Community Engagement Specialist

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.

About Us

At The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) we are dedicated to the Colorado for All philosophy - working toward a Colorado where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We support the basic human rights of our neighbors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, education level, disability, socio-economic status, or any other visible or invisible identity. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About the Role

The Office of Environmental Justice (“OEJ”) seeks to advance environmental justice in Colorado and implement statutory environmental justice mandates, including specific benchmarks and targets established by the Environmental Justice Act. OEJ works in partnership with disproportionately impacted communities (“DI communities”); the Environmental Justice Advisory Board (“EJAB”); other federal, state, local, and Tribal Government partners; and offices and divisions within CDPHE. OEJ’s role includes meaningful engagement of DI communities; administering the Environmental Justice Grants Program and Supplemental Environmental Projects; partnering with the Water Quality Control Division to implement the Mobile Home Water Quality Act; providing high-quality spatial analysis and mapping through EnviroScreen and the DI Communities Map; and facilitating Environmental Equity and Cumulative Impact Analyses.

This position is responsible for executing bilingual outreach and engagement efforts with mobile home park residents regarding the implementation of the Mobile Home Park Water Quality Act, House Bill 23-1257 and House Bill 26-1145. Duties include coordinating site visits, interviews, and surveys with mobile home park residents about their water quality. This position uses communications materials to notify residents of and provide information about upcoming testing, survey, and interview opportunities. The role coordinates with the Environmental Language Services unit to ensure outreach materials are provided in appropriate languages, including English and Spanish, and that interpretation is available for testing and interviews. This position also serves as a member of OEJ’s Communications and Community Engagement team, participates in team meetings, contributes to the development of community engagement materials, and attends outreach events on behalf of OEJ.

Responsibilities

• Execute bilingual (English/Spanish) outreach and engagement efforts with mobile home park residents regarding water quality testing and remediation under the Mobile Home Park Water Quality Act.
• Coordinate site visits, interviews, and surveys with mobile home park residents about their water quality.
• Use communications materials to notify residents of testing, survey, and interview opportunities.
• Coordinate with the Environmental Language Services unit to ensure outreach materials and interpretation services are available in appropriate languages, including English and Spanish.
• Serve as a member of OEJ’s Communications and Community Engagement team, contributing to the development of community engagement materials and attending outreach events.
• Plan and facilitate inclusive, culturally responsive community activities.
• Explain and present technical information, such as test results and regulations, to diverse audiences.
• Engage directly with community members through canvassing, interviewing, or other one-on-one interactions.

Requirements

This posting is only open to residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application.

Bilingual English/Spanish language skills are required.

Travel is generally required 3-4 days per week, with 1 or more instances of travel outside of the Denver Metro area on a weekly basis.

This position is term-limited, with funding guaranteed only until 06/30/2028. The incumbent must be willing and able to resign on this date or when funds run out, whichever comes first.

Hybrid workplace options may be available at the discretion of the supervisor and based on business needs, but the employee will still be required to report to the agency address listed on this announcement.

Qualifications

An applicant may meet the minimum qualifications in one of two ways:

• Experience Only: Six (6) years of relevant experience in community outreach or engagement or community-based environmental justice, public health, or environmental health programs.
• Education and Experience: A combination of related education in Social Work, Public Health, Environmental Science, Environmental Justice, Environmental Policy, and/or relevant experience in community outreach or engagement or community-based environmental justice, public health, or environmental health programs equal to six (6) years. Part-time work will be prorated.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with communities in Colorado that are disproportionately impacted by environmental or public health issues.
• Experience planning inclusive and culturally responsive community activities.
• Experience understanding, explaining, and presenting technical information like test results and regulations to diverse audiences.
• Experience engaging directly with community members through canvassing, interviewing, or other one-on-one interactions.
• Experience working with community members on environmental or public health initiatives.
• Experience with Google Suite, including Google Forms and Google Sheets, or similar data collection and spreadsheet tools.

Benefits

• Free parking and access to RTD bus lines.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Retirement options through PERA, including Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans.
• Medical and dental health plans.
• Paid life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 11 paid holidays per year and generous personal time off.
• Tuition assistance.
• Wellness programs.
• Professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects.
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system.
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.