ECCS Outreach Specialist #JR-00775

About the role

Emergency Communications & Citizen Services (ECCS) is looking for an engaging, organized, and community-minded Outreach Specialist to represent our department throughout Virginia Beach. In this role, you will help residents better understand emergency communications, public safety resources, and the work happening behind the scenes at 911 and Virginia Beach 311. You will also build relationships with schools, businesses, community organizations, public safety partners, and potential future employees while helping ECCS strengthen its presence in the community. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, presenting information, building partnerships, coordinating programs and events, and finding creative ways to make important information meaningful and easy to understand.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver public safety education programs, presentations, demonstrations, and instructional activities for a variety of audiences.
• Represent ECCS at schools, community events, academies, career fairs, workforce development programs, onboarding activities, and other outreach initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, preschools, senior services, businesses, community organizations, public safety agencies, and other community stakeholders.
• Adapt presentations and educational content to meet the needs of different audiences, age groups, and environments.
• Develop and update lesson plans, presentations, educational materials, multimedia resources, and other outreach content.
• Coordinate community outreach and recruitment activities, including career fairs, educational partnerships, workforce development events, and applicant recruitment programs.
• Coordinate and support volunteers and community partners participating in outreach, educational, and recruitment initiatives.
• Evaluate outreach and educational programs, gather feedback, track participation and outcomes, and recommend improvements.
• Assist with administrative components of recruitment and onboarding activities.
• Prepare reports, presentations, recommendations, and informational materials for department leadership.
• Maintain outreach resources, equipment, inventories, databases, spreadsheets, and program records.
• Support special projects through research, data collection, coordination, and community engagement.

Qualifications

Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience equivalent to four (4) years in fields such as public education, community outreach, training, public safety, communications, or other relevant areas. Must have a current and valid driver's license.

Ideal candidate

• Is comfortable speaking to groups and engaging with people in both formal and informal settings.
• Can connect naturally with people at schools, community events, career fairs, public safety programs, and other outreach activities.
• Can take complex or technical information and make it clear, relatable, and easy to understand.
• Enjoys building and maintaining relationships with community partners.
• Is creative and resourceful when developing presentations, educational activities, and outreach materials.
• Is organized and able to manage multiple events, projects, deadlines, materials, and follow-up activities at the same time.
• Communicates professionally and effectively in writing, in presentations, and one-on-one.
• Is dependable, flexible, and comfortable representing ECCS and the City of Virginia Beach in highly visible community settings.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience delivering presentations to diverse audiences.
• Experience with public speaking and effective verbal communication.
• Experience tracking data and preparing accurate reports.
• Ability to plan, coordinate, and support events and outreach activities.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional customer service.

Schedule and special requirements

This is a highly visible, community-facing position, and outreach opportunities do not always happen during traditional business hours. The successful candidate must be comfortable attending evening, weekend, and holiday events when needed and working overtime in response to department or City needs. This position is designated Alpha I, which requires employees to report to work during inclement weather regardless of the City's operational status.