Job Title: Community Engagement Coordinator
Why work at MCCAC?
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), located in heart of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, serves Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties. MCCAC offers programs and services to ensure our most vulnerable community members have access to healthy, safe, stable, and affordable housing. This is accomplished through our housing, energy/utility payment assistance, and weatherization programs. MCCAC’s mission is to build a better future for our community through partnership and equity-centered programs that prevent and eliminate poverty and houselessness. MCCAC is also the lead convener of the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative (MCHC), which is a coalition of local governments and organizations on both sides of the Columbia River. MCHC is dedicated to reducing houselessness in the five-county Mid-Columbia region by expanding housing capacity and ensuring supportive services are provided in culturally affirming ways that uphold human dignity.
Job Purpose:
The Community Engagement Coordinator is responsible for engaging with the community, partner organizations, and other stakeholders to support MCCAC's and the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative's (MCHC) community engagement and advocacy efforts. This role is crucial in building and maintaining strong community relationships and supporting MCCAC's mission to prevent and eliminate poverty and houselessness. The strengths and experience of the successful candidate will also partially define this job description. The Community Engagement Coordinator works closely with and reports to the Development and Partnerships Director.
Duties, Tasks, and Responsibilities:
Note: “KPI” means “Key Performance Indicator,” a measurable responsibility or outcome that will be assessed during annual performance evaluations for this position.
The Community Engagement Coordinator generally spends 50% of their time on coordination of resources, partnerships and service enhancements to support MCCAC’s shelter locations and 50% on strategic development work aligned with the priorities and actions outlined in the Mid-Columbia Houseless Collaborative’s strategic plan.
The Community Engagement Coordinator supports MCCAC programs and partnerships through completion of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:
Community Engagement, Outreach and Advocacy (70%)
KPI: In coordination with MCCAC program staff and in alignment with the MCHC strategic plan, attend, plan and facilitate community-based outreach and convening and advocacy events and efforts at a minimum on a quarterly basis to support awareness of MCCAC programs and services.
KPI: Support the creation and distribution of community engagement and advocacy materials including website content, social media content, newsletters, flyers, and other materials and projects.
Assist with planning and convening for the MCHC's quarterly meetings and workgroups.
KPI: Coordinate sustained recruitment, training, and engagement of community volunteers to support projects of MCCAC and MCHC and to increase community support for our efforts; assist with volunteer acknowledgement and appreciation.
Ensure engagement of community volunteers and other supporters, including in-kind forms of support, is tracked using MCCAC's Little Green Light database.
Assist in ensuring volunteer engagement is in compliance with personnel policies, including through processing volunteer applications and background checks.
Using in-person strategies, social media, and the Purposity platform, coordinate with MCCAC Housing and Shelter staff, and with the community, to facilitate donations of supplies requested by MCCAC’s houseless clients.
Assist with relationship building, advocacy efforts, and event planning for MCCAC and with partner organizations, landlords, local chambers of commerce, housing authorities, and partner organizations of the Collaborative to carry out priority projects and meet objectives outlined in the MCHC strategic plan.
Communication and Marketing (30%)
KPI: Support the development and distribution of materials necessary for MCCAC's marketing, outreach, training, convening, and/or education efforts, including related to HRSN services; ensure materials align with MCCAC's strategic communications plan and with the priorities of the MCHC strategic plan.
KPI: Create content for MCCAC's social media and website, newsletters, flyers, and other communication materials in alignment with MCCAC's strategic communications plan and in collaboration with MCCAC program managers.
Facilitate earned media efforts to amplify voices of key MCHC supporters, validators, and clients.
KPI: Develop a calendar of relevant public meeting agendas; in coordination with MCCAC leadership, coordinate information sharing, and/or advocacy presence at these events.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Skills, knowledge, and demonstrated abilities in areas of social services, community engagement, marketing.
Knowledge of houselessness, affordable housing, and community development, or demonstrated ability to learn.
Strong interpersonal, communication, team-building, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders.
Existing community relationships in Wasco, Sherman and/or Hood River Counties (preferred).
Experience in project management and/or event planning.
Ability to work with grace and good humor under pressure and to meet multiple deadlines.
Ability to exercise strong professional judgment and professionalism and to establish and maintain positive work relationships with co-workers and community partners.
Proficiency with Windows and Microsoft Office applications (required). Donor database experience a plus, preferably Little Green Light. Smartsheet experience a plus. Canva experience a plus.
Strong commitment to equity and racial justice.
Qualifications:
3 years educational and/or professional experience in relevant areas, for example community engagement, marketing, social services.
Degree in a field with demonstrated relevance to mission a plus (for example, public administration, social work, human services). A minimum of High School diploma or GED equivalent required.
Ability to read, write, and speak clearly and effectively. Bilingual in Spanish a plus.
Experience with computers and a variety of programs.
Prior to date of hire, and throughout employment certification of the following are required:
valid driver’s license
proof of current auto insurance
satisfactory background check
Position Details
This position may require occasional overnight and out of area travel.
This position will require occasional work after hours and on weekends.
This position is rated as active with frequent kneeling, stooping, bending, and sitting, regularly requires the individual to lift 30 pounds.
The duties outlined in this job description are not all inclusive and additional duties and tasks will be assigned as required.
MCCAC is an equal employment opportunity provider
Location: Hood River or The Dalles with a designated office space in The Dalles (at least three days/week of in-office work required, with some flexibility for remote work)
Fair Labor Standards Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Reports to: Development and Partnerships Director
Pay Structure Classification, Salary, and Benefit Information
MCCAC Pay Structure Classification: Coordinator
Responsible for: Mid-level administration of technical/medium-stakes, cross-functional/departmental project(s) or process(es) requiring moderate expertise and qualifications
Coordinator Pay Range: $25.25 to $30.00 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications.
Benefits: MCCAC offers an excellent benefits package including Blue Cross medical insurance with the agency covering 90% for employees and dependents. Dental and vision coverage. Life insurance, 401k with 3% employer match, and paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
To Apply
Send cover letter and resume to Sarah Kellems, skellems@mccac.com. Application review starts Friday, August 9, 2024.