Community Engagement Coordinator

Salary: $5,937.25 - $7,216.75 Monthly
Location : CA 95020, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: FY23/24
Department: City Administration
Opening Date: 03/07/2024
Closing Date: 3/29/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

• City Administration
• Police Department

$5,937.25 - $7,216.75 Monthly, Plus Excellent Benefits
3% Salary increases Scheduled 7/1/2024.
Opportunity to work a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.
The City of Gilroy is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Join our team!
ABOUT THE POSITION
The City of Gilroy is actively seeking two (2) full-time Community Engagement Coordinators (CEC) to join the City Administration Department and the Gilroy Police Department. In this dynamic role, the CECs will collaborate with the Administration and Police Department teams to enhance the City's public relations, drive community outreach initiatives, and effectively disseminate information to support the City's operations, services, and policies and procedures. This presents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the city's communication and Community Engagement efforts.
Under the supervision of the assigned manager, the Community Engagement Coordinator for the City of Gilroy plays a key role in improving various programs. Responsibilities include managing the City's website content, overseeing digital media platforms, coordinating social media and video communication, engaging in public speaking and written communication, handling print and digital media, participating in marketing initiatives, leading and coordinating Community Engagement efforts, and providing excellent customer service. The duties may vary depending on the assigned department.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Embraces common values, promotes a contemporary vision, and genuinely dedicates themselves to Community Engagement.
• Approach their daily interactions with a collaborative mindset, recognizing the significance of proactive and positive engagement with the community.
• Eager to apply modern approaches, innovate strategies, and implement fresh ideas.
• Focuses on forging partnerships and relationships, requiring exceptional human skills to foster collaboration and understanding within diverse communities.
• Energetic and forward-thinking, embraces modern branding practices to positively impact the department's relationship with the community.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Will demonstrate proficiency in utilizing digital media platforms, highlighting an inclusive approach to reaching diverse sectors of the community.
• Incorporates traditional and digital communication methods for inclusive and effective Community Engagement.
• Will be able to effectively communicate in Spanish, recognizing the importance of language accessibility in fostering meaningful connections.

FIRST YEAR PROJECTS INCLUDE:
Police Department

• Create and execute a targeted community outreach plan for the department, emphasizing the promotion of city programs, initiatives, and events.
• Generate captivating content for the department's website and digital channels, including social media, to enhance Community Engagement and raise awareness.
• Publish the department's "End of Year" Report.
• Serve as the Point of Contact with local media outlets.
• Modernize and rebrand the department's digital media profiles.
• Develop an internal communication platform.
• Establish a platform named "Our Story" or something similar, dedicated to showcasing and introducing members of the department.
• Coordinate and highlight the annual: Community Police Academies (English, Spanish, Youth), Women in Policing Career Day, 2024 National Night Out, Coffee and Ice Cream with a Cop, and other community input forums.
• Reestablish the Neighborhood Watch Programs.

City Administration

• Create and execute social media campaigns on a variety of topics, including historical campaigns, socially significant recognitions such as Black History Month, recruitments, closures, and other topics as assigned.
• Assist with groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and press conferences.
• Coordinate administration of the City's website. Including developing and executing a strategy to work with cross-functional site administrators to keep the city's website current.
• Serve as the point of contact for and conduct City Hall Tours.
• Generate captivating content for the City of Gilroy's website and digital channels to enhance the relationship with the community.
• Design the annual Employee Calendar to highlight our employees and foster collaboration.
• Serve as the backup Emergency Public Information Officer as needed.
• Establish an evergreen content library for the many content campaigns developed for the City of Gilroy.
• Generate updated photos, videos, and illustrations to keep the City's content library fresh and exciting.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Duties include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Maintain, enhance, and coordinate general residential and business community outreach of City programs as assigned. Outreach may vary depending upon department assignment. For example, when assigned to the Administration Department, outreach may take on a more City-wide focus to include outreach related to the City Administrator, City Council, various department-related initiatives, and various community events(i.e., community clean-up dates). When assigned to the Police Department, outreach may include crime prevention programs, various Community Engagement events (i.e., National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop, Ice-Cream with a Cop, etc.), coordination of community police academies, South County Youth Task Force programs, and other similar programs.
2. Promote the community and city/department organization to others to sustain and strengthen the sense of community identity.
3. Coordinate City/Department initiated special events as assigned.
4. Listen to and/or review public comments and communicate concerns and/or observations to the City Administrator, Communication & Engagement Manager, Police Chief, Police Captain, or other manager as appropriate.
5. Draft and/or review press releases, speeches, articles for City officials as needed. When assigned to the Administration Department may be subject to call back to coordinate crisis response. When assigned to the police department, may be subject to call back to coordinate public information flow during a critical incident.
6. Utilize and coordinate digital media platforms to engage and inform members of the community.
7. Coordinate information flow with the media, community, businesses, and non-profit organizations.
8. Conduct research, including public opinion surveys, market trend analysis, research analysis, and evaluations, or monitor vendors for this purpose, to aid the preparation, implementation, and assessment of public information strategies and tactics.
9. Evaluate and extrapolate key data points to synthesize and share relevant information with the public as approved.
10. Develop and maintain websites and prepare content for websites and digital media programs.
11. Take photos and videos at events or as needed for engagement and/or marketing purposes.
12. Develop ideas and new ways to engage the community regarding City/Department operations and services.
13. Participate in the planning, preparation, and practice for departmental and Citywide emergency public information activities.
14. Provide informational tours to community groups, visitors, and others as assigned.
15. Provide public information support, and/or other required support, to the City's Emergency Operations Center.
16. Attend and participate in training programs related to work.
17. Adapt to changing priorities, handle unexpected situations, and adjust communication strategies accordingly.
18. Perform other related work as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, English, Criminal Justice, Sociology, or a closely related field. Additional full time professional related experience may, at the sole discretion of the City of Gilroy, be substituted for the required education with two years of additional directly related full-time work experience being equivalent to sixty semester units of college-level course work.
• Three (3) years of experience in public relations, community outreach and engagement, communications, or graphic design preferably in a local government agency.
• Must be available for some evening and occasional weekend work.
• Subject to afterhours callout for emergency situations/critical incidents and/or activation of the Emergency Operations Center.
• Experience with digital media, desktop publishing software, and Adobe Creative Cloud software is highly desired.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and a safe driving record.
• Pass a background check which includes a Department of Justice criminal record check for employment.
• Prefer non-tobacco user.
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish) desired, but not required.

