ABOUT THE ROLE
The Community Engagement Coordinator will be responsible for leading education organizing/advocacy work within designated community areas of the city and building our grassroots base of partners and supporters, including parents, schools, community-based organizations, and policymakers. The Community Engagement Coordinator will be held to high expectations of performance with goals for various outreach activities including but not limited to one-on-ones, community meetings, data and policy presentations, focus groups, and workshop facilitation. The CEC will help us achieve our ambitious goal of 1,000 parent champions advocating for better education policy across the city.
Reports to the Director of Community Engagement
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RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify, cultivate, and train new parent leaders to advocate for educational equity and foster parent-led teams to support local and citywide efforts
- Support the development & delivery of an entry point strategy to connect with families and build a robust base of parent advocates
- Seek opportunities to connect, engage, and train local parent leaders on issues impacting education
- Support efforts to promote two-way communication between parents and decision-makers
- Plan and execute community meetings, parent group facilitation, research meetings with decision makers, parent-led actions, data and policy presentations, focus groups, and school enrollment events
- Establish and strengthen relationships with a diverse network of parents, community members, teachers, schools, elected officials, and other key stakeholders
- Identify, cultivate, and train new parent leaders to advocate for educational equity and foster parent-led teams to support local and citywide efforts
- Track and report all interactions and engagement activity through daily reporting and data entry
- Hold one-on-one meetings with parents to build relationships and begin to identify new parent leaders
- Build and develop parent leader teams in assigned communities to better advocate for local and citywide issues
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is a condition of employment at Kids First Chicago. This includes receiving a booster shot if eligible. If you receive an invitation to interview, we can answer any questions you may have during the interview process. This includes those with underlying health conditions or other circumstances that might preclude you from being vaccinated. If an offer of employment is extended, new hires are expected to provide proof of vaccination prior to their start date.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
- Passion for helping parents in underserved communities advocate for high-quality education
- 3+ years of experience in community organizing, community engagement, or education advocacy
- More experienced candidates may be considered for a Sr. Community Engagement Coordinator role
- Relentless results orientation and history of executing against a set of clearly defined metrics
- High-level relationship-building skills with the ability to build consensus, engage a wide range of stakeholders and allies, and navigate complex community and political dynamics
- Ability to work in a rapidly changing and unpredictable environment
- Ability to quickly learn about Chicago’s education ecosystem and policies impacting equitable access to a high-quality education
- Knowledge of or the ability to quickly learn organizing concepts and tactics
- Self-starter who can thrive in a fast-paced environment with high expectations for working both autonomously and collaboratively to achieve goals
- Candidates with prior experience working on the South and Southwest sides are strongly encouraged to apply
- Knowledge of Google and Microsoft Office Suite applications
- Proof of COVID vaccination and booster required as a condition for employment
COMPENSATION
The salary range starts at $50,000 and is commensurate with experience.
BENEFITS
Our competitive package includes excellent health and dental coverage, an FSA, a 401K plan with matching, and pre-tax commuter benefits.
START DATE
Position available immediately.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@kidsfirstchicago.org and include the position name in the subject line of your email. Applications that do not include both a cover letter and resume will not be considered. No phone calls, please.