New job Community Outreach Liason in Colorado

The Community Outreach Liaison is a professional level, highly responsible position whose service focuses on strategic public relations to lead citywide outreach and engagement efforts and programs. The position reports to the Innovation and Communication Manager and acts as a direct liaison to the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Council, planning, developing and delivering the major components of the City’s outreach activities with an emphasis on City Council and leadership outreach to the community. The Community Outreach Liaison will work with City Council and City leadership to help facilitate connectivity between all members of the community with the City Government in order to ensure alignment of the City’s Mission, Vision and Strategic Plan to community wants and needs.

The incumbent must be a driven, innovative leader with a proven record of public engagement and public relations of the highest caliber, including direct interaction with community members, organizations, businesses, non-profits, schools and associations.

This position performs work independently, requiring considerable use of initiative and judgment. The full salary range for this position is stated above. In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must attach to the online application, upon submittal, a cover letter and resume (maximum of two pages). Starting wages are negotiable and dependent on the qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster offers a bonus of up to $1,500 per year depending on the employee’s fluency in Spanish, Hmong, and/or Laotian.

The mission of every employee at the City of Westminster is to deliver exceptional value and quality of life through SPIRIT. Each employee is measured by the ability to adhere to the City’s core values of Service, Pride, Integrity, Responsibility, Innovation, and Teamwork.

This position supports the goals of the City Manager’s Office, which supports and is responsive to the citizens, City Council and overall city organization. Through leadership by example, CMO progressively manages the city organization, where customer service and empowerment are governing principles, and effectively communicates with internal and external audiences. CMO is the ambassador of the city and strives to be the best at what they do.

Every employee is accountable to:

• 
  Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

• Exercise discretion and independent judgment in the development and coordination of the city’s outreach and engagement efforts with a strong focus on City Council outreach initiatives
• Motivate others by facilitating a positive work environment that supports peak performance; has the ability to determine what encourages others; and demonstrates an ability to delegate while fostering independent decision-making.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and ability to understand and empathize with different perspectives and priorities
• Create consensus through good interpersonal skills and has a strong understanding of political issues; maintains high ethical standards while working subtly and effectively with the organizational structure; avoids missteps by calculating the outcome and consequences of alternative courses of action based on a realistic assessment of the situation; is fully aware of the political landscape and adjusts actions, as necessary, to avoid pitfalls
• Place emphasis on collaboration, creativity and innovation
• Demonstrate strong problem identification and problem-solving abilities
• Adapt to change, deal with ambiguity, and take action in complex situations without having all the data and details
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills
• Demonstrate considerable knowledge and experience regarding the principles and practices of public administration
• Develop and install administrative procedures and operations and evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness
• Deliver high productivity, work independently, and communicate in a highly effective manner both orally and in writing
• Prepare reports and present facts clearly and concisely, orally, and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, executive staff, employees, and the public
• Work independently with minimum supervision while working collaboratively and cross-functionally throughout the City
• Build strong, positive relationships with teams as both a member and a leader
• Demonstrate diplomacy and political acumen to encourage collaborative community engagement
• Display outstanding organizational and time management skills, including meeting multiple deadlines
• Demonstrate strong project management skills
• Apply knowledge of public relations best practices and strategies
• Act as a community ambassador to all members of the public including businesses, organizations, non-profits, associations, school districts, etc.
• Successfully operate in a variety of digital platforms, including websites and social media
• Work with web-based engagement tools such as Access Westminster, WestyCOnnect and social media

• Foster a participatory organizational climate that is open, positive, reinforcing, and supportive
• Encourage employees to be accountable for their work and take ownership in what they do
• Demonstrate leadership and courage by making or supporting decisions that reflect the organizational mission and goals even when the decision may be unpopular to some
• Demonstrate collaboration and conflict resolution skills with other departments and employees

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

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  Develops and implements the City Council outreach program
• Acts as a direct liaison to the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Council
• Develops community outreach and engagement programs based on the strategic plan in order to support the Mission and Vision of the City; including organizing and attending various community outreach events and activities, sometimes on evenings and weekends
• Develops strong partnerships with members of the community
• Manages web-based engagement tools such as Access Westminster, online survey platforms and social media
• Acts as liaison with city departments and divisions to support outreach and engagement efforts
• Provides staff support for the Human Services Board and similar efforts in the community

• Attends regular City Council meetings and study sessions
• Takes photos/shoots video for publication and public relations purposes
• Coordinates special events as needed with an outreach focus for City Council into the community
• Sits on multi-department task forces
• Assists with media relations
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:

• 
  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in community outreach, engagement, diplomacy and/or public relations
• Possession of a valid driver’s License and maintenance of a safe driving record

• Experience with standard business software including Microsoft Office
• Background or experience in government or public-sector organizations

• Constant sitting to perform daily tasks; occasional walking through a multilevel facility to retrieve information; frequent standing, sometimes for extended periods
• Frequent squatting, reaching above shoulder, and twisting to file documents and lift supplies and material; occasional bending, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching below shoulder to store documents, material, and supplies
• Constant light grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to perform daily duties; occasional firm grasp to safely use equipment
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing and/or pulling of up to ten (10) pounds to move material and supplies; occasional lifting and pushing and/or pulling of up to twenty-five (25) pounds with dollies and carts

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
• Drug screen
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States

• Health and Dental
• Flexible Spending
• Pension/ Retirement Plans
• Term Life Insurance
• Long-term Disability
• Survivor Benefits
• Wellness Program
• General leave that provides vacation, holidays, illness leave and administrative leave
• Education and Training Reimbursement, and
• Exempt Reimbursement Program