COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST I

Role Summary

Performs community/civic engagement responsibilities for city projects, policies, and programs, which includes assisting with development and implementation of engagement plans and strategies. Implementation efforts include development and distribution of public notices, staffing engagement activities, collecting, organizing, and analyzing input, creating reports, and helping with staff education and training. Assists with coordination and implementation of physical and natural infrastructure planning projects.

Duties

• Provide project management support and project coordination for public services initiatives, particularly as related to public involvement in the decision-making process.
• Work with Project Managers to develop community engagement plans and strategies for their projects.
• Recommend appropriate levels of community involvement in decision-making on projects, policies, and programs across the public services area.
• Recommend appropriate engagement techniques for public participation.
• Cook with consultants on community engagement efforts and City of Ann Arbor standards for effective engagement.
• Coordinate with Communications staff to develop and distribute community notifications about engagement opportunities, including multi-media forms of notification such as email, printed letters/postcards/flyers, phone calls, and other.
• Participate in City’s equitable engagement efforts focused on inclusion.
• Aid in the development and delivery of internal staff training for meeting facilitation, engagement best practices, and city policies/tools/practices related to engagement.
• Assist with the development and delivery of internal staff training for meeting facilitation, engagement best practices, and city policies/tools/practices related to engagement.
• Help prepare for and staff community engagement activities, such as project meetings and outreach efforts, as needed.
• Summarize and analyze results from engagement activities, identify common themes, and determine next steps and follow-up items.
• Serve as a Staff Liaison to various internal and external groups, as needed.
• Plan and lead meetings with internal and external groups.
• Cooperate with city units and external groups.
• Perform research, planning, and technical analyses related to community engagement.
• Aid Senior Engagement Specialist with larger projects, as assigned.
• Identify and respond to issues within the unit, service area, or citywide, seeking continuous improvements in the city’s community engagement process and practices.
• Coordinate with other units, service areas, agencies, municipalities, and organizations to advance quality, equitable, community engagement.
• Present plans and design concepts effectively at public meetings.
• Organize and facilitate public involvement processes.
• Aid in the preparation of grant applications, as needed.
• Participate in orientation and training of permanent and temporary employees.
• Develop graphics and other communication materials necessary to convey information.

Knowledge

• Principles and practices of community engagement, basic urban planning principles, and basic principles of local government operations.
• Computers and software applications used in business settings (e.g. word processing, e-mail, spreadsheets, graphics, and databases).
• Public engagement and facilitation techniques and strategies.
• Customer service principles.
• Simple budget preparation practices and analysis of data.

Skills and Abilities

• Organize people, information, and materials.
• Handle groups of people that may have differing opinions, and determine productive next steps in these scenarios.
• Maintain control of meetings and events with large groups of people.
• Make decisions and problem solve.
• Set priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and meet critical deadlines.
• Communicate effectively through strong oral and written communication.
• Develop and maintain non-partisan, respectful and effective working relationships with all levels within the organization.
• Negotiate effective and creative solutions to difficult conflicts.
• Listen effectively to thoroughly understand the intended message.
• Collaborate and engage in shared exploration.
• Have resilience to engage in deep, challenging work.
• Apply appropriate policies, regulations, and procedures.
• Advance racial and social justice.
• Be curious, continually learn, and engage in self-reflection.

Required Education, Training, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, Natural Resources/Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
• At least two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, planning, or related experience.
• At least one (1) year of experience in project or program management.
• Public speaking experience; developing and delivering presentations.

Preferred Certification

• In community engagement, facilitation or related field (e.g., International Association for Public Participation or National Charette Institute)