DESCRIPTIONThis is a hybrid position, complete remote work is not offered for this position
Please note this recruitment will be accepting a limited number of applications for the position. Once the maximum number of submissions of 100 has been met, the job posting will be closed and no further applications will be accepted. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. If the maximum number of submissions has not been met, the job bulletin will remain open until the closing date of January 6th at 11:59PM PST. DESCRIPTION The Office of Civic Innovation seeks a dynamic and organized individual to serve as the Community Empowerment Specialist to work closely with residents and other Community-Based Organizations to fund and implement community-driven solutions. A passionate changemaker, the Community Empowerment Specialist plays a pivotal role in fostering community engagement and connection to create positive change. The Community Empowerment Specialist serves as a member of the diversely skilled Office of Civic in the City of Long Beach, an in-house problem-solving and capacity-building team that aims to create a more responsive, resilient, and equitable City government by leverage design, data, and service delivery expertise to:
Bring the City of Long Beach closer to Community to co-create innovative solutions. Empower staff with the competencies and tools to be innovators at all levels of the organization. Establish standards and expected behaviors for how the City uses data and evidence to close racial disparities and achieve equitable outcomes for those it serves.
The Community Empowerment Specialist is responsible for supporting the successful implementation of Love Your Block grant projects by overseeing management activities and tracking performance metrics to assess the impact of solutions on community outcomes.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIESThis list represents the duties required by the position. Other duties may be assigned as reasonably expected.
- Oversee the daily operations of the Love Your Block program, including the creation and management of project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring resident solutions are completed on time and within budget.
- Work closely with the Chief Innovation Officer to champion the needs of residents to city staff while ensuring mini-grant solutions are successfully implemented
- Works closely with the Civic Engagement Team to conduct canvassing and interviews with residents to understand community conditions and their root causes.
- Plan community events and meetings, to facilitate dialogue, gather feedback, and promote community participation in problem-solving.
- Provide training and resources to empower residents to actively participate in shaping solutions that enhance the quality of life in their neighborhoods, facilitating workshops with individuals, Neighborhood Associations, and CBOs.
- Build and maintain relationships with key community members to keep residents engaged and ensure BIPOC, women (and other marginalized groups) voices are seen, heard, and valued.
- Partner with Civic Designer and grantees to design and implement resident solutions.
- Develop and collect program metrics to measure resident outcomes, including engagement and neighborhood improvements, while implementing data collection and report progress with residents and stakeholders.
- Conduct regular site visits to monitor the implementation of resident solutions and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
- Draft newsletters and social media posts to keep residents up to date with the Love Your Block program and celebrate the implementation of their achievements
- Prepare monthly reports, presentations, and other materials to communicate project updates, outcomes, and impacts to internal and external stakeholders.
- Document best practices, lessons learned, and success stories from Love Your Block projects to support knowledge-sharing and capacity-building efforts.
- Develop and deliver training to residents to assist in mini-grant application completion.
- Create and implement an outreach plan to effectively engage with diverse residents and promote the program and mini-grant opportunity to potential grantees.
- Other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS TO FILEEXPERIENCE- Two (2) years of full-time equivalent experience in community organizing and advocacy, coalition building, environmental justice, civic engagement, or related fields.
EDUCATION - A Bachelor's Degree in urban planning, public administration, political science, environmental science, project management, or related field OR
- Experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis
- A Master’s Degree in urban planning, public administration, political science, environmental science, project management, or related field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required professional experience
Required documents, such as transcripts, and degrees, must be uploaded to the online application in PDF format at the time of filing. Any proofs submitted must contain either the applicant's name or other identifying characteristics on the document.ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS - It is helpful that the Community Empowerment Specialist should have strong ties to the Long Beach community being served by Love Your Block (i.e., a current resident or a previous longtime resident with active ties to the neighborhood) and have a track record of building local relationships.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Experience with data collection, analysis, and reporting, preferably in a community development or nonprofit setting.
- Knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, and tools.
- Familiarity with grant management and compliance requirements is a plus.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management software.
- Passion for community development and a commitment to improving neighborhoods and communities.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE - Community organizing - Dedicated to empowering and mobilizing community members, fostering collaboration, advocating for social justice and equity, and facilitating grassroots initiatives aimed at creating positive change and building strong, vibrant communities.
- Committed to asset-based community development - Prioritize leveraging the strengths, resources, and talents within communities, fostering collaboration, empowering residents, and advocating for equity and inclusion in sustainable, participatory initiatives to create vibrant, resilient, and thriving communities.
- An agile problem-solver - Responsive to the Community's dynamic and ever-changing needs and in response you are able adjust strategies and plans based feedback and circumstances ensuring engagement efforts remain relevant and effective.
SELECTION PROCEDURESELECTION PROCEDURE:
This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on January 6th or until 100 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a
cover letter, resume, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.
Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please call
(562) 570-6913.
The City of Long Beach is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.
The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the
California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting
https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the
Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .
The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call
(562) 570-6913 .For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.Employee BenefitsThe City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally.As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:
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Medical and Dental Insurance•
Life Insurance•
Retirement Plan (P.E.R.S.)•
Paid Vacation, Personal Holidays and Sick Leave•
Deferred Compensation•
Credit Union Membership•
Free Bus Transportation (Long Beach Transit)•
Flexible Spending Accounts•
Free Employee Parking•
Paid Parental Leave* *Paid Parental Leave - after six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours/192 hours for sworn platoon) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).
Closing Date/Time: 1/6/2025 11:59 PM Pacific