Community Engagement Specialist - Central Health

The Community Engagement Specialist, reporting directly to the Community Engagement Manager, manages, enhances, and sustains relationships with Travis County residents. This involves engaging them in Central Health's work and mission through various community programs, activities, and initiatives. Additionally, this role
supports the strategic planning and operational implementation of these community engagement efforts within the Central Health system. The specialist is tasked with managing, analyzing, evaluating, and enhancing the effectiveness of these programs and initiatives.

Furthermore, the Community Engagement Specialist aids in executing community programs (both virtual and inperson), activities, and initiatives. They are responsible for developing and implementing the community engagement strategy across multiple programs, monitoring risks and opportunities, handling community escalations, and collaborating with the internal community engagement and communication teams.

Essential Functions:

• Support Community and Stakeholder Engagement Efforts: Organize and execute community engagement programs, including roundtables, events, Community Health Champions, Community Advisory Committees, Community Conversations, and individual outreach to educate and engage stakeholders in Central Health, its budget and strategic plan, ensuring engagement efforts are inclusive and accessible to diverse populations. Engage stakeholders across diverse communities, including historically excluded and underrepresented groups, to build support for Central Health.
• Foster and Maintain Strategic Community Relationships: Cultivate and maintain trust-based relationships with community leaders, advocates, and stakeholders by keeping them informed about the work of Central Health. Identify and engage key advocates from various communities, including Latino, African American, LGBTQIA+,
  and those in the healthcare sector, ensuring broad and equitable participation. Recognize and support active community members to deepen their engagement and maintain regular communication to build long-term partnerships.
• Facilitate Inclusive Targeted Engagement: Organize and facilitate meetings with key stakeholder groups (e.g., existing community leaders) to provide clear, transparent information about Central Health, its budget and goals. Use data from stakeholder interactions to refine messaging and address community-specific concerns) Ensure meetings are accessible (e.g., providing language translation, ADA accommodations) and foster an inclusive environment where all voices are heard.
• Assist with Program Analysis and Improvement: Collaborate with the Community Engagement team to gather feedback through surveys, focus groups, and other tools. Assist in analyzing the effectiveness of programs and activities and suggest improvements to enhance engagement and outcomes, incorporating community feedback
  into future plans, and ensuring messaging resonates with stakeholders.
• Utilize Constituent Relationship Management System Effectively: Maintain accurate records of engagement programs, activities, and community member interactions within the constituent relationship management (CRM) system. Monitor stakeholder interactions, recording their position on key issues. Follow up with tailored communications and outreach strategies to advance community advocates along the public involvement continuum.
• Coordinate Stakeholder Content Development: Collaborate with the content and creative teams to create and distribute community engagement content to keep stakeholders informed of the work of Central Health via newsletters, project updates, and event announcements. Ensure that the information is clear, relevant, and
  culturally sensitive, particularly when addressing specific community needs (e.g., women’s health, mental health services).
• Manage Basic Inquiries and Escalate Issues Appropriately: Respond to routine inquiries from community members promptly and professionally, escalating complex issues to the Community Engagement Manager or other appropriate staff. Ensure that responses are consistent and in line with Central Health’s communication strategy.
• Stay Informed on Community and Policy Issues: Monitor community issues, concerns, and policy developments relevant to Central Health's mission. Actively listen to and address community concerns related to the budget, strategic plan, and program implementation. Properly document and address community concerns.
• Event Coordination and Community Leadership Presence: Coordinate and attend community events to promote Central Health, its budget, strategic plan, programs and services, encouraging community members and leaders to participate.
• Promote Two-Way Communication and Feedback: Implement strategies to promote two-way communication with community members, such as regular feedback sessions, community surveys, and interactive forums. Ensure community input is valued, heard, and integrated into decision-making processes.
• Support Compliance with Public Agency Engagement Best Practices: Ensure that all community engagement activities comply with relevant laws, regulations, and best practices for government agencies, including transparency, accountability, and respect for privacy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of: Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience creating and delivering content such as newsletters, event announcements, social media posts, and public presentations.
• Comfortable interacting with diverse audiences, including community members, leaders, and stakeholders.
• Experience in developing and maintaining relationships with diverse community members, partners, stakeholders, and organizations. Ability to engage underrepresented groups and build trust-based partnerships.
• Creating online community and dialogue via Twitter, Facebook, website, e-newsletters. Effective social media techniques and strategies for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and emerging platforms
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to attend community events
  and meetings as needed.
• Experience using digital tools and platforms to manage community engagement activities, such as Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems, social media, email marketing software, and event management tools.
• Ability to engage with and keep volunteers motivated. 
• Enjoys working with community organizations and special interest groups. 
• Demonstrated experience in addressing and resolving conflicts, managing challenging situations, and providing solutions to community concerns or issues as they arise.
• Experience working with diverse communities and an understanding of cultural differences and sensitivities. Ability to adapt communication styles and engagement strategies to effectively reach various audiences.
• Experience in community organizing, volunteer management, and/or public engagement 
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaboratively within a team to achieve shared goals and objectives
• Experience promoting events 
• Proficiency in both English and Spanish languages is required 
• Ability to work well with a diverse group of staff and community members 
• Ability to manage a wide array of tasks and projects 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment 
• Organize and plan engagement projects

Minimum Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, or related communications degree

Minimum Experience:

• Five (5) Demonstrated experience in community engagement, public outreach, or a related field, preferably within a nonprofit, government agency, healthcare organization, or similar setting. Bilingual (Spanish and English).