Community Engagement Specialist I

Description

Come join a team dedicated to making a positive impact in our community, where the well-being of our residents is always our top priority. We offer flexible scheduling options (based on position) and foster professional growth through comprehensive training programs and learning opportunities. Shape your future in a career that empowers you to make a difference and thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.

Position Summary

The Community Engagement Specialist I supports the development and implementation of programs and events designed to engage the West Valley City community. This role focuses on maintaining communication between residents, neighborhoods, community partners, and City departments through various neighborhood-enhancement activities. The specialist provides information to the public through multiple channels, including answering constituent phone calls and emails, online communication, delivering presentations, planning, organizing, and attending special events, and developing collateral materials.

Starting Pay: $27.00 / hour

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Full-time 4x10-hour shifts Monday-Thursday; Some evenings and weekends

Benefits: Full Benefits; health, dental, vision, and life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement. 

Retirement: Utah Retirement Systems, pension and/or 401(k)

Job Posting Close Date: Open until filled.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Acts as a City liaison with residents and community partners, addressing public inquiries on neighborhood issues or City services.
• Performs office duties such as answering telephone and email messages, requesting information, completing reports, running errands, photographing events, collaborating with City personnel, developing schedules, and coordinating newsletters and event calendars.
• Assists in developing and maintaining relationships between the City and community program partners, coordinating with various community-based groups, agencies, schools, committees, and other organizations to plan and develop programs benefiting residents and maximizing participation.
• Supports the planning and scheduling of meetings, programs, presentations, and special events by conducting research to understand the community’s needs.
• Attends evening and weekend meetings and events, preparing presentation materials, setting up displays, delivering presentations, and answering questions.
• Assists in planning and creating content for social media and the website.
• Helps research, create, and distribute strategic communication materials.
• Supports the research of new opportunities and programs to advance the City's strategic plan.
• Coordinates with City departments, community groups, and other organizations to help address neighborhood issues.
• Assists in preparing written reports on current and long-range community-enhancement strategies.
• Promotes and encourages participation in the MyHometown initiative and other neighborhood programs.
• Provides staff assistance to City committees as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May provide guidance to interns and volunteers in support of neighborhood and community programs.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Enthusiastic, organized, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize projects and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of community organizing, placemaking, crime prevention, community revitalization, city planning, and local government.
• Proficient with personal computers and software, including word processing, graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite, Canva), spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Grant research, writing, and monitoring skills may be required for certain programs.
• Initiative, sound judgment, and resourcefulness.
• Effective communication and ability to prepare written materials (newsletters, brochures, flyers).
• Report preparation and presentation skills for public, officials, and committees.
• Ability to work with diverse groups.
• Strong relationship-building skills with team members, city personnel, officials, agencies, stakeholders, and the public.
• Willingness to attend evening and weekend community meetings and events.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Planning, Community Development, Public Administration, Public Relations, Community Engagement, Arts, or related field, plus two (2) years directly related work experience.
• Directly related work experience, or a combination of education and work experience, may be substituted one for the other on a year-for-year basis.

Language Skills

• Must be able to communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing.
• Spanish fluency preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Possession of a valid Utah Driver’s license and the ability to drive to meetings throughout the community.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to perform the physical tasks associated with community events, including lifting, carrying, loading, and unloading event equipment and supplies such as tables, chairs, tents, signage, and other materials. 
• Must be able to assist with event setup and teardown, which may include lifting and moving objects weighing up to 50 pounds, standing and walking for extended periods, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear. 

Work Environment

• Comfortable office environment.
• Occasional out-of-office work, including indoor and outdoor events.
• Exposure to varying levels of stress due to human behavior, workload, deadlines, and multiple tasks and assignments.
• May need to work extended irregular hours when needed.

Any position in which the employee handles currency, has access to computer terminals, is responsible for the care or instruction of children, has access to building master control or key systems, has access to the personal information or identifying information of another person, has access to the financial information of the employer or another person, or works in an area of the City which has been designated as a security sensitive area, such as a server or evidence room; and is in a position of trust that requires restraint and the ability to keep a high level of confidentiality. Employees in security sensitive positions will be required to successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per BCI Standards. Employees in security sensitive positions are required to self-report convictions of a Class C Misdemeanor or above. 

If you are reading this and hesitating to click "apply" because you do not check every box in the posting, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.