Community Outreach Assistant-Limited Term at City of Salinas – Salinas, California

The Housing Division of the Community Development Department is looking to fill two Community Outreach Assistant- Limited Term positions and invites qualified candidates to apply. The focus of these positions will include supporting the Salinas Outreach and Response Team (SORT), a citywide street outreach program and a core component of the City’s coordinated homeless response system. Duties include conducting street-based outreach in encampments, parks, shelters, health centers, and other community locations and include responding to Q alerts and supporting unhoused in coordinated encampment cleanups in collaboration with other City departments. Services include relationship-based street outreach, Coordinated Entry assessments, HMIS enrollment, shelter referrals, housing navigation, benefit enrollment, referrals to behavioral health and health services, and ongoing service coordination. Limited-term, at-will positions are full-time and benefitted; however, appointments are funded through special programs and do not provide for attainment of regular employment status. This position is open until filled and may close at any time.

Summary of Duties: Performs a variety of field, community engagement, public outreach and administrative support duties related to operation and service programs and/or major planning initiatives of the Community Development Department.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is a single level job classification in the Community Development Department. Work is clearly defined and supervised. Performs basic paraprofessional and technical assistance with defined goals, objectives, and procedures.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives general supervision from the Department Director designee. May serve as lead and exercise functional supervision of lower-level temporary staff and/or volunteers.

1. Assists in the implementation of department operation and service programs or planning initiatives/community engagement efforts.
2. Assists with planning and conducting community outreach events, workshops, trainings and other meetings.
3. Assists with the coordination of meeting logistics including securing venues, obtaining supplies and materials, arranging for childcare, refreshments and meeting/event set-up and clean-up.
4. Prepares and distributes meeting notices, flyers, surveys, and outreach materials.
5. Responds to letters, public inquires, e-mails, and other communications.
6. Maintains contact lists in both written and/or electronic formats.
7. Utilizes social media platforms to engage and inform members of the community.
8. Prepares and/or gives presentations (i.e. PowerPoint) to the general public, community organizations and others.
9. Facilitates small group and other community engagement activities.
10. Prepares meeting agendas and follow-up notes; records community input.
11. Performs basic research to assist the preparation of reports, surveys, studies or other documents.
12. Coordinates, interacts and confers with other City Departments.
13. Serves as liaison between other government agencies, non-profit organizations and ad hoc committees for special community service projects, etc.
14. Interprets and conveys applicable City policies, rules and regulations.
15. Promotes and maintains safety in the workplace.
16. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of effective organization, program development and implementation.
• English usage, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Appropriate writing techniques for writing reports and correspondence
• Research methods and procedures
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Principles of local government practices.
• Principles of volunteerism and marketing.
• Basic clerical and computer skills, including word processing and basic software applications (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, Outlook 365); filing; familiarity with learning materials and effective training techniques.
• Other desktop publishing software related to preparing leaflets, brochures and similar materials (such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign or MS Publisher) is desired.

Skill in:

• Understand the organization and operation of the City, community stakeholders and other outside organizations necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Promote the mission, values and standards of an effective public organization, particularly in the area of customer service.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Prepare outreach materials and assist with meeting logistics.
• Utilize social media and email.
• Read, understand, apply and explain City programs, regulations and planning initiatives/efforts.
• Give public presentations to a wide range of large and small audiences.
• Guide small group activities and discussions.
• Conduct web/online research.
• Work cooperatively with other City departments and outside agencies.
• Occasionally work holidays, weekends and evenings when necessary.
• Work independently. Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City staff, elected officials, the community and volunteers.

Education: High School Diploma or GED

Experience: Two years of work experience involving increased responsibility and customer service, public outreach, community development or planning experience.

An Associate Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Political Science, or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of experience; or

A Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Political Science, or a closely related field may be substituted for six months of the required experience.

Licenses and Certifications: A valid State of California Driver’s License.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions: Physical, mental and emotional stamina to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position; manual dexterity sufficient to write, use telephone, computers, business machines and related equipment; vision sufficient to read printed materials, visual display terminals; hearing sufficient to conduct in person and telephone conversations; speaking ability in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in a normal conversational distance on the telephone or in person, and to project with sufficient volume when addressing large groups or facilitating community engagement activities; physical agility to push/pull, squat, twist, turn, bend, stoop and reach overhead; physical mobility sufficient to move about the work environment, physical strength to lift up to 30 lbs.; physical stamina sufficient to sit, stand or walk for prolonged periods of time; mental acuity to collect and interpret data, evaluate, reason, define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, make valid judgments and decisions.

A combination of field work traveling to community events or meetings throughout the City, and a business office working environment subject to sitting at a desk or standing at a counter, booth or display station for long periods of time, bending, crouching, or kneeling at files, pushing/pulling of file drawers and supplies, reaching in all directions and prolonged periods of time working at a computer station. Work conditions will include attending out-of-office meetings and events and interacting with the public, walking and standing for long periods of time, at times in an outdoor environment, in all weather conditions. May work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Employee must complete SB 1343 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training within six months of appointment and every two years thereafter.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.