Community Engagement Coordinator

The Position

The City of Santa Rosa’s Communications, Community Engagement & Public Affairs Office is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Community Engagement Coordinator. We invite you to join the team at the City where you can be part of a dynamic, customer-centric, collaborative, diverse, inclusive and knowledgeable organization committed to facilitating a thriving community by providing excellent customer service.

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT:A 2.5% salary increase effective July 2023
Eligible for Attraction & Retention Incentive, up to 10% of base salary (split between first and second year of employment)
11 paid holidays annually, plus 1 to 3 ‘floating holidays’ per year, depending on start date and years of service
$500 annually for wellness
Flexible schedule (9/80 and 4/10) available with management approval
Opportunity for up to 50% remote work after successful completion of probation
In addition to offering a challenging, rewarding work environment and excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, your choice of health plan, a flexible spending program, employer contributions to a Retiree Health Savings plan, flexible work schedule options, and top of the line employer paid (free to you) vision and dental coverage. More information regarding benefits associated with this position can be found on our Miscellaneous Employee Benefits Page.

WORKING FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY:
The Office of Community Engagement provides support and resources to community and to other City departments in an effort to improve relationships between residents of Santa Rosa and the City of Santa Rosa. This includes:

Leading the Community Empowerment Plan
Planning and Implementing Neighborfest!
Implementing the former Open Government Task Force recommendations

Staffing our Community Advisory Board
For more information about Community Engagement, please visit our website at: Santa Rosa Community Engagement

ABOUT THE POSITION:
The Communications, Community Engagement & Public Affairs Office seeks a highly skilled individual for the position of Community Engagement Coordinator.  Reporting to the City’s Community Engagement Manager, the Coordinator will develop, monitor, deliver and support events and community outreach programs to foster and enhance community engagement and civic participation on a citywide basis; provide organizational support and technical advice to business coalitions and community organizations; assist with outreach, collaboration, relationship building and resource development; develop and implement volunteer projects and training programs; and create and distribute various educational and marketing materials to diverse audiences. Responsibilities include the direct or indirect supervision of technical and administrative support personnel and volunteers.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:
The successful candidate will have successful community outreach, engagement and organizing experience and a related Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Years of directly related experience at a highly responsible level may substitute for the education. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred, but is not required.

In addition, the successful candidate will possess:A proven track record of successful and innovative outreach, communication and relationship building with diverse populations in a culturally competent manner
Exceptional communication and facilitation skills
Experience in program and event planning, management and evaluation;
The ability to analyze situations and needs to develop sound recommendations

HOW TO APPLY:
Please complete a thoughtful, thorough Supplemental Questionnaire submission. As part of the selection process, your responses to these questions will be scored using criteria specific to this position. Incomplete responses, or responses such as “See Resume” can result in disqualification from the selection process.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter.

THE SELECTION PROCESS:
The selection process will include a minimum qualifications assessment, and may also include an application and supplemental questionnaire review, followed by department selection interviews.

For more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Angela Dick at adick@srcity.org.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties:
The following duties are considered essential for this job classification: Develop and implement programs to increase community engagement and civic participation
Develop and use interactive and innovative technologies to inform and engage the community; and develop specific communication and outreach strategies to reach diverse populations including but not limited to disadvantaged groups of our community
Organize and implement citywide training programs for community leaders, staff, local organizations and community members in general to exchange ideas, and collect and analyze data in an effort to enhance trust between the City and the community at large
Facilitate the development and implementation of creative new processes that build bridges and give community members more opportunities to learn about, discuss, and participate meaningfully on key community issues facing the City and affecting our community
Manage relationships between City staff and departments, neighborhood groups, major employers, schools, public interest groups, and service providers in order to improve communication, build support and advocacy related to community engagement and civic participation
Provide the community with technical information, expertise, guidance and support to internal audiences, neighborhood and business coalitions, associations and other community organizations to enhance community engagement and civic participation
Research, compile information regarding best practices and performance measures related to community outreach, engagement and civic participation
Participate in determining community training and education needs and develop and implement training programs and workshops to meet identified needs
Develop and coordinate a volunteer corps (including youth) for community interest projects and programs
Organize and implement meetings, conferences and other citywide events
Facilitate community problem solving by identifying issues of concern and utilizing or developing linkages to appropriate community resources to help resolve them
Monitor, evaluate and report program progress and outcomes against program goals
Develop and maintain related databases and tracking systems
Identify, apply for and administer grants to fund assigned programs
Develop web-based marketing and program content including interactive community calendar and management of program information via social media outlets
Develop standards and guidelines for neighborhood association, coalition and community members recognition
Perform related duties as assigned.

