Community Engagement Specialist

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, improve lives. The School’s curriculum supports the mission and recognizes the uniqueness of the region served, including concerns for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families and communities. Classes provide rigorous and evidence-based content, and give students the opportunity to explore theory, learn intervention skills and engage in challenging dialogue with colleagues.

Position Summary:

This position is designated as 100% remote, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station. If business needs change, an individual employee’s remote designation may be adjusted with a required minimum of ten (10) business days’ notice, unless employee conduct or safety issues necessitate otherwise at the discretion of management.
Although this position is fully remote, periodic travel within North Carolina is required for in person meetings, trainings, or stakeholder engagement activities.

Cares is one of several community engaged programs within the UNC School of Social Work. The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, and improve lives. Cares is a state and national resource center that improves the lives of older adults and people with disabilities through collaboration, education, evaluation, and advocacy. Since 1987, our program has been a trusted resource, delivering quality services and lasting impact for decades. Over the years we have trained thousands of individuals and have been a leader in guardianship, collective impact, and aging and disability services.

The Community Engagement Specialist develops, supports, and evaluates projects and activities that build community capacity to enable adults of all ages and abilities to thrive. This position collaborates with individuals, organizations, and multistakeholder groups to design, deliver, and assess education, engagement, and systems level initiatives across North Carolina.

The Community Engagement Specialist leads inclusive community engagement efforts and cross sector collaboration with diverse stakeholders, including individuals with lived experience. The position supports and facilitates multi stakeholder groups, manages projects from planning through implementation, and leads meetings and collaborative discussions. Responsibilities include curriculum development and training delivery, contributing to strategic planning and project workplans, preparing regular and ad hoc reports, and supporting process and outcome evaluation. The role also leads or contributes to program communications, including development of written and digital content and public facing materials such as websites, newsletters, and reports.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity or comparable background in independent academic or instructional activities, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. This experience may be related to the direction/oversight of programs that focus the academic and research resources of a higher education institution towards community or regional issues.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Experience providing direction, coordination, or oversight for programs that leverage the academic, research, or training resources of a higher education institution to address community, regional, or statewide issues
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under broad guidance, exercising sound judgment, initiative, and professional discretion
• Experience working in aging services, adult services, and/or disability related practice or systems
• Professional experience in human services policy, practice, or systems level initiatives
• Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, instructional design, and delivery of education or training for diverse audiences
• Experience in project management, including planning, implementation, coordination of deliverables, monitoring progress, and use of project management software
• Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate meetings, working groups, and collaborative efforts involving diverse stakeholder perspectives
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and related tools
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal communication skills, and graphic design for digital and print materials including creation of accessible and visually engaging content for websites, educational materials, and social media
• Experience using WordPress to support website development, content management, updates, and ongoing site maintenance, and experience applying digital accessibility standards and best practices

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Master of Social Work (MSW) or a related graduate degree, with professional experience in human services
• Experience working at a statewide or multiregional level with public agencies, community organizations, or cross sector partnerships
• Experience supporting grant funded initiatives, including coordination, reporting, or funder communications
• Experience providing technical assistance, consultation, or capacity building support to organizations or stakeholder groups
• Experience working within higher education settings or academic community partnerships
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting initiatives related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including accessibility, inclusion, and compliance focused work
• Demonstrated professional experience in community engagement and cross sector collaboration, including work with diverse stakeholders and community-based partners
• Experience using Collective Impact and/or other systems change frameworks to support collaborative, cross sector initiatives

Special Physical/Mental Requirements:

• Extended periods of reading, writing, and computer use
• Ability to travel periodically within North Carolina for meetings or trainings

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.