Neighborhood Network Specialist

Neighborhood Network Specialist

Shaker Heights is a vibrant community with magnificent tree-lined neighborhoods, a strong history of diversity and commitment to equity and inclusion, and a longtime culture of resident involvement in community life. Engaged neighborhoods help make Shaker a special place to call home. Apply to fill our Neighborhood Network Specialist position to provide community-oriented neighborhood support and help advance neighborhood-based, bottom-up community organizing in Shaker Heights, primarily in the Moreland neighborhood. The Neighborhood Network Specialist will work directly with residents, community partners, and a cross-departmental team to support neighborhood engagement and community network building in Moreland, creating a connected community in which everyone feels supported and valued. Work is performed under the general direction of the Director of Economic Development.

Essential Functions

Building on years of growth and development in neighborhood-based community engagement in Shaker Heights, the Neighborhood Network Specialist will:

• Work with residents, City colleagues, and community partners to implement neighborhood engagement strategies based in the principles of community-network building and Asset-Based Community Development, including connecting neighbors, uplifting neighborhood quality of life, empowering residents, and catalyzing self-organizing among residents, primarily in the Moreland neighborhood.
• Support the development of resident-led community projects primarily emanating from the Moreland Neighborhood Network, including but not limited to creating welcoming spaces where residents feel safe to share ideas and talents, guiding residents in moving emergent ideas into actions, providing support for resulting projects, and tracking project progress and outcomes. Projects may include, for example:

- helping the Moreland neighborhood capture and share its stories with both neighborhood and wider community audiences;

- identifying and assisting in providing training and development opportunities to advance community building and resident leadership;

- developing and managing a neighborhood mini-grant program.

• Coordinate Neighborhood Network activities in alignment with current strategic community priorities, including engaging internally across multiple City departments to help deploy institutional assets in support of community-building activities and projects.
• Actively build, maintain and strengthen working partnerships with community institutions and organizations, and collaborate to provide mutual support and dialogue to support neighborhoods and community building.

The position upholds the City’s mission to be diverse, equitable and inclusive and creates and maintains relationships with Shaker residents of all backgrounds and experiences.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of principles and practices of community building, community engagement, community development, building and nurturing networks, coalitions, or communities of practice, and public administration and management. Strong skill is needed in interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, discussion/project facilitation, and other skills required to coalesce and guide working relationships and projects involving participants of diverse backgrounds and experiences. The ideal candidate will have the ability to identify and respond to community and City issues, concerns and needs; to build trust and consensus and develop partnerships with and among residents and community partners to address complex problems; to have personal conversations with a wide audience of individuals and groups; to work independently and think creatively about how to leverage community resources; to work on several projects at once, manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines; to communicate effectively in oral and written form; to deal courteously and effectively with the public; and to work with diverse groups of people, responding thoughtfully and tactfully to concerns.

Education and Experience

A Bachelor's degree with coursework in community development, social work, political science, public administration, urban planning or related field and considerable experience in community engagement, project management, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Five or more years of experience or background in community building, community engagement, neighborhood engagement, community development, community outreach, community organizing, direct service and dialogue with community members, community relations, or similar training or experience is preferred.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.

The City of Shaker Heights does not hire individuals who use or test positive for tobacco or nicotine products.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $72,000.00 - $77,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• community engagement and development: 5 years (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Shaker Heights, OH 44120: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Shaker Heights, OH 44120