Community Engagement Coordinator (Bilingual)

State of Maryland • Baltimore City, MD

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a liaison and advocate for Maryland's diverse families and students within the state's educational agency. This position is responsible for ensuring that the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future is not just a top-down administrative process, but a collaborative effort informed by the real-world needs of Marylanders. Additionally, the position will support dynamic, sustained, continuous community outreach with all stakeholders and constituents, including students, educators, parents, school staff, established education stakeholders, child advocacy organizations and others as we fulfill our mission to deliver an excellent and equitable education to every student. T he community engagement coordinator will focus on various issues important to students and families across the State. One key area of focus will be the experiences of immigrant students and families, given the tremendous diversity in Maryland's school districts, as well as the constantly evolving federal landscape and its implications for the safety and sense of belonging for students in schools. A second key area of focus will be how students and families in Maryland experience recent state and board policy changes, including the State's recent literacy policy, math policy, adolescent literacy policy, and others. A third key area of focus will be maintaining strong relationships with the advocates who are part of the education ecosystem in Maryland and represent the interests of diverse communities across the state. This position will engage community members in a dialogue, build partnerships, facilitate meetings, round tables, workshops and more. The position will ensure that the department sustains strong community-based partnerships, builds equity- focused programming into its work, and communicates effectively and proactively to ensure the public trust.

Requirements

• Seven or more years of community engagement/community affairs or similar work experience
• Candidates may substitute a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university for four years of the required experience.
• Applicants must meet the selective qualification(s) to be considered.
• Qualified candidates must be fluent in Spanish
• Applicants must consent to a State Police Investigation (fingerprinting) as a routine procedure for all employees with this Agency.

Nice To Haves

• Immigrant affairs, immigration policy, or immigrant direct services
• Policy experience

Responsibilities

• Supports the Chief Policy Officer by implementing effective grassroots outreach, through planning and hosting, as well as attending others' outreach events together with intra-agency teams, local school systems, communities and stakeholder/ partner organizations.
• Conveys MSDE organization, policies, mission, and programs to community officials, state and local officials, school communities, parents, students and staff through various grassroots activities in support of MSDE's multi-year strategic plan and the implementation of Blueprint for Maryland's Future initiatives.
• Solicits feedback and input for MSDE programs, policies and initiatives.
• Seeks feedback from immigrant students and communities, as well as the advocacy organizations that represent them, and uses input to help shape agency policy and practice.
• Seeks and implements partnerships with non-profit organizations.
• Schedules, organizes and implements in-person, virtual and hybrid town hall meetings, workshops, roundtables, etc.
• Records progress and input and evaluates feedback to improve outcomes.
• Fosters inter-departmental collaboration by working with various agency divisions and offices to identify when community input is needed for new initiatives or policy shifts.
• Attends meetings, as necessary, to understand key priorities in various offices and divisions
• Works collaboratively across the agency to facilitate opportunities for community engagement and feedback
• Supports the community engagement function by creating relevant surveys and documents.
• Publicly reports progress, outcomes and results through a variety of communications platforms, including but limited to: social media, e-newsletters, web content, summaries, etc.

Benefits

• Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents.
• As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled.
• The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits.
• You can also elect to enroll in dental coverage, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance, but will be responsible to pay the full premium for these benefits.
• Leave may be granted to a contractual employee at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees