Program Associate II - Community Relations

Job Description

Job Title

Position Title: Program Associate II – Community Relations

Location:¿ Fisher Building – Government & Community Affairs

Salary: $42,247.00 - $70,690.00

Reports to:Senior Director, Government Affairs

Bargaining Unit:OSAS

Benefits Eligible: Yes

In accordance with the Agreement between Organization of School Administrators and Supervisors (OSAS) and the Board of Education of the School District of the City of Detroit, the following vacancy is announced.

Position Summary:

The Community Relations Associates will oversee the Government Affairs Community Engagement Grassroots Advocates & Constituent Response Programs. This role will support the planning and implementation of Divisions community engagement strategies, and related activities and engage community & government stakeholders to restore trust and further the District’s legislative agenda. The core functions of the position include relationship building, strategic communications, community engagement, legislative advocacy, and coalition building.

The project manager must be able to represent the District to a wide variety of stakeholders including city and state policymakers, faith-based leaders, community activists, and grassroots community members. This position requires experience in community engagement and a strong knowledge of the Detroit community. This project manager will also work collaboratively with other District outreach teams such as Enrollment, FACE, and Communications

In addition, the staff person must be an expert communicator across a variety of platforms, from the printed word to the various social media outlets. A successful candidate is a strategic community collaborator and a skilled communicator.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university is strongly recommended.
• Experience working in a K-12 educational setting, preferably working in the area of student enrollment, school leadership, or community organizing.¿
• Four (4) years of experience managing large-scale projects and initiatives, preferably in a nonprofit, education, and/or entrepreneurial environment that serve low-income students and communities.¿
• At least two (2) years of team management experience and successfully managing staff towards ambitious outcomes.
• Significant experience designing and implementing efficient, community engagement processes.
• Demonstrated success building trust and strong relationships with diverse stakeholders across different communities.
• Comfort producing clear and easily understandable reports and using data to assess impact.
• Willingness and ability to work non-standard hours including some evenings and weekends.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally.
• Fluency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint).

Key Competencies

• Superior verbal and written communication skills; an effective listener and presenter.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills with the ability to work effectively across teams and functions within the organization.
• Ability to prioritize and respond quickly to competing demands.
• Strong critical-thinking skills – the ability to structure and solve problems, synthesize analysis into key takeaways and recommendations.
• Must be able to maintain a strict level of confidentiality.
• Ability to learn quickly and synthesize information.
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for Detroit education
• Occasional travel around the Detroit area is required for community engagement. Must possess a reliable automobile.

Essential Functions:

• Provides programmatic leadership for the Community Engagement leader programs, makes recommendations to the Senior Director on how to best implement the department’s community engagement strategy, and oversees the day-to-day operations of community engagement leaders¿

• Facilitates community conversations with diverse groups such as block clubs, civic organizations, and community development corporations to share the District’s legislative priorities and District information and to advocate for community support.

• Gathers stakeholder feedback that will inform the Department’s engagement strategy

• Implements the department’s digital communications plan to keep advocates and community members informed and engaged on the District’s legislative priorities.

• Communicates with key internal and external stakeholders regularly in verbal and written form and provides timely and accurate responses to constituents.

• Maintains relationships with community leaders, advocates, elected officials, and residents.

• Drafts written correspondence, e-mails, memos, reports, and meeting minutes.

• Provides written and timely updates through the department’s Constituent Response system to ensure that stakeholders’ concerns are answered

• Value, solicit and integrate team members’ different perspectives effectively.

• Build effective relationships with manager, staff members and colleagues to implement District strategic plan.

• Collaborates with other District departments on major community outreach initiatives.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, or designee.

Security Clearance:

Internal Applicants

If you are a current District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit to a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

Method of Application:

Applicants must apply through the online application system. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted position and all applications require a resume to be considered.

Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Teaching service outside of the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be verified by the applicant's prior employer(s) prior to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.

Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email at recruitment@detroitk12.org or phone at (313) 873-6897.

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, height, weight, citizenship, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions? Concerns? contact the Civil Rights Coordinator at (313) 240-4377 or dpscd.compliance@detroitk12.org or 3011 West Grand Boulevard, 14th Floor, Detroit MI 48202.