Education Specialist-Public Engagement Specialist

Apply Here: https://fcgov.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/12/home/requisition/5853?c=fcgov

Job Summary

The hourly Public Engagement Specialist manages, develops, and implements department-wide communications as outlined in the Natural Areas Strategic Communications Plan. The Specialist will develop, coordinate, deliver, and evaluate digital, print and signage communications, to diverse audiences on natural areas topics ranging from leave no trace to safety messaging to restoration updates.

The Specialist serves as a liaison that works with internal staff to support strategic communications and public engagement. This includes composing copy for e-newsletters, social media, the Natural Areas Department website, signs, and brochures.  The Engagement Specialist implements the Natural Areas Department identity and voice using existing Identity Guidelines. This position also helps create and run limited term campaigns, like volunteer recruitment and river safety.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• 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 recuitment, 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.

All Other Duties as Assigned/ADA/Reasonable Accommodation

This job description is a living document and may not be all-inclusive. Employees are responsible for all other duties as assigned. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without a reasonable accommodation. This position requires regular attendance at the workplace.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

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.

• Ability to drive vans that hold 10 or more people.

Required Education and Experience

Education: College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certifications or advanced degrees. 

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

Certifications: Valid driver's license. Certified Interpretive Guide or Trainer (National Association for Interpretation), and Environmental Educator certification (Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education) preferred.

Physical Demands/Amount of Time Required

Walk, move, or traverse

34-66%

Stand or be stationary

34-66%

Sit or be stationary

67-100%

Use of hands and/or fingers or other mechanism to handle, move, feel, inspect, etc.

34-66%

Reach or position self to access

0-33%

Climb or balance, ascend/descend, work atop

0-33%

Stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, or position self to access items at low elevation/on the ground/underneath other things/inside things

0-33%

Talk/hear, converse, communicate, or exchange information

67-100%

Taste or smell, distinguish or determine flavors or smells

N/A

Turn/twist or move self or things from one place to another beside or behind the other

0-33%

Bend or position self to move items from higher place to lower place or vice versa

0-33%

Throw items or move them from place to place

0-33%

See or view very near or very far

67-100%

Depth perception, distinguishing between varying depths

0-33%

Color vision, distinguishing between colors

N/A

Lift, carry, move, or position up to 10 lbs.

34-66%

Lift, carry, move, or position 11-25 lbs.

0-33%

Lift, carry, move, or position 26-50 lbs.

N/A

Lift, carry, move, or position 51-100 lbs.

N/A

Lift, carry, move, or position 100+ lbs.

N/A

Environmental Condition/Amount of Time Exposed

Wet or humid conditions (non-weather)

N/A

Work near moving mechanical parts

0-33%

Work in high, precarious places

0-33%

Fumes or airborne particles

0-33%

Toxic or caustic chemicals

N/A

Outdoor weather conditions

0-33%

Extreme cold (non-weather)

N/A

Extreme heat (non-weather)

N/A

Risk of electrical shock

N/A

Work with explosives

N/A

Risk of radiation

N/A

Vibration

N/A

Quiet work environment

34-66%

Moderate noise environment

67-100%

Loud environment

N/A

Extremely loud environment

N/A

Confined spaces

N/A

Exposure to defensive/offensive weapons

N/A

 
 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 an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to gender (regardless of gender identity or gender expression), race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age 40 years or older, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or other characteristics protected by law. For the purpose of this City policy “sexual orientation” means a person’s actual or perceived orientation toward heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality. 
 
 POST OFFER BACKGROUND CHECK, MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT, AND DRUG TEST REQUIRED WITHIN FOUR CALENDAR DAYS/96 HOURS OF OFFER.
 
 Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.