.
• Coordinates community-wide conferences with parents in order to involve them in their children’s education.
• Conducts meetings with parents and interprets and explains the various provisions of the education program so that they are able to help their children at home.
• Meets with parent groups and helps individual parents resolve problems with their children by making referrals to appropriate persons in order to have a problem corrected.
• Confers with local parent council chairpersons and aids them in developing the skills and knowledge needed to function effectively in their positions.
• Confers and works with school principals, teachers, guidance and other professional staff, as well as parents and other concerned individuals regarding problems affecting the students progress and achievements, behavior, personal well-being or other school-related problems they may be experiencing.

Salary Range and Employment Period

• Salary: Bachelor’s Degree: $48,000 - $60,000
• Master’s Degree: Negotiable
• Employment Period: 10 months
• Salary subject to change pending CAPCS contract negotiations.