Outreach and Communications Specialist

Description

Job Description:

The Outreach and Communications Specialist supports CPCD’s outreach, family-recruitment, and communication efforts through community outreach, family engagement, content development, and event support.  The position works closely with the Communications and Engagement Coordinator and Enrollment Team to execute approved outreach and communication strategies, maintain community partnerships, respond to prospective families, and support CPCD events and communications across multiple platforms.

Pay: $26.12/hr. 

About CPCD:

CPCD is committed to the comprehensive early childhood development model, which is at the basis of its successful Head Start and Early Head Start programs. CPCD serves just under 1,200 prenatal through five-year-old at-risk, low-income and special needs children and their families. We operate classrooms in six school districts all throughout El Paso County. 

Additional Benefits for Eligible Employees (25+ hours per week):

CPCD offers paid vacation time, paid sick time, and paid holidays/Breaks.

• Paid Holidays include Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Presidents Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Paid Breaks include 1-week for Spring Break (March), 1-week for Fall Break (November), and 2- weeks for Winter Break (end of December/beginning of January). 

Eligible employees receive a competitive benefits package including

• Access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, Aflac supplemental insurance, and voluntary life insurance. CPCD also pays for Basic Life, Long Term Disability, and AD&D insurance at no cost to you. 
• Our 401(k) program offers traditional and Roth enrollment options with automatic enrollment in our profit-sharing after 1-year of employment.

Tuition Assistance is available after 60 days of employment

• $4,000 per year for Early Childhood Education Associates/Bachelor’s Degrees.
• $2,500 per year for other degrees related to employment at CPCD.

Employee Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Program provides 6 FREE sessions with a counselor or therapist per year 
• Full well-being program to encourage and promote your well-being in the workplace, including 2 hours of paid time per month for wellness activities. 

Please Note: The successful completion of a post-offer, pre-employment physical examination, TB screen, back-ground screen and drug test (including marijuana) is required.

Requirements

Required

• Associate’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Human Services or related field.
• 2 to 5 years of demonstrated experience in the nonprofit or social services fields.
• Knowledge of organizational planning, community outreach, community organizing, and communication/awareness-building principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to network and build relationships with CPCD parents, individuals, agencies, and other stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated initiative within a team atmosphere.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and adapt approaches to evolving challenges.
• A strong grasp of common digital communications, content management, and social media tools.
• Successful completion of a pre-employment physical examination, TB test, drug test (including marijuana), and background check in accordance with the Office of Head Start Performance Standards and Childcare Licensing. (Physical examination and TB test thereafter as required).
• Must have access to reliable transportation, and if using a personal vehicle, must maintain minimum liability insurance as determined by the State of Colorado. 
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to operate the mobile enrollment bus.
• Must be available to work evenings and weekends to support outreach efforts and attend community events as needed. Flexibility in scheduling is essential to meet program and community engagement needs.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Human Services or related field.
• Knowledge of local community resources and agencies.
• Knowledge of Colorado Springs and neighborhood demographics.
• Bilingual English and Spanish language abilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Outreach and Family Recruitment

• Support the Communications and Engagement Coordinator and Enrollment leadership in developing and implementing CPCD’s annual outreach and family-recruitment plan. 
• Support assigned outreach activities, community partnerships, events, advertising, and communication campaigns designed to increase awareness of CPCD programs and generate qualified family referrals. 
• Promote CPCD’s early childhood education programs to eligible children and families throughout the service area. 
• Identify opportunities to reach underserved, difficult-to-reach, and priority populations through targeted outreach and community partnerships. 
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with schools, community agencies, service providers, businesses, faith-based organizations, and other referral partners. 
• Educate community partners about CPCD programs, general eligibility requirements, application procedures, and available family services. 
• Coordinate the distribution of approved recruitment materials throughout CPCD’s service area. 
• Represent CPCD professionally at resource fairs, community meetings, recruitment events, family activities, and other outreach opportunities. 
• Coordinate event registration, supplies, promotional materials, staffing, setup, transportation, media coverage, follow-up, and other logistical needs. 
• Operate CPCD’s mobile enrollment bus when assigned and complete required vehicle training, inspections, documentation, and safety procedures. 
• Maintain reasonable schedule flexibility and regularly work evenings and weekends to attend community events and support outreach and communication activities. 

