Community Organizer

CORNERSTONES INC•Herndon, VA

2d•$58,000 - $62,000

About The Position

The Community Organizer for the Opportunity Neighborhood (ON) initiative plays a vital role in cultivating strong, equitable communities where children, youth, and families can thrive. Using a collective impact and community-driven approach, the Community Organizer helps elevate resident voices, strengthen networks of mutual support, and connect families to opportunities and resources—supporting ON’s mission to build cradle-to-career pathways for success. Working under the direction of the Strategy Manager and Lead Organizer, the Community Organizer develops trusting relationships with residents, schools, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and Fairfax County partners. The Organizer leads culturally competent outreach, neighborhood activation, event coordination, and resident leadership development. This role requires a deep commitment to racial and social equity, strong interpersonal skills, and a hands-on presence in the community.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, community organizing, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 2–3 years of experience in community organizing, resident engagement, or neighborhood-based programming.
CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
Proven ability to work respectfully and effectively with residents from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
Familiarity with the Reston or Herndon communities and/or similar multi-cultural suburban settings.
Experience coordinating events and working collaboratively with cross-sector partners.
Strong group facilitation, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage time effectively across multiple projects and meet deadlines.
Good judgment and conflict resolution skills; able to respond calmly and flexibly in dynamic environments.
Commitment to racial and social equity and community empowerment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and basic database/data entry functions.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends for community events and outreach activities.
Effective verbal and written communication skills with staff, clients, volunteers.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
Detail-oriented, with strong attention to follow-through.
Ability to work collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.
Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when necessary.
Must be detailed, flexible, and able to work accurately under pressure and meet deadlines.
Must be responsible, dependable, and display the highest level of integrity.
Must have a valid drivers’ license with no history of significant accidents or moving violations

Nice To Haves

Fluency in a second language (Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, or other languages spoken in the community) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Resident Engagement & Leadership Development Build authentic, trusting, and consistent relationships with residents, resident leaders, and community stakeholders.
Facilitate and support outreach strategies including door-to-door canvassing, tabling, and informal and formal conversations to understand needs and strengthen engagement.
Organize and support focus groups, listening sessions, and surveys to identify community needs, strengths, and priorities.
Engage and empower residents, particularly youth and parents as neighborhood leaders and participants in ON working groups and initiatives.
Provide training, mentorship, and logistical support to Neighborhood Ambassadors and other residents volunteers.
Community Events & Neighborhood Activation Co-develop, plan, and lead culturally relevant community events, activities, and celebrations that reflect and respond to neighborhood interests and priorities.
Coordinate logistics and provide on-site support including setup/breakdown, volunteer oversight, materials preparation, and evaluation.
Collaborate with the Strategy Manager, resident leaders, and partners to ensure events are inclusive, accessible, and well-publicized.
Cross-Sector Collaboration Serve as a visible and reliable liaison between the ON team and neighborhood schools, service providers, county agencies, and faith or civic organizations.
Support aligned action with initiative partners through consistent communication and shared outreach and referral efforts.
Participate in relevant meetings, coalitions, and workgroups as needed to represent ON and bring community voice into decision-making spaces.
Communication, Data, & Administration Maintain up-to-date tracking of partners, stakeholders, residents, and events through organizational databases and shared calendars.
Contribute to the development of ON communications materials (flyers, social media content, brochures), in collaboration with the Strategy Manager and Communications Team.
Document outreach activities, attendance, resident input, and referrals; assist in producing monthly and quarterly data reports.
Provide input on outreach strategies and program adjustments based on emerging needs and feedback.
Community Services & Referrals Stay informed on available resources and community services, making appropriate referrals to Cornerstones’ Community Care Management team and other partners.
Support case coordination and service navigation by following up with families and referring staff as needed.
Assist with volunteer engagement and in-kind support requests in coordination with the Development department.