Community Engagement Liaison

Position Type:
Civil Service/Full-Time/Non-Bargaining Unit

Date Posted:
5/22/2026

Location:
Urbana City Building

Date Available:
When Filled
Join Our Team!

Community Engagement Liaison

Starting Annual Salary:

$72,470.0392 - $94,211.0510 annually ($34.8413/hr. - $45.2937/hr.)

Department:
Police Department

Status:
Full-time; Non-union; Civil Service: Limited Term (3 years)

Position Summary:


The City of Urbana is seeking qualified applicants for an exciting opportunity to serves as a trusted liaison between Urbana residents - particularly those from underserved and marginalized communities - and City resources, community organizations, and violence prevention initiatives. Working as a valuable member of the Urbana Police Department's Community Engagement Team, this non-sworn, civilian position combines proactive community engagement with targeted conflict mediation and violence interruption strategies. The Community Engagement Liaison works to reduce harm, prevent retaliation, strengthen neighborhood relationships, and increase equitable access to services and opportunities. The successful candidate will collaborate with law enforcement and with other City departments, public safety partners, schools, hospitals, and community-based organizations to promote safety, wellness, and community resilience. This is a limited-term position with an anticipated duration of three (3) years, dependent upon continued funding.


Our Ideal Candidate:

• Is passionate about serving their community, proving and supporting trauma-informed care, and making a lasting impact in marginalized communities.
• Has a demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting the Urbana-Champaign community as well as those affecting our community members impacted by violence, underrepresentation, and/or limited resource availability.
• Actively listens and responds with empathy, especially when dealing with sensitive or emotionally charged situations; demonstrates strong personal resilience during highly charged public hearings, maintaining composure and professionalism in challenging situations.
• Demonstrates consistency between words and actions, reinforcing the City's values.
• Maintains professionalism and focus even amid frequent interruptions or shifting demands
• Is highly organized and maintains accuracy and consistency in documents, maps, and reports.
• Consistently adheres to rules, policies, and ethical standards - even when no one is watching.
• Strengthens team culture by being open, respectful, and generous with knowledge.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively supports and upholds the City's mission and values.
• Builds and maintain strong relationships with residents, neighborhood leaders, schools, faith-based groups, and local organizations.
• Conducts proactive outreach to individuals and communities at elevated risk of violence.
• Works with residents and community members to identify and mediate conflicts to prevent escalation and retaliation.
• Provides trauma-informed support and maintains consistent engagement with members of at-risk populations.
• Connects residents to community resources including mental health, employment, education, housing, and victim services.
• Develops and facilitates workshops, events, and outreach initiatives focused on safety, wellness, and civic engagement.
• Documents outreach, mediations, and referrals in accordance with City and department requirements and established procedures.
• Assists in developing and maintaining the Urbana Police Department's community engagement programs, particularly those focused on outreach to at-risk populations in the community.
• Assists in developing mechanisms and strategies to facilitate communication between the Police Department and citizens regarding progress toward organizational goals, changes and achievements.
• Assists in representing the City of Urbana, as assigned, through networking and participation in a variety of meetings, public forums and social and civic functions with elected officials, external agencies, and community, neighborhood and business organizations.
• Creates, cultivates, and deepens strategic partnerships with key community members and groups.
• Attends meetings, seminars and forums of interest to keep informed of changing trends or legislative initiatives. Monitors publications and networks for relevant information pertaining to agendas assigned area of work. Reports significant information to Supervisor and members of Urbana Police Administration as required.
• Maintains various records of activities and programs. Prepares general correspondence and summary reports; makes reports on community engagement activities.
• Monitors social and community trends and issues.
• Maintains a database of community contacts.
• Assists with researching, writing, and designing internal and external communication such as press releases and annual reports for the public.
• Maintains strict confidentiality when in contact with or working with sensitive information requiring considerable use of tact, discretion, and judgment.
• Gathers community feedback and provides recommendations to support equitable policies and resource allocation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required / Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• At least five (5) years of professional experience developing, facilitating, and/or supporting targeted community engagement efforts, violence prevention, community outreach, advocacy, social services, or similar work in a closely related field which provides an understanding of human relations issues, programs, and problems; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals of varied backgrounds, (e.g., ethnic, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic).
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with underserved or at-risk populations.
• Must possess a valid State of Illinois Class D driver's license within 15 days of employment and maintain a safe driving record.
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to the needs of the various socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the community.
• Trauma-informed care.
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.

