Community & Engagement Specialist

Economic Development and Strategic Investments is seeking three temporary community engagement specialists to assist with two neighborhood socioeconomic surveys in western Travis County for a Texas Water Development Board program. These temporary positions will pair with permanent staff to conduct the survey using a variety of modalities including door-to-door, public meetings and/or telephone calls. Interested candidates must be available for flexible work hours during late October through mid-December, including nights and weekends, and have reliable transportation.

The Community Engagement Specialist acts as the primary contact with Travis County residents to promote, support, and integrate community involvement into County governance. Creates and maintains strong relationships with disproportionately impacted communities, individuals, local agencies, and organizations in Travis County. Participates in the development and review of County projects, programs, policies, and initiatives. Develops and executes strategies for gathering and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data from the community about various County projects, programs, policies, and initiatives. Advocates for changes to better represent community voice.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This job classification falls within the Professional Support job family. This classification requires minimal supervision, exercises independent judgement and initiative, and requires managing complex projects and community relationships. This classification will require a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the department including a mix of traditional daytime office hours, some nights, and weekends.

• Develops strong relationships with disproportionately impacted communities and individuals, local agencies, and organizations in Travis County.
• Participates in the planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of community engagement strategies, plans and programs.
• Prepares and conducts presentations to community groups, local agencies and organizations, the Commissioners Court, policy makers and other stakeholders.
• Represents the County by serving on or participating in task forces, working groups, committees, advisory groups, emergency functions, and neighborhood groups.
• Participates in or attends meetings, seminars, and conferences that provide community engagement opportunities to further EDSI’s work on equitable, diverse and inclusive economic development.
• Responds to inquiries and complaints about projects, program goals and policies with empathy and respect.
• Regularly partners with individuals, departments, community representatives or groups, and other outside agencies to obtain information, conduct assessments, identify needs, and ensure effectiveness and consistency of community engagement strategies. Ensures project phases are implemented according to timelines.
• Prepares written summaries, documents, infographics, and statistical and other reports. Presents conclusions and recommendations before the public, Elected Officials, and Commissioners Court.
• Performs project and program effectiveness evaluation using performance measures, such as goals accomplished and timetables by selecting appropriate data collection methods, techniques and procedures.
• Maintains customer relationship management databases and reporting systems.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Planning, Communications, Public Relations, Public Policy/Administration, Government, Sociology, Social Work, or a directly related field AND four (4) years increasingly responsible experience with community engagement, public affairs/community relations/outreach, and/or communications or related field;
 
OR,
 
Any combination of education and work, volunteer and/or lived experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
 
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
None required.
 
Preferred:
Fluent in  Spanish.
Customer service or client facing experience
Lived experience with racial, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or disability inequity. Demonstrates cultural competence with disproportionately impacted groups or protected classes as defined by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
Able to work evenings and weekends for a 4 – 6 week period
Reliable transportation 
 
Knowledge of:

• Community engagement principles and techniques.
• Tools to de-escalate difficult situations with empathy, respect, and control.
• Public relations and promotional methods.
• Public administration and governmental agencies.
• Neighborhood and community organizations and local agencies.
• Event coordination, production, planning procedures and techniques.
• Functions, policies and procedures, principles, practices, and techniques of countywide operations.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation/ graphics, and related software applications.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Active listening and conflict resolution.
• Leadership, collaboration, and negotiation techniques.
• Culturally appropriate verbal and written communication.
• Community engagement.
• Program development, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Conducting education and training sessions and public speaking presentations.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.

 
Ability to:

• Work in highly visible position with comfort and grace.
• Manage highly sensitive issues while subject to public scrutiny.
• Respond to criticism and negative feedback professionally and diplomatically with great empathy.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the public.
• Manage time well, multitask, and organize diverse activities.
• Coordinate, plan, and prioritize programs, projects, and activities.
• Work calmly, effectively, and decisively.
• Make effective presentations before various audiences.
• Interpret program and policy objectives to groups and the public.
• Maintain appropriate records.
• Apply knowledge to data, policy, and process analysis.
• Reach sound conclusions and make recommendations.
• Communicate and interact effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including elected officials, other County departments, local and state agencies, private organizations, special interest groups, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, crawling, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, twisting, balancing, occasional indoor/outdoor activities, repetitive motion, client/customer contact, and squatting to perform the essential functions. Some driving may be required for community meetings and events. May be subject to contact with dust and exposure to extreme temperature/weather change including wet and/or humidity weather.
 
Must be able to telework or work from a central office location as assigned.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. 

Location: 700 Lavaca St Suite 1560 Austin TX 78701

Department: Planning And Budget

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact:

This job description is intended to be generic in nature.  It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.  The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.