Community Engagement Specialist

Job Description: Calling all community gatherers and relationship builders! We want and need your passion for engaging the community and amplifying their voice. The Office of Law Enforcement Oversight (OLEO) is looking for a community connecter that has a heart to see their community voices be recognized.

As the Community Engagement Specialist, you will coordinate community engagement activities, partnership contracts, collaboration with culturally diverse King County audiences, and communication of complex, political, and often emotional topics. You will also collaborate with staff to ensure community engagement is integrated across all OLEO programs. We are excited and interested in candidates who will bring diversified skillsets to the team and facilitate with an equity and social justice mindset.

OLEO provides independent oversight of the King County Sheriff’s Office. We conduct objective reviews and independent investigations, and make evidence-based policy recommendations that are guided by the community and rooted in equity.

We are committed to upholding and promoting equal opportunity in employment and value lived experiences. People of all backgrounds, cultures, and religions are encouraged to apply, including veterans, people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. We value diversity and strive to hire a workforce who reflects the County we serve. We believe a diverse workforce is a strong workforce.

Job Duties

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. In this role, you will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work.

Successful candidates for this position will be able to clearly demonstrate skill and ability to:

• Support OLEO’s community engagement strategy through strong project management of community engagement activities, events, contracts, timelines, logistics, and having presence throughout the county.
• Maintain and update OLEO’s communication materials, including OLEO newsletters, community advisories and releases, social media for content, branding, accessibility, and translation as necessary.
• Research and establish best practices for government and community formal partnerships.
• Develop and implement partnerships with community-based organizations that serve the diverse communities of King County, specifically those disproportionately negatively impacted by law enforcement policies and practices.

A complete job description of the Community Engagement Specialist position can be found here: OLEO-Community-Engagement-Specialist-4-4-2023.ashx (kingcounty.gov)

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

The ideal candidate will have three (3) years of education and or experience in project management, communications, community engagement, community relations, community organizing, equity and social justice, facilitation, public administration, public relations, non-profit, social work, or related field.

Strong experience in managing contracts and partnerships is required.
Experience in drafting creative and engaging or educational or informational materials for the public is required.
Fluency in one of King County’s top languages other than English is desired but not required.

You are invited to translate lived experiences the requirements of this position. Candidates may satisfy requirements through a combination of education, job, lived experiences, and transferable skills. Non-traditional career paths will be considered and are encouraged to apply.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• Experience in supporting and participating in inclusive engagement planning processes that bring together racially, culturally, and economically diverse constituencies towards common goals.
• Implementation of project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects, activities, or contracts with overlapping timelines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community organizations, stakeholders, and staff in situations that may be sensitive and publicly visible.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate in writing and orally.
• Creation of creative and engaging educational or informational materials for the public.
• Commitment to equity and social justice and knowledge of King County community.