Community Outreach Specialist in Tacoma, Washington at Parks Tacoma

Based on our internal equity review process, the starting hourly wage for this position will be $29.59
To allow for growth and salary progression the full hourly range is $29.59 - $40.51. Employees will have the opportunity to move through the posted range based on annual performance reviews and merit increases.

Work where you play!
Join our team at Parks Tacoma to put your skills to use serving your community and making Tacoma a vibrant, healthy, and welcoming place to live.

Who We Are
Parks Tacoma is a CAPRA-accredited and AZA-accredited, independent park district that leads efforts to build a healthy, sustainable community. Located in Tacoma, Washington, Tacoma Parks’ mission is to create healthy opportunities to play, learn, and grow. The independent park district spans the city providing a wide range of life-enriching destinations and services, including 70+ parks, 80+ miles of trails, 1,000+ acres of urban forest, 66 playgrounds, four community centers, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Point Defiance Park, and much more. Our work is guided by eight core values that are the foundation of our actions and goals: innovation, excellence, equity, inclusiveness, sustainability, accountability, safety, and fun.

Why You’ll Love it Here
Come work where you play! You will contribute to the overall vitality and well-being of your community when you work for Parks Tacoma, and you’ll do so as part of a supportive team of committed, passionate, and mission-driven professionals. The people of Parks Tacoma are the key to its success, and you just might be the next great addition to our team. You’ll receive a competitive wage, along with an attractive benefits package, including medical, dental, retirement, vacation, holidays, and much more. On top of that, you’ll wake each day knowing that you’re helping make Tacoma a great place to call home.

Position Information
The Community Outreach Specialist position assists in the planning and development of outreach and engagement resources, data acquisition (via in-person events and online tools), research and analysis, and cultural events support and assistance in coordinating employee participation and/or personally representing Parks Tacoma at community events in support of Capital Projects.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to:

• Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
• Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.
• Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
• Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
• Observe applicable safety requirements, use safety equipment provided, implement appropriate safety practices at all times and report immediately any unsafe working conditions or hazards.

• Assist in a variety of specialized administrative and operational support services and/or projects associated with Parks Tacoma's Outreach & Engagement initiatives.
• Assist in the promotion, coordination and implementation of the in-person events within historically underserved areas; help inspire community participation and input in public Capital Projects engagement activities.
• Help coordinate communications and outreach activities, including event planning, set-up, and tear-down.
• Help build positive and successful relations with private agencies, businesses, community groups, other outside organizations, and the general public; provide the community with information that inspires and engages participation.
• Assist in the creation of promotional materials.
• Participate in online training to learn Social Pinpoint community management platform. Under the guidance of the Outreach & Engagement Supervisor , develop Social Pinpoint pages that engage public input about strategic initiatives focused on opportunities that can help inform and guide capital projects and programming design, levels of service and Parks Tacoma policies and procedures.
• Maintain organized records of input gathered through a variety of methods and generate reports.
• Supervise volunteers who manually transcribe written content, reviewing electronic database to ensure accuracy and professional standards of data entry for use by multiple staff.
• Collaborate with Communications & Engagement Manager to coordinate opportunity for staff to participate in community events prepare and submit required documents, develop clear day of event communications and serve as staff’s onsite point of contact.
• Conduct research, analyze data, and assist in preparation of reports.
• Create, update, or assist in translation processes and print materials as requested by supervisor. Execute Assignments to advance Language Access Plan.
• Oversee inventory of supplies and work with supervisor to order additional supplies when needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum high school graduate or equivalent
• At least three years of community engagement experience required.
• Bi-lingual skills highly desired.
• Must have a valid drivers license and acceptable driving record.
• Must be able to work a variety of hours, as needed, including weekends, evenings and holidays.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Cultural competency to create warm and welcoming experiences for underserved communities.
• Must be able to communicate clearly verbally and in writing.
• Must be able to perform basic administrative tasks.
• Possess aptitude for technology and desire to learn new programs.
• Must be able to read, understand and follow District policies and procedures.
• Operation of a personal computer and familiarity with MS Office Suite.
• Knowledge of correct English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Ability to plan & organize work.
• Ability to work independently with little direction or supervision.

ENVIRONMENT:

• The office work environment is often quiet with minimal background noise.
• The office work environment is an active hub space with collaborative workstations where background noise from collaborative discussions, phone calls, impromptu meetings, and/or team activities are common.
• Work shifts are assigned to meet operational needs, including flexible schedules, rotating shifts, call-back shifts, overtime shifts, nights, holidays, and/or weekends.
• The work environment includes working individually and/or within team dynamics.

HAZARDS:

• The work environment includes both indoor and outdoor conditions with exposure to fluctuating temperatures seasonally which can (routinely, frequently, occasionally) be hot, cold, humid, windy, and/or damp.
• The work environment includes interactions with the general public, which can include hostile or disgruntled individuals.

ABILITIES:
Sight to read and prepare records and reports. Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate office equipment. Hearing and speaking to exchange information. Sitting and operating a computer keyboard for extended periods of time. Bending, reaching, and lifting to assist with event set up. Ability to lift a minimum of 25 lbs.

PARKS TACOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, disability or any other merit factor. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

Parks Tacoma employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Parks Tacoma is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources at hr@parkstacoma.gov.

Employment is subject to a national background check.

This position is an at-will position with no written or implied contractual agreement.