Required QualificationsKnowledge of:  general functions, programs and responsibilities of City government; the local community and community and agency resources available to assist residents;  data collection and research methods; principles and practices of meeting facilitation, training educational program and general event planning and implementation, outreach, resource development research and solicitation, sound business communication, public involvement and community organizing theory.

Ability to:  Plan, organize and evaluate program activities; define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound, independent conclusions and recommendations; understand and interpret applicable laws, codes and ordinances related to public meetings and public records; listen actively to others and use tact and diplomacy in sensitive situations; present information clearly, logically and persuasively to individuals and groups orally and in writing; facilitate and organize meetings effectively; organize, set priorities, and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility; communicate effectively with diverse populations in a culturally competent manner; prepare a wide variety of reports; compile and analyze statistical information; manage departmental resources responsibly and effectively; operate a computer, web-based applications and standard business software including word processing, spreadsheet, power point, social media, database management and presentation applications. Bilingual ability in English and Spanish is highly desirable.

Experience and Education:  Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:  Experience – Sufficient progressively responsible community outreach, engagement and organizing experience to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed above.  Experience in a public agency is preferred.  Education – A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major coursework in communications, public relations, social work, organizational development, public or business administration, marketing, or a closely related field.  Directly related experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year for year basis.

License or Certificate:  This classification requires the use of a vehicle while conducting City business to conduct public outreach and travel to meetings and events in widespread locations throughout Santa Rosa both during and after hours.  In order to drive, individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely and must possess a valid, Class C, California driver license.

Additional InformationWorking Conditions
The work of this classification is performed primarily indoors in an office setting and outside the office at indoor and outdoor public meetings and events.  Field work involves standing for extended periods of time while staffing information tables, attending community events, or assisting with projects with the ability to sit and rest at will. Outreach presentations and events require loading, unloading, transport, and setting up of printed materials, tables, chairs, and canopies weighing up to 30 pounds. Incumbents communicate orally with others over the telephone and in one-on-one and group presentation settings. When writing reports or memos, sending e-mail or preparing graphics, incumbents enter data into a terminal or personal computer using a keyboard. Office work requires sitting at a desk for extended periods of time with the ability to move about at will. Incumbents prepare charts, graphs, maps and other graphics for meetings.

Selection Process
Applicants will be carefully reviewed for the experience and education qualifications as described above. Depending on the number of applications, either all candidates demonstrating minimum qualifications, OR a smaller number possessing the MOST DESIRABLE qualifications based on a screening of application materials, including answers to the supplemental questionnaire, will be placed on an eligible list. Candidates on the list will be referred to the hiring department for interviews.  If additional openings occur in this job classification in the future, candidates may be referred again for consideration.

SANTA ROSA – A WONDERFUL CITY TO CALL HOME

The City of Santa Rosa is located just 55 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean with a population of approximately 180,000. Santa Rosa is the seat of Sonoma County and the center of trade, government, commerce, and medical facilities for the North Bay. The surrounding area is home to over a hundred wineries and vineyards and many beautiful parks and recreational facilities, including golf courses. Santa Rosa is in the center of a nationally recognized cycling area. We boast many attractions associated with large cities, including a symphony, performing arts center, theater productions and internationally recognized restaurants, yet still retain the warmth and small town feel of decades past. Santa Rosa has been named one of the 50 greenest cities in the United States with one of the top five mid-sized downtowns in California.

The City of Santa Rosa is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.