Community Engagement Advocate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Community Engagement Coordinator is responsible for coordinating neighbor and partner engagement efforts to build awareness and utilization of Houston Food Bank (HFB) services. Based on strategies provided by the Community Engagement leadership, this role determines the best methods to engage specific populations and neighborhoods where HFB can optimize service to the community. The Community Engagement Coordinator will lead efforts to ensure that HFB captures stakeholder insights about services, programs, and resources and engages residents and neighbors to support advocacy work. In addition, the Community Engagement Coordinator will participate, and at times lead, community meetings and activities, develop and manage community collaborations, and host events.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Reliable, consistent, attendance is a requirement. This position requires punctuality and dependable attendance to meet the needs of the business, including attending and taking part in meetings and presentations that take place at the main campus or in the community.
2. Coordinates with the Community Engagement team to strategically implement outreach and engagement efforts within HFB’s service area.
3. Assists with implementation of committee-led projects within HFB programs, the community, and partner agencies.
4. Stays abreast of HFBs programming, operations, and services.
5. Supports outreach, planning, coordination, and at times lead, community-based gatherings that focus on getting neighborhood insights that support HFB improvements and advocacy efforts.
6. Researches and understands the larger HFB community, leaders, resources, and needs so that the qualitative information can be utilized by the organization to improve services and programs.
7. Attends all meetings for Community Engagement and HFB as required.
8. Proactively works with other departments and staff on projects, to supply information, offer support and updates, and represent the Community Engagement department.
9. Builds systems and processes that keep HFB staff and programs updated on trends in the community and community feedback (Ex: Newsletters, community events).
10. Initiates and mobilizes connections from the community to internal Houston Food Bank programs and staff.
11. Learns and utilizes information about HFB programs including but not limited to eligibility, enrollment, distribution, and other policies and procedures that impact partners and the community.
12. Collaborates with internal staff to effectively address where to direct community members and partners for assistance and resources.
13. Follows through in providing requested information to and from community partners, as well as logging stakeholder information into the customer relationship management (CRM) system.
14. Builds and maintains resources that spotlight HFB’s programs in a way that meets the needs of multiple audiences.
15. Collaborates with HFB Government Relations team and other HFB programs to engage neighborhoods and clients.
16. Intentionally engages, grows, and maintains relationships with residents so that HFB can help ensure that factual lived experiences are shared with diverse audiences. For example: Mobilize clients to help share stories with HFB’s Marketing and Communications department or speak about neighborhood experiences in front of HFB Board members during community highlights.
17. Tracks appropriate metrics and provides them to the Community Engagement Supervisor and Director.
18. Supports, enters, and tracks necessary metrics in software management tools, and gathers qualitative data as projects or grants require.
19. Provides support to other team members with relevant tasks and contributes to the problem resolution on different projects.
20. Attends relevant meetings, adheres to deadlines, and participates as a vital member to collectively advance organizational, departmental, and team-level objectives.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in project management, public administration, public health, social work, nonprofit management, business, or closely related field.
• 2-3 years of community outreach and engagement experience
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the job holder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

• Knowledge of project implementation, management, and evaluation; data collection and analysis; and baseline about social determinants of health and social services
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Publisher, SharePoint, and Outlook
• Willingness to experiment with the use of approved AI platforms to support qualitative data analysis
• Ability to work with diverse cultures and populations internally and externally
• Strong public speaking and group facilitation abilities
• Engage diverse stakeholders and residents in both urban and rural settings
• Ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships and networks
• Strong customer service skills and willingness to assist others
• Highly accountable for meeting deliverables and timelines
• Foundationally strong in communications (written, verbal, interpersonal)
• Able to actively listen, synthesize information, and accurately communicate complex information clearly
• Attentive to details
• Strong proactive problem-solving abilities
• Independent self-starter

COMPLIANCE:

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

COMPETENCIES:

Action-Oriented / Customer Focus / Drives for Results / Priority Setting / Managerial Courage / Interpersonal Savvy / Creativity / Standing Alone / Time Management / Decision Quality / Self-development / Patience

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required daily to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a standing or stationary position for a significant amount of the workday; and often access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee must regularly move about the office and around the facility, use hands, wrists, and fingers to grip, type, and write. The employee must frequently lift 30 pounds. The employee will need to have the average ability to hear horns, warnings, and alerts associated with a warehouse. The employee must frequently travel to other sites for business.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While the job is generally performed in an enclosed office environment, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the office environment is typically quiet, but the employee will be occasionally exposed to loud noise levels (e.g., horns, fans).

TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Travel is required for this position (up to 20% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area).

This role supports hours of operations at the Houston Food Bank facilities, as necessary, and may require flexibility (e.g., times of disaster, community events, company events).

*Is legally able to work in the United States.