Communications and Content Development

• Support the Communications and Engagement Coordinator in implementing CPCD’s communication strategies, campaigns, and content calendar. 
• Create, edit, schedule, and publish approved content for CPCD’s social media platforms, website, newsletters, digital campaigns, recruitment materials, and other communication channels. 
• Write clear, engaging, and audience-appropriate content that reflects CPCD’s mission, programs, brand standards, and communication goals. 
• Assist with designing and updating flyers, digital graphics, presentations, advertisements, outreach materials, and other branded resources using approved templates and tools. 
• Capture photographs and video at CPCD programs, community events, and agency activities while following applicable consent, confidentiality, and privacy requirements. 
• Support media and communication coverage for CPCD events, including collecting photographs, video, participant information, and program highlights. 
• Collect stories, program updates, photographs, and relevant information from CPCD departments for use in internal and external communications. 
• Review communication and outreach materials for accuracy, consistency, accessibility, grammar, and alignment with CPCD’s brand standards. 
• Help maintain accurate and current program, enrollment, location, event, and contact information across CPCD’s communication channels. 
• Monitor assigned social media messages, comments, and community engagement and elevate sensitive, confidential, or complex matters to the Communications and Engagement Coordinator. 
• Maintain organized communication files, photographs, videos, media releases, outreach materials, and content documentation. 
• Follow established review and approval procedures before publishing or distributing external communications. 

Prospective-Family Engagement and Enrollment Coordination

• Respond promptly and professionally to prospective-family inquiries received by phone, text, email, social media, website forms, community events, and in-person interactions. 
• Provide accurate general information about CPCD programs, services, locations, eligibility guidelines, and the application process. 
• Assist interested families with accessing application information and resources. 
• Provide timely and documented referrals or handoffs to the Enrollment Team for eligibility screening, application assistance, selection, and enrollment. 
• Maintain sufficient knowledge of CPCD eligibility requirements to identify potentially eligible families without making final eligibility or selection determinations. 
• Coordinate with the Enrollment Team to ensure outreach materials and communication reflect current eligibility requirements, program availability, priority populations, and enrollment needs. 
• Maintain working knowledge of community resources and connect families with appropriate CPCD staff or community partners when additional support is needed. 
• Provide responsive, welcoming, and respectful customer service to current and prospective families. 

Data Tracking and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of outreach events, prospective-family contacts, referrals, partner interactions, materials distributed, and communication activities. 
• Track outcomes such as outreach reach, engagement, inquiries, referrals, event participation, and completed handoffs to Enrollment. 
• Use available data to evaluate the effectiveness of outreach and communication activities and identify opportunities for improvement. 
• Recommend adjustments to outreach locations, target audiences, communication methods, messaging, and activities based on available data and community needs. 
• Prepare regular outreach and communication updates and reports for the Communications and Engagement Coordinator. 
• Maintain accurate and organized documentation in applicable databases, tracking systems, shared files, and other required platforms. 

Collaboration and Administrative Support

• Report to and work under the direction of the Communications and Engagement Coordinator. 
• Collaborate closely with the Enrollment Team and other CPCD departments to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely information is shared with families and community partners. 
• Participate in department meetings, agency events, training, professional-development activities, and cross-departmental projects. 
• Provide administrative, operational, and logistical support directly related to assigned outreach, communication, and community-engagement activities. 
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling information involving children, families, employees, partners, and the organization. 
• Adapt to changing priorities, community needs, event schedules, and communication requests. 
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the effective operation of CPCD’s outreach and communication efforts.

OTHER DUTIES

• Other duties as assigned

Equal Opportunity Employer

CPCD is committed to fostering an inclusive workforce and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.