Community Relations Specialist - Child Welfare

Kids Central • Wildwood, FL

5d

About The Position

The Community Relations Specialist is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with key community partners, civic groups, faith-based organizations, and media outlets to promote fostering and adopting in the five-county area. The Community Relations Specialist will be also be responsible for the organization and tracking of foster and adoptive parent recruitment activities including marketing, analyzing client needs and demographics to determine recruitment goals, researching target populations and locations to determine where best to initiate recruitment initiatives, and seeking opportunities to conduct presentations and participate in speaking engagements that enhance community awareness and increases recruitment potential. Partner with Community Affairs and leadership to implement and track recruitment activities, including but not limited to presentations, media interviews, social media initiatives, events, web-based, and earned media opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communications Advertising, or related field and a minimum of 4 years’ experience.
• Ability to clear a Level II Background Screen
• Valid Florida driver’s license and insurable by agency’s current insurance carrier
• Ability to meet Organizational Required Competency standards.
• Excellent facilitation skills
• Demonstrate effective conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to communicate Kids Central’s policy and procedures to partner agencies.
• Skills in strategic planning and short and long-term goal development.
• Formulate ways to identify trends, interpret, and monitor data in order to establish best practices as well as implement quality improvement and corrective action.
• Knowledge of computer programs and ability to learn internal systems.
• Can work flexible hours, including occasional evenings or weekends.
• Excellent follow-up and communication skills.
• Demonstrates strong initiative, sense of urgency and ability to work independently.
• Demonstrates the ability to be agents of change in supporting Kids Central’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Perform other business duties as assigned by management.

Nice To Haves

• Member of Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) preferred.
• Accredited in Public Relations by FPRA highly desired.
• Experience in Child Welfare is preferred as well.
• Additional years of experience may be substituted for education.

Responsibilities

• Conducts data and market analysis, interviews with key informants, determines needs and reports findings to the Senior Director of Out of Home Care and Chief of Operations.
• The Recruiter shall develop a Recruitment Plan for the purpose of recruiting individuals who have previously held public safety and services positions, such as former law enforcement officers, first responders, military service members, teachers, health care practitioners, and emergency management professionals.
• The Recruiter shall complete the recruitment plan and submit quarterly outlining efforts to target the population to the Department of Children and Families.
• The Recruiter will submit a recruitment plan monthly as to new contractual requirements to the Senior Director of OHC.
• The Recruiter will submit an Annual Recruitment Plan to the Senior Director per the contractual obligations with the Department of Children and Families.
• Conducts foster parent orientation monthly as a pre-requisite to interested parties participating in the PRIDE Training for foster and adoptive parents.
• The Recruiter Understands the qualities desired in a foster and adoptive parent and the expectations that Kids Central has for these parents. The Recruiter will accurately articulate needs and expectations of the population we serve.
• Conducts recruitment activities with community partners, to include foster parents.
• Develops tracking and reporting documents that demonstrate trends, patterns, and outcomes that are produced monthly.
• Creates, organizes, and completes speeches and presentations to community groups, businesses and churches discussing the need for foster and adoptive parents.
• Partners with Community Affairs Director to write media advisories and press releases and participates in media interviews as deemed appropriate.
• Writes news stories, blogs, and success stories for various outlets.
• Kids Central represents public forums consistent with the brand and company’s mission, vision and values.
• Builds and maintains relationships with key partners throughout the five counties in the interest of recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families.
• Become proficient in the various areas of Kids Central in the interest of building knowledge to speak on all programs depending on the needs and interests of the audience.
• Participates in community events within circuit 5 to include but not limited to churches, schools, festivals and recruitment events for the target population.
• Occasional weekends and evenings

Benefits

• Kids Central, Inc. provides a comprehensive compensation package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with company match, and a generous paid time off allotment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level