Community Specialist

Socket.dev; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Communities In Schools of San Antonio is seeking a Community Specialist to build and manage partnerships with schools and community partners. You will coordinate trainings, collect data, visit schools, and support district staff to connect students with needed resources.

The role emphasizes relationship-building, program implementation, and continuous improvement across networks, with typical 8am-5pm hours and local travel.

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or related field
• Two years relevant work experience
• Ability to read, interpret and apply contractual terms and provisions.
• Experience with data analysis, data evaluation and/or database management
• Front of room training or presenting experience
• Demonstrating empathy toward clients, their challenges, and viewpoints
• Understanding and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives
• Proven ability to set priorities, manage multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines and work with minimal supervision.
• Communicating effectively to understand needs, convey information and collaborate on solutions. Adaptable to diverse work environments, frequent changes, and various leadership styles.
• Knowledge of social service resources that can support social, emotional, and academic needs.

Responsibilities

• Manage School Partners: support portfolios, build relationships with school personnel, develop partnerships with community partners, refer programs, follow up on referrals.
• Community Engagement: foster relationships with local businesses and community partners, plan problem-solving activities, lead meetings.
• Data Management: collect and analyze data, maintain partnership reports, complete monthly/quarterly/annual reports.
• Training: coordinate trainings, identify speakers, collaborate to strengthen training efforts, participate in Restorative Practices training.
• Administrative: manage timecards, attend mandatory meetings, complete departmental reports.

Skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Problem solving

Project coordination

Data analysis

Training/presentation

Adaptability

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or related field

Job description

Job Description: Community Specialist

Location: School-Based in San Antonio, TX

Pay Grade: 6 Job Type: Full-time, Exempt (Salary)

Job Description

The Community Specialist builds relationships within Communities in Schools under the supervision of the Future Ready Project Manager. They work closely with Site Coordinators, campus staff, key stakeholders, and community partners to address each school’s unique needs. Their role includes coordinating partner training, ensuring quality programming, and supporting various projects. By connecting schools with resources and services, the Community Specialist ensures schools have the necessary support to provide meaningful opportunities for students. They manage a portfolio of school partners, maintaining regular communication, collecting data, conducting school visits, and nurturing relationships.

Primary Responsibilities & Essential Functions

(The following statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions that may be assigned or skills that may be required.)

Manage School Partners

• Support a specified portfolio of schools with partners/resources/services that address needs and priorities identified by campus within the program objectives.
• Build positive and productive relationships with school personnel including CIS-SA staff as well as each school’s leadership and/or administration teams.
• Develop and implement strategies for creating partnerships between schools and our network of community partners.
• Actively refer available student-focused programs and services to key personnel of Student Support Team within schools across a specified portfolio of schools
• Follow-up on referrals regularly to ensure that connections are being made or that alternative services are being referred to meet need; and gaining feedback as to the efficacy of the connected program.
• Identify the school or district liaison who can assist with needs assessments, program evaluation, facilitate partner appreciation, and enhance awareness of CIS-SA and partners.
• Research and identify potential community partners in coordination with the Future Ready Project Manager and the Strategic Partnership Manager to service providers to meet key needs of the portfolio of schools served by the Community Specialist.
• Serve as the partnership navigator ensuring that all parties have clear communication and understanding of roles and expectations.
• Support the work of the site coordinators and campus personnel with positive and innovative solutions to challenges.
• Assist in gathering key District and School stakeholders to provide program feedback and support continuous improvement efforts.

Community Engagement

• Foster relationships and develop champions with local businesses, community-based organizations, faith leaders, and/or all relevant stakeholders that lead to positive engagement of the community, neighborhoods, and residents surrounding the portfolio schools.
• Coordinate and lead planning and problem-solving activities to effectively address challenges and concerns related to access to services in the areas surrounding the portfolio schools.
• Facilitate ongoing meetings within the assigned portfolio of schools to ensure that collaboration, coordination, and clear communication exist with CIS-SA staff, district campuses and community-based partners.
• Represent CIS-SA in relevant community or coalition groups and/or convenings with community partners or districts.

Data Management

• Collect and analyze data related to school partner connections and monitor school/ agency partnerships implementation of programming and services to improve our support of schools and increase program connections and integrity of program.
• Maintain detailed reports of school and agency partnerships for the portfolio of schools; and
• Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting necessary for monitoring of programming, evaluation, and sharing with stakeholders.

Training

• Coordinate with Training and Education Department to plan and/or facilitate trainings, and networking events for school and agency partners to build and deepen partner capacity and collaboration.
• Identify quality speakers or trainers in the community and among partners to offer relevant trainings for Student Support Team and campus staff, agency partners, families, and/or youth to address needs and build capacity.
• Collaborate with internal CIS-SA departments, Student Support Teams, and other relevant partners to understand what training is needed and how to strengthen training efforts.
• Participate in training on Restorative Practices and other Healing Frameworks to support implementation and provide guidance to District and School stakeholders to improve school culture and climate.

Administrative

• Manage timecard.
• Attend and participate in all mandatory agency meetings.
• Complete required departmental reports within deadlines.

Exhibit CIS Core Values:

• Passion
• Collaboration
• Optimism
• Adaptability

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work generally are Monday through Friday, 8a.m. to 5p.m. Employees may be required to adjust daily work hours based on location/site (i.e., 7:30-4:00pm) and changes in work hours for summer, June-August (i.e., Mon-Thur 7:00am-5:30pm). This position on occasion requires long hours and weekend work.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out-of-area and overnight travel may be expected.

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, GENDER, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, OR ANY OTHER BASIS PROHIBITED BY LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL LAW.

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, or related field
• Two years relevant work experience
• Ability to read, interpret and apply contractual terms and provisions.
• Experience with data analysis, data evaluation and/or database management
• Front of room training or presenting experience
• Demonstrating empathy toward clients, their challenges, and viewpoints
• Understanding and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives
• Proven ability to set priorities, manage multiple responsibilities, meet deadlines and work with minimal supervision.
• Communicating effectively to understand needs, convey information and collaborate on solutions. Adaptable to diverse work environments, frequent changes, and various leadership styles.
• Knowledge of social service resources that can support social, emotional, and academic needs.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

• Experience with cross-sector collaboratives and/or change management.
• Experience with Project Management
• Experience administering multi-year grants and contracts.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications/Requirements

• Strong organizational skills along with excellent oral and written communication ability
• A willingness to follow the CIS-SA model, be adaptable to client and system change, and coordinate efforts in a collaborative team environment.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional and ethical behavior in all interactions and interventions.
• Must have reliable transportation.
• Must be able to pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check.

What is Communities In Schools?

To gain insight into our Mission: To surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. View this short video: https://youtu.be/wBxTIMfemQE From Communities In Schools of San Antonio student, to San Antonio Councilman, to now leading as the Communities In Schools® National CEO and President, Rey Saldaña represents the potential that each of our students has. Every student that walks through our door has the potential to define their own success, but many of them just need one caring adult to encourage them and support them as they go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hxQn0j3l7E&t=41s For more information go to https://www.cissa.org/