Community Outreach Specialist For Nonprofit

COMPENSATION: $45,000 to $70,312 annual depending on experience plus excellent benefits

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND

PACE is local community nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to provide job training and placement services for the Asian Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles. PACE has since expanded into a variety of service areas, all tailored to meet the growing and changing needs of the multi-ethnic communities in Los Angeles County. Now, in addition to job training and employment services, significant PACE programs encompass: Business Development; Early Childhood Education (Head Start); Financial Education and Asset Building; Housing and Rehabilitation Services; Weatherization and Energy-conservation programs; and Affordable Housing Development. PACE serves more than 40,000 people each year with our wide scope of services with approximately 350+ staff. PACE is recognized as a leader in addressing problems of poverty and economic inequity in ethnic minority communities and has a reputation of being responsive to community needs and is known for creating innovative solutions to the myriad of challenges faced by our clients.

I. PROGRAM SUMMARY:

PACE Business Development Center (BDC) offers entrepreneurial training, technical assistance, one-on-one counseling, loans and grants to low and moderate income individuals, especially minorities and women who aspire to start or currently own a microenterprise. The programs also provide access to capital, market, financial literacy and credit counseling. The objectives of these programs are to assist low and moderate income entrepreneurs to achieve economic self-sufficiency and become successful small business owners. http://pacelabdc.org/

II. POSITION SUMMARY

PACE Business Development Center (BDC) is seeking a highly motivated and passionate Community Outreach Specialist to join our team. Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Community Outreach Specialist will be responsible for connecting and engaging with humanitarian parolee / refugee / asylee communities and populations as defined by the U.S Dept. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Program, to promote PACE and the BDC’s mission, programs, and services. The targeted populations currently include but not limited to Ukrainian, Afghan and additional selected communities under the ORR. Therefore, bi-lingual skills, particularly in Ukrainian, Russian, Dari, Pashto, Spanish, Haitian or any other languages is highly desirable. In this role, the Community Outreach Specialist will plan and execute outreach strategies to identify, recruit and enroll targeted community members and populations. The individual will work with the BDC team to achieve program performance goals through effective outreach and enrollment. The Community Outreach Specialist will play a crucial role in building and maintaining relationships with targeted communities, promoting PACE BDC’s mission and services, and facilitating active participation in various initiatives and programs.

III. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Learn and understand program goals and requirements to ensure compliance according to funding sources’ policies and procedures
• Refer clients to PACE BDC’s Business/Loan Counselors for services
• Coordinate, plan, organize and execute informational sessions, events, workshops, webinars, trainings and presentations, exhibition tables, and initiatives specifically tailored to the targeted communities (in-person and virtual)
• Determine and verify potential targeted community clients’ eligibility, enroll clients, and collect documents to verify immigration status.
• Increase and promote the organization/BDC’s visibility and its programs and services within the targeted communities
• Ensure all information on the enrollment forms are filled out correctly and complete with signature
• Input clients’ information into the database systems
• Conduct cold outreach such as cold calling, emails, messaging, in-person
• Participate and attend trainings, seminars, and/or events as required for the position provided by funding sources
• Build and maintain relationships with the targeted communities through active engagement and outreach efforts.
• Collaborate with internal team to produce outreach and recruitment marketing material such as flyers, power point presentations, digital content, social media campaigns, email campaigns, etc. for targeted communities
• Provide linguistic support in language such as translation of written materials, interpretating during meetings or events, ensuring effective communication between organization and targeted communities
• Submit all completed clients’ case file including enrollment form, required eligibility supporting documents, and detailed case notes/counseling log
• Organize and maintain clients’ case files.
• Conduct research to identify, recruit and enroll eligible participants into PACE BDC’s programs and services
• Generate leads from research on the internet, telemarketing and canvassing potential clients.
• Work closely with Program Managers and Counselors to plan, publicize and implement events and activities
• Track and analyze outreach activities and data to assess effectiveness against established metrics and KPIs. Prepare reports to evaluate effectiveness and provide recommendations on future strategies.
• Support PACE BDC team members
• Interview clients and write success stories
• Conduct research to connect and establish relationships with community partners and local organizations to leverage and increase outreach efforts
• Serve as the organization’s liaison with targeted communities
• Work in collaboration with Program Managers to develop and implement strategic outreach / recruitment initiatives and program goals within targeted communities, with current focus on Ukrainian community.
• Support outreach program’s database

IV. QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• At least two years of experience in community outreach, engagement, or similar capacity
• Excellent organizational and communication skills (written and oral)
• Excellent computer kills, including Microsoft Office Suite, social media, and various platforms for outreach initiatives
• Able to take initiative and work independently
• Must be bilingual and proficient in English and additional language. Ukrainian language skills are highly desirable, and skills in any other languages such as Russian, Dari, Pashto, Spanish, Haitian, etc is also a plus. Please indicate on your resume if you have bi-lingual skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Skills in collaboration, interpersonal communication, and teamwork
• A team player, outgoing, energic, and friendly attitude
• Experience with planning and conducting trainings, presentations, events, and workshops (in-person and virtual)
• Minimum Associates (AA) Degree or equivalent
• An understanding and commitment to social justice issues and nonprofit development/capacity building
• Comfortable with cold outreach (ie via phone, emails, messages, in-person)
• Demonstrated experience and capabilities in outreach/marketing, communication, conducting workshop, hosting exhibition table.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail
• Public speaking skills
• Knowledge and experience working with multi-ethnic communities. Experience with Ukrainian community and/or populations eligible under the U.S Dept. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) program is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to network, connect, build, and maintain positive relationships with diverse stakeholders, including program participants, partners, organizations, and community leaders/members, funders, public officials.
• The ability to think strategically, plan, set goals and objectives, and follow through
• Excellent client service skills

V. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have valid proof of education degree
• Must pass pre-employment physical exam that includes drug and alcohol screening
• Must have a valid Driver’s License, access to an automobile, good driving record and adequate automobile insurance. Local travel may be required.
• Must pass employment verification/reference check

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, and kneel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk,and lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.