POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The Community Engagement Specialist (CES) will work to promote the Washtenaw
County Conservation District (WCCD), generate engagement for all WCCD Programs,
coordinate two large annual District events, lead annual report creation, facilitate the
natural resources assessment survey every five years, and recruit and engage
volunteers. The CES will create templates, guidelines, and processes for staff to
ensure consistency in branding and outreach and identify goals and subsequent
measurements for tracking impact. Content may include written materials,
brochures/flyers, postcards, printed/emailed newsletters, social media, radio,
television, newsletters, reports, press releases, etc. The CES will provide additional
support to grant funded staff when funds and capacity exist.

RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to: Resource Specialist
Supervises: N/A currently
Works with: All WCCD staff
External Stakeholders: Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s
Office, Washtenaw County Public Works, Project Red,
Huron River Watershed Council, Pollinator Partnership, etc.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all the following essential functions.
These examples do not include all the duties which the employee may be expected to perform. To
perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function
satisfactorily.
1. Outreach & Promotion (45%)

• Planning
• Collaborate with staff to create a comprehensive outreach plan and schedule incorporating all programs and events.
• Communicate outreach plan details to relevant staff. Work with specific staff on finalizing outreach plans as needed.
• Manage the Outreach Budget, currently a sub-class of the General Budget, including estimating costs, drafting a budget, staying within budget, and timely submittal of credit card receipts.
• Annual Events
   Lead on the WCCD Annual Meeting event planning and execution under the advisement of the Executive Director. Recruit volunteers and train staff on roles.
• Lead on Native Plant Expo & Marketplace event planning, development, and execution under the advisement of the Resource Specialist. Recruit volunteers and train staff on roles.
• Support the CTAP Technician with the planning and implementation of Field Day.
• General
• Attend, or coordinate volunteers/staff to attend, strategic partner events and career fairs to promote the WCCD.
• Coordinate staff to update office outreach & education displays with program and event information, and technical sheets.
• Assist with WCCD programs and events as feasible.
• Execute the planning, development, and distribution of the annual report with assistance from the Executive Director.
• Every five years, lead the development and execution of the natural resource assessment survey, including revising and revamping of questions, methodology, and distribution pathways for gathering data with support from the Executive Director.
• Advise on public relations and respond to media inquiries.
• Grant Outreach
• As dictated by grant funding, or as time allows, assist grant sponsored staff with the development and dissemination of outreach materials. Share content created by grant partners on the WCCD platforms.

2. Content Maintenance and Creation (25%)

• Create templates that staff can use to quickly design postcards, flyers, factsheets, etc. using coherent branding guidelines for submission to CES. Review, edit, and disseminate outreach materials as needed for all sales/events/programs to meet attendee goals and other deliverables.
• For specified projects where budget permits, solicit quotes and coordinate with graphic designer and printing contractor.
• Manage public content schedules and source content from staff and partners (monthly e-newsletter, social media, targeted e-mails, postcards, website, etc.). Oversee cross-program promotion/marketing schedules and revise processes as needed.
• Update website content to maintain accurate information about programs, upcoming events, and office closures.

3. Volunteer Coordination (15%)

• Develop and expand recruitment methods to attract volunteers to events.
• Expand opportunities for volunteer assistance.
• Coordinate volunteer schedules and roles for three plant sales events.
• Develop post-event surveys for volunteers and adjust based on feedback.

4. Partnerships (5%)

• Represent WCCD on the Project Red Steering Committee and MACD Education Committee.
• Organize and maintain countywide natural resource outreach group with Legacy Land Conservancy, City of Ann Arbor Greenbelt Program, and Washtenaw County Water Resources.
• Staff liaison with “Friends of WCCD” group, once established.

5. Training (5%)

• Create Employee Development Plan (EDP) and seek approval from Supervisor to attend trainings.
• Attend quarterly staff retreats, and other required trainings.
• Learn and integrate project management software and time management tracking (Toggl/Asana).

6. General WCCD (5%)

• Assist with general WCCD events as needed.
• Attend WCCD staff meetings, including in-person and virtual.
• Submit monthly board report, attend board meetings as requested.
• Assist with WCCD annual and long-term planning as requested.
• Meet with Supervisor for quarterly check-in and as needed.
• Complete annual performance review with Supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & ABILITIES:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the position. These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

1. Experience equivalent to or possession of a bachelor’s degree in marketing, social marketing, communications, journalism, public administration, planning, community development, or a related field.
a. 3+ years of experience in marketing and brand development and management.
b. 3+ years of experience with meeting and event facilitation and public speaking.
c. 3+ years of experience managing social media platform accounts and growing community engagement.
2. Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal - addressing a variety of audiences. Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise and high quality  written, printed and virtual materials, and presentations. Attention to detail is critical.
3. Demonstrated ability to set priorities, coordinate multiple projects, meet deadlines, and perform a variety of professional-level program and project management work without close supervision.
4. Excellent computer skills, including Excel. Computer workstation will be provided, including a standard PC, on a shared network with Windows software.
5. Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
6. Willingness to travel regularly for local partner events, meetings, and site visits within the county and occasionally regionally.
7. Must be able to pass a security background check.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS & ABILITIES:
1. Knowledge of conservation, natural resources, and local environmental concerns.
2. Strong social and interpersonal skills. Comfort and familiarity with group facilitation techniques, including consensus building and conflict resolution.
3. Comfortable working collaboratively as well as independently, giving direction, and setting realistic goals and expectations.
4. Self-motivated and goal-oriented in developing communications pathways, identifying and engaging stakeholders, and selecting metrics to measure improvement.
5. Comfortable with in-office, hybrid, and remote working environments.
6. Experience with project and time management software (e.g. ASANA/Toggl).
7. Experience with design, marketing, and web development tools (e.g. Drupal  CMS, Canva or Adobe design, FormSite).
8. Experience working cooperatively with coworkers and partner organizations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.
1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, stand, walk; use hands; reach with arms; lift and/or move items of light to heavy weights (up to 40 pounds), including group or solo
event/presentation setup and clean-up. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
2. Occasional fieldwork may be required, with potential exposure to heat, cold, inclement weather, stinging and biting insects, rash inducing plants, uneven terrain, moving mechanical parts and/or machinery, and loud noises.
3. Ability to work in-person at the office to assist with answering calls and walk-ins from the public as well as capacity to work remotely