APPLICATION PROCESS
If you are interested in pursuing this exciting career opportunity, please attach and submit the following required items with your electronic NEOGOV application:

• Complete supplemental question responses included with application submittal
• Cover letter that explains your specific interest in this position with the City of Gilroy is preferred
• Detailed resume focusing on relevant work experience and education is preferred

City Application Form - Candidates must complete the NEOGOV City of Gilroy application form for this position and submit online. Please prepare attachments prior to completion of the NEOGOV application as incomplete applications will not be accepted.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
March 29, 2024, at 5:00 pm
ORAL BOARD INTERVIEWS
April 17, 2024
FINAL INTERVIEWS
TBD
The examination process/schedule above may be changed as needed by the City.
Apply Online:
Go to www.CityOfGilroy.org/jobs. You can apply online by clicking on the job title you are interested in and clicking on the "Apply" link. After viewing the Job Description, click the 'Apply' tab. If this is the first time you are applying using our online job application, you will need to create an account and select a Username and Password. After your account has been established, you can import your resume from LinkedIn, upload it from a saved document on your computer, or manually enter your personal information. This application will be saved and used to apply for future job openings.
Only the most qualified applicants with the most relevant experience and education will be invited to continue in the selection process. In addition, final candidates for the position are required to pass a background check, State of California Department of Justice criminal records check, medical evaluation, and drug screen, given at the City's expense, prior to appointment. If special accommodation is necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Department right away at 408-846-0228.
Attention: Communication regarding your status in this recruitment process will be conducted via e-mail. Be sure to include an e-mail address on the employment application. Applicants are responsible for notifying Human Resources of any changes to an e-mail address and/or other contact information.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Persons appointed to this position on a full-time basis will receive the following benefits:
Health Allowance and Flexible Benefits Plan
Depending upon the number of dependents the health allowance ranges from $939.36 to $2,480.68 per month for core health benefits. Subject to specific rules, a cash back program is also available with proof of other medical coverage. City employees participate in the PERS Health Program, and may choose their medical coverage from a variety of providers. The City's flexible benefits plan includes medical and dental coverage as core benefits. A range of optional benefits including vision care, medical and dependent care accounts are also available. A term life insurance policy equal to $100,000 as of July 1, 2017 per MOU, long-term disability plan, and an employee assistance plan are currently provided at City expense.
Other Benefits
The City currently offers the CalPERS 2.5% at 55 pension plan for "classic" CalPERS members and 2% at 62 for "new" CalPERS members. Currently, the City pays the full employer portion of the retirement contribution for "classic" members and 50% of the total normal cost for "new" members. The "classic" member contribution of 8% is a pre-tax payroll deduction; "new" members shall pay 50% of the total normal cost as set by CalPERS. Anyone hired on or after January 1, 2013 will be subject to the applicable provisions, retirement formulas, and plan benefits/restrictions associated with the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013.
Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays
Annual vacation ranges from two to four weeks per year, based on years of City of Gilroy service. Employees accrue eight hours of sick leave each month. Employees receive 36 hours of personal leave time in July of each fiscal year which must be used during the fiscal year (pro-rated based on hire date). The City observes 10 paid holidays each year.
Medicare/Social Security
Employees participate in Medicare (1.45% for both the employer and employee) as this is a mandated federal program. City of ...