Outreach Specialist

Second Day; Frederick, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off (PTO) 3 weeks

Paid holidays 14 per year

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) seeks an organized, collaborative Outreach Specialist to lead targeted outreach for Community Lawyering and Development in Midwestern Maryland. The role works with the Community Outreach Manager to develop data-informed strategies and build partnerships with community organizations, service providers, and grassroots partners.

You will analyze data, craft messaging, and create media opportunities while collaborating with MLA colleagues on coordinated outreach.

Qualifications

• Ability to work independently and report outreach plans to the Community Outreach Manager.
• Demonstrated experience applying race equity analysis.
• Public speaking, delivering presentations, and facilitating meetings.
• Experience in relational or grassroots organizing, housing policy, and housing/social services.
• Creativity and flexibility in solving problems and meeting challenges.

Responsibilities

• Build stakeholder relationships to reach outreach objectives and foster collaborations.
• Plan and execute outreach, trainings, and media opportunities focusing on housing justice and Tenant Right to Counsel.
• Identify trends with MLA staff and partners to shape outreach strategies.
• Participate in community-based and tenant-led meetings and activities.
• Support programmatic reporting with quantitative and qualitative data for evaluation.

Skills

Public speaking

Meeting facilitation

Relational organizing

Grassroots organizing

Housing policy

Writing skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Listening skills

Diversity awareness

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Description

Maryland Legal Aid (MLA) advocates with and for Marylanders experiencing poverty to achieve equity and social justice through free civil legal services, community collaboration, and systemic change.

Since 1911, Maryland Legal Aid has provided high-quality legal aid to vulnerable, low-income people and communities – helping to remedy their civil legal issues and become empowered to overcome challenges, achieve stability and independence, and reach their goals. MLA also identifies and seeks to remedy systemic barriers. MLA’s core work includes eviction and foreclosure prevention, family law, children’s rights, consumer protection, securing public benefits, and access to healthcare. MLA advocates operate primarily through the courts, via individual representation of indigent clients, but also engage in impact litigation, public communication and outreach, and policy advocacy.

Through this holistic approach, Maryland Legal Aid serves to amplify the voices of tens of thousands of economically disadvantaged and vulnerable Marylanders each year and seeks to be a leader in the legal services field nationwide.

Job Summary:

MLA seeks an organized, collaborative, creative, impassioned individual as the Outreach Specialist who will lead targeted outreach activities for Community Lawyering and Development in the Midwestern Maryland office. As a member of a statewide outreach team, the Outreach Specialist will work closely with the Community Outreach Manager and regional office staff on developing and executing strategic, data-informed, relationship-driven outreach to communities with a high need for information about the identified priority issues of Community Lawyering and Development, the Tenant Right to Counsel Project, and MLA’s legal services.

The Outreach Specialist will engage externally with community organizations, anchor institutions, service providers, and grassroots partners to develop strategic relationships and to foster collaborations. The position will also require analysis and application of internal and external data to develop targets and high-impact strategies for outreach. The position will also entail frequent collaboration with MLA colleagues on coordinated outreach strategies, effective messaging, and creating media opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build stakeholder relationships in furtherance of the targeted outreach objectives; foster and grow collaborations among community organizations, grassroots organizations, service providers, and anchor institutions.
• Strategize, plan, and execute outreach, training, and media opportunities in communities in partnership with community-based entities or leaders focused on housing justice, the Tenant Right to Counsel Project and other Community Lawyering and Development priority legal areas.
• Identify larger trends and issues for community members and clients, working with MLA staff, external partners, and directly impacted residents to develop strategies informed by the values and best practices outlined by the Strategic Outreach Plan.
• Actively contribute to and participate in community-based and tenant-led meetings and activities.
• Contribute to required programmatic reporting and provide quantitative and qualitative data for evaluation of the Office/Unit’s outreach strategies.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications:

• Ability to work independently, initiate outreach activities, and maintain consistent reporting on outreach plans to the Community Outreach Manager.
• Demonstrated experience applying race equity analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with public speaking, delivering presentations, and facilitating meetings.
• Experience in or background related to relational organizing, grassroots organizing, community outreach, housing policy, and/or housing and social services agencies.
• Creativity and flexibility in solving problems and meeting challenges.
• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, organizational, and analytical skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations.
• Ability to develop and maintain a variety of relationships on multiple levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary setting to facilitate a coordinated community response and provide holistic services to clients.
• Strong listening skills and capacity for teamwork.
• Diverse economic, social, and cultural experiences.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Teams.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience in managing independent projects or assignments.
• Fluency or proficiency in a language other than English.
• Experience in the non-profit legal services field.
• Experience with Customer Relationship Management software, NGP VAN or other campaign software, ArcGIS or other geospatial analysis software, or visual collaboration platforms.

Work Environment

This is a hybrid office/home position. It also requires frequent fieldwork, outside the general office setting. The position requires regular in-person interactions in community settings and at court buildings, as well as interactions via phone, videoconference, instant messaging, and email.

Benefits

The current salary range for the paralegal position is $53,045 - $93,996.Paralegals will be paid in accordance with MLA’s Workers Union current salary scale, which is subject to revision annually through collective bargaining negotiations. For example:

• one (1) year of experience is $54,069.
• three (3) years of experience is $56,116.
• five (5) years of experience is $58,164.

Additional compensation is available for those with Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degrees, and for staff with foreign language competencies. In addition, MLA offers employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions, three weeks of paid time off, sick leave, 14 annual paid holidays, a hybrid work arrangement, and more.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Maryland Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law. We are committed to creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, reflective of our core values, for all employees.