Community Engagement Specialist

Job Details: Job Location: Santa Barbara Navigation Center - Santa Barbara, CA, Education Level: Not Specified, Salary Range: $24.00 - $24.00Hourly, Job Category: Shelter Services, Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt | Payrate: $24.00/Hour | Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm 

Job Summary: The Community Engagement Specialist is responsible for assisting the Development Team with the implementation of existing components and the creation of new components to Mercy House’s fundraising plan, community outreach, and volunteer services.

I. Community Outreach

· Coordinate and oversee Community Outreach opportunities with Congregations, Service Groups, Corporations, and other community groups

· Represent Mercy House at Community Outreach Events

· Seek out community partners that will support Mercy House

· Meet on a regular basis with community organizations to ensure a strong relationship is maintained

· Support all fundraising events: Spring Gala “Living with Heart”, Golf Tournament, etc.

· Seek out community support to be represented on our Regional Advisory Council

· Create and sustain relationships with city staff, community organizers, local business leaders, and church partners for the sake of building out a fundraising plan for the shelter.

II. Volunteer Coordination

· Oversee recruitment, interviewing, and training of volunteers

· Oversee volunteer placement and performance

· Responsible for reporting on volunteer/ donation hours to management

· Recognize volunteer achievements

· Create marketing content from volunteer groups for public relation purposes

· Ongoing creative input/development of new volunteer programs

· Oversee the coordination of holiday events and adopt a resident program and special volunteer projects

· Oversee the implementation and maintenance of volunteer platform

· Lead volunteer orientations and other recruitment events

III. Donation Coordination

· Obtain larger in-kind donations (ex: maintenance work, painting, Easter baskets, adopt a resident gifts, etc.)

· Oversee Match in-kind donation allocation and budget

· Manage tracking and thanking donors who provide in-kind donations

· Coordinate with programs to see what the major needs are.

VII. Miscellaneous

· Attend staff meetings and training workshops as needed

· Enhance job performance by applying up-to-date professional and technical knowledge gained by attending seminars and conferences and reviewing professional publications.

· Perform ad hoc projects as appointed by Supervisor
Qualifications: Requirements:   

Education and Experience 

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field is preferred 

Persons with less than a BA/BS degree but with at least 2 years of direct life experience working with long-term homeless, low income, and diverse populations and have a working knowledge of mental health and additional issues are welcome to apply 

General 

Ability to work effectively with a diverse population; plan, organize and prioritize duties; perform crisis intervention as needed; clearly communicate information and instructions verbally and in written form; maintain a positive, professional and safe environment while on duty; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with others 

Dependability, responsibility, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully 

Physical Requirements 

Ability to lift up to 25 pounds 

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer 

Core Competencies: 

Adaptability: Ability to adjust to different perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds, recognizing the diverse interconnectedness of individuals and communities 

Compassion: Demonstrates empathy and understanding towards others, acknowledging their interconnectedness and inherent worth 

Humility: Recognizes one’s own place within the larger interconnected web of humanity, showing openness to learning from others and acknowledging the contributions of all 

Build Trust: Excels in building and maintaining trust within teams and across organizational levels, consistently demonstrating integrity and honesty in communication, actions, and decision-making 

Accountability: Takes responsibility for actions, admits mistakes, and continuously strives for self-improvement, and encourages a learning mindset within the organization 

Continuous Improvement: Commits to personal and professional development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and encourages a learning mindset within the organization 

Communication: Excels in communicating clearly and persuasively through verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, conveying complex ideas with clarity, and fostering open dialogue across all levels of the organization 

Confidence: Exhibits courage in making bold decisions, taking action in the face of uncertainty, and embracing calculated risks on behalf of constituents 

Critical Thinking: Possesses the ability to critically analyze existing policies related to homelessness and constructively advocate for changes that address systemic injustices 

Collaboration: Builds and fosters positive relationships with diverse range of stakeholders, including clients, coworkers, community organizations, and affected communities and effectively working toward the shared goal of ending homelessness 

Drive Change: Understands and embodies that every action is an opportunity to be innovative and draw ideas from others; implements valuable change to forward our mission and shares the “why’s” behind changes