For a complete list of duties and qualifications, please refer to the job description .

Background Check Information:
Due to the sensitive nature of information encountered by this position, which is employed within the Urbana Police Department, a conditional offer of employment extended to the selected candidate will include a check of professional references, a motor vehicle records check, a background investigation including fingerprinting, and a psychological evaluation. In compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Illinois Human Rights Act, and the City of Urbana Human Rights Ordinance, information obtained in criminal background checks will be considered in the context of the nature of the job, the nature of the offense, and the time that has passed since the offense. A criminal conviction does not automatically exclude an applicant from consideration, and no inquiries into criminal history will be made until a conditional offer of employment is extended to a qualified candidate.


Compensation and Benefits
The City of Urbana offers competitive compensation and benefits to our employees. The full salary range for this position is $72,470.0392 - $115,952.0524 per year; the approved hiring range is $72,470.0392 - $94,211.0510 annually, DOQ . The City of Urbana provides its employees with a robust benefits package that includes the following options:

• Health insurance through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois, including a no-cost premium option for employees
• Dental insurance options through Delta Dental
• Vision, Voluntary Life, Short/Long-term Disability, Accident, and Critical Illness insurance options
• Flexible Spending Plan option
• Paid holidays
• Generous vacation and unlimited sick leave accruals

For more information about City benefits for this position, please visit?Non-Union Benefits | City of Urbana Careers | Urbana, Illinois

To Apply:


Applicants must submit a current resume and an online application. Click the red "Apply" button on the upper-right hand side of this page. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, however initial application review will occur after Wednesday, June 17, 2026 . Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply prior to this date for priority consideration.


Selection Process:


The application will serve as the Civil Service exam; applicants meeting or exceeding the passing score will be placed on an open competitive register to fill current and/or future vacancies that may occur within approximately the next two years; this register may be extended or voided as needed by the Civil Service Commission. Questions may be directed to Ranija Turner, Human Resources Coordinator, at: View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io. The City of Urbana provides reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities; if you need information, please contact the Human Resources Division at the number or e-mail above.


What happens after I submit my application?


You will be contacted by e-mail regarding your status once a decision has been made in the selection process. Once you apply, almost all communication regarding the status of your application will be by email through the City's applicant management platform, so please add the domain "@applitrack.com" to your address book to prevent any emails from going to your Spam/Junk folder.


The Organization


The City of Urbana, founded in 1833 and the county seat of Champaign County, is a home-rule municipality situated in east central Illinois, approximately 135 miles south of Chicago and 45 miles west of the Indiana border. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the state's flagship university, is located in both Urbana and Urbana's twin city of Champaign. Urbana's population is estimated at 38,336 and 11.9 square miles are within the City boundaries. The City is led by Mayor DeShawn Williams and operates under the mayor-aldermanic form of government. On average, Urbana employs 260 full-time personnel. For more information about the City of Urbana, visit:


About the Urbana Community


Award-winning dining. Cutting-edge technology. World-class education. Gigabit-speed fiber network. Urbana is a city where artists, thinkers, and innovators thrive. And we're just getting started!


Urbana boasts a history built on innovation. From the famed Morrow Plots, a National Historic Landmark, to the groundbreaking research conducted every day on the flagship campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana embraces creative thinking and diversity to drive innovation and advancement. We're connected to each other and the world thanks to an award-winning mass transit district, Amtrak rail, a regional airport, and three major interstates. Prefer to get around on two wheels? We are proud to be the first Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community in Illinois. Our West Urbana neighborhood has been named of the 10 Great Neighborhoods in America by the American Planning Association, and together with our twin city Champaign, we've been recognized as the Greatest Food Town in the Midwest by Midwest Living Magazine, as well as an AARP Age-Friendly Community. Led by Mayor DeShawn Williams, Urbana's progressive values include civic engagement, celebrating entrepreneurs and innovators, smart growth, and transparent governance. Award-winning schools, outstanding parks, a mosaic of diverse and engaged neighborhoods, a robust array of businesses located throughout the city, and reliable public services committed to the best possible quality of life for residents serve to make Urbana a great place for all to thrive.


The City of Urbana Welcomes Diversity!
We foster an environment that values and encourages mutual respect, inclusion of all people, and utilizing differences and similarities as an organizational asset. EOE.

Attachment(s):

• JOB DESC_Community Engagement Liaison (2026).pdf