Community Engagement Specialist

About Us:

VOALA

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America Los Angeles is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org.

TOBACCO PREVENTION CONTROL

This program will implement a Policy Adoption Model (PAM) based campaign to reduce youth access to tobacco products and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Community Engagement Specialist facilitates policy campaign activities, implements data collection, and provides administrative assistance to further efforts of the program staff to fulfill the contracted goals and objectives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform outreach and engagement with key community stakeholders and residents;
• Perform one on one meetings, and group educational presentations;
• Coordinate and facilitate local coalition meetings;
• Conduct key informant interviews,
• Develop educational materials and information packets;
• Provide public testimony;
• Monitor program compliance to VOALA policies and required procedures; maintains documentation of all program procedures;
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications

EDUCATION:

• Must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public health, public policy and/or social sciences AND one (1) year of experience implementing public health programs with a focus in community organizing and advocacy
• OR Two (2) years full-time experience in the fields of public health, public policy and/or community organizing/advocacy with at least one (1) year of experience implementing public health programs with a focus in community organizing and advocacy.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least one (1) year of experience implementing public health programs with a focus in community organizing and advocacy.

KNOWLEDGE:

• Understanding of public health policy and advocacy

TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:

• Proficient Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Familiarity with Database and report generation.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Must be flexible and willing to work weekends/evenings as necessary
• Proven Expertise in relevant subject matter
• Able Public Speaker
• Able to provide valuable expertise to senior management while mentoring junior staff
• Able to organize and schedule team’s efforts of subordinates towards program goals
• Ability to coach and mentor staff
• Demonstrated ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict, including dealing with un-cooperative clients.
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.

INTERPERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Build rapport with those encountered in all aspects the work day.
• Build trust, act trustworthy
• Active listening (reflective listening)
• Follow instructions and VOALA procedures
• Apply principles of professional boundaries and ethics to on the job situations

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master of Social Work or discipline related to Program services
• Experience connecting clients to community and government resources;
• Knowledge about community resources
• Ability to work with people from various backgrounds and/or limited English capabilities

VOALA BENEFITS SUMMARY:

• Choice of 3 medical insurance plans
• Choice of 2 dental insurance plans (one plan for employee only; has no premium)
• Vision insurance plan
• Voluntary Supplemental Coverage
• Accidental Injury Coverage
• Hospital Care Coverage
• Critical Illness Coverage
• Paid vacation time
• Paid sick time
• 10 company paid holidays
• Company funded 401a retirement pension plan
• Optional employee contribution to 403b retirement savings plan
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Programs to maintain your health and well-being
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) – (No cost to employee and 100% confidential)
• Company funded Short-term Disability Insurance (STDI) Insurance
• Company funded Long-term Disability Insurance (LTD)

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law

This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form 1-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (OHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.