Public Engagement Specialist (Natural Areas)

POSITION TITLE:  Specialist, Public Engagement (Natural Areas)   (Full-Time Regular) (Classified)
REQUISITION #:  req7171
DEPARTMENT:  Natural Areas
LOCATION:  NIX SITE OFFICE BLDG
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Classified (Non-CBU) View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE:  Full-Time Regular
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE:   $52,037.00 - 86,728.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
ANNUAL ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE:   $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
SELECTION PROCESS:  Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 8/7/2023.

You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile. Post-offer background check and motor vehicle report required.

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, domestic partner, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement + company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance 
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability 
• Wellness program, workout facilities 
• Employee/family onsite health clinic 
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

Job Summary

The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department is looking for two (2) Public Engagement Specialists who will plan, organize, direct, lead, teach, administer, and evaluate natural areas education and outreach-focused activities to inspire stewardship and connection to nature.

There are two (2) vacant positions and between them, they cover these six (6) responsibilities: 
1. Equity: Develops reciprocal, trust-based collaborations with communities that the Natural Areas Department has historically failed to reach. Preferred ability to communicate in a language in addition to English, Spanish preferred.
2. Club Outdoors: Plans and leads weekly field trips for Boys & Girls Club members in the summer.              
3. Engagement: Facilitates community involvement in natural areas land management, plans, policies, and regulations. 
4. Educational Programming: Plans, leads, evaluates, and supports Volunteer Naturalists to offer an extensive year-round schedule of educational activities. Regularly supports weekend and evening activities by being on-site or on-call. Works a Tuesday-Saturday schedule May-October. 
5. Explorer: With collaborators, creates the Explorer publication, https://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/the-explorer 
6. Communications: Monitors, updates, and creates printed brochures and a large inventory of interpretive signage with collaborators. Supports strategic communications planning, digital outreach, and other communication efforts.

After the application deadline, applicants who are invited to move forward will get the opportunity to identify and describe their preferences regarding the six position responsibilities. 

This job summary describes these specific vacancies while the Essential Duties and Responsibilities below, apply to all Public Engagement Specialists across the City organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Develops and implements programs to educate community members and stakeholders about City strategies and resources.
• Creates educational activities and lesson plans that reflect a variety of program delivery models.
• Schedules and conducts public education and outreach to diverse audiences.
• Plans, leads and evaluates activities for diverse audiences including presentations, events, workshops, classes, and business outreach.
• Prepares, designs, disseminates and evaluates audience-appropriate messaging, materials, and related marketing, educational and informational campaigns.
• Creates, administers, and maintains strategic sponsorships and partnerships to foster an engaged community.
• Manages stakeholders for effective relationships with community groups, organizations, neighborhoods, and internal City departments.
• Provides support and advice on community engagement techniques that lead to the successful implementation of processes, projects or programs.
• Meets deadlines and uses time, materials, and resources efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Researches and resolves complex disputes and operations problems based on stakeholder engagement techniques.
• Supports internal City work teams by assisting with development and implementation of outreach strategies, engagement activities, and focused messaging.
• Coordinates volunteers including recruitment, placing, training, retention activities, project supervision and logistics, safety, recognition, communication and evaluation. Creates policies and programs to manage and support volunteers in partnership with the Citywide Volunteer Program Manager.
• May manage grant projects including tracking funding and reporting.
• Uses appropriate safety practices.
• Maintains equipment and inventory and prepares supplies for activities.
• Collects, compiles and reports program data and survey results.
• Assists with work planning, budget preparation and record-keeping.
• May actively solicit, write, and manage grants in partnership with City Grants Development Specialist.
• May direct the work of interns or volunteers.

Management Responsibilities

No

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of educational learning styles and communication techniques that are audience-appropriate.
• Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development, including forming instructional objectives and selecting appropriate materials.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing. Effective public speaking skills.
• Capable of working as a member of a team, as well as independently.
• Knowledge of principles of interpretation and public outreach.
• Understanding of effective public relations, marketing, and promotional concepts and objectives.
• Ability to deal with stressful situations and deadlines.
• Proven skills facilitating or leading discussions with a variety of groups.
• Ability to interact with members of City staff, other agencies, and general public.
• Competent in use of publishing, graphics, web page editing, Excel, presentation, social networking, volunteer management, and word processing software.
• Excellent customer service, presentation, communication and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive internal and external relationships.
• Ability to train and mentor volunteers, use volunteer management software, manage groups, communicate effectively, and accept and give feedback.
• Skills in evaluating public engagement activities and learners including quality and outcome-based metrics.

Required Qualifications

Minimum

Preferred

College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees 

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a related degree.

Experience Requirements

• At least three (3) years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Certifications/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Valid Colorado driver's license.,
  , Certifications and training in areas related to public outreach and education of other area related to the position.

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.

Specialist, Public Engagement

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities.  Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body.  The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

BACKGROUND CHECK AND MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT REQUIRED

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.


 

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