Senior Community Engagement Advocate

Center For Family Representation•New York, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

CFR seeks a Senior Community Engagement Advocate to help coordinate the daily work of its Government and Community Affairs department and develop community engagement initiatives and partnerships. Working under the supervision of the Director of Government and Community Affairs and in collaboration with Policy and Community Affairs leadership, the advocate will help grow CFR’s presence in the boroughs where it operates. The position works with attorneys, social workers, parent advocates, and teams including Early Defense, Policy, and Fiscal and Development. The advocate is expected to develop a strong understanding of CFR’s interdisciplinary model and bring familiarity with the resources and needs of at least one borough where CFR practices. The role leads outreach and relationship-building, coordinates public events and informational sessions, supports community-facing and policy work, and represents CFR in the community. It also includes administrative tasks such as data entry, recordkeeping, calendar and database management, and keeping staff informed about community engagement activities. The position supervises the Community Engagement Associate. The position may be based in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island. CFR has offices in those boroughs and offers a telecommuting policy that allows staff to work from home when there are no in-person client or organizational obligations. The advocate should expect frequent participation in community events and meetings throughout the five boroughs, including evening and occasional weekend work. The position is full-time. CFR values applicants with direct experience navigating the systems in which it works and strongly prefers candidates with personal experience in the child welfare or family policing, criminal legal, youth legal, or immigration enforcement systems. The annual salary range is $94,000–$113,300, including a supervisory stipend; prior supervisory experience will also be considered. CFR offers health, 403(b), and vacation benefits and is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive and antiracist workplace.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience advocating on behalf of New York City communities.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Experience planning community-facing events, such as Family Fun Day, public testimony with impacted parent-led groups, know-your-rights sessions, and other community events.
Experience tabling and sharing information with the general public.
Knowledge of community resources in at least one borough where CFR practices.
History of working in coalition-building spaces.
Ability to work as part of a team and commitment to building strong relationships in the communities CFR serves.
Strong time-management and communication skills.
Self-motivation.
Experience and comfort with public speaking.
Ability to work nights and some weekends to attend community events.
Ability to lift and carry 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Personal experience navigating the child welfare or family policing, criminal legal, youth legal, or immigration enforcement systems; candidates with this experience are strongly preferred.
Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin or other Chinese languages, French, Bengali, Russian, or another language spoken by CFR clients.
Residence in one of the communities CFR serves.
Experience working alongside attorneys, social workers, and parent advocates.
Experience in community organizing and advocacy, ideally in both membership and policy campaigns.
Experience and familiarity with CFR’s priority legislation and related policy areas.

Responsibilities

Lead community outreach in partnership with department leadership across CFR.
Identify opportunities for strategic growth in community engagement with individuals and community-based organizations.
Identify community leaders who may partner on CFR’s community engagement and policy goals.
Work on special projects and initiatives with CFR colleagues as needed.
Cultivate relationships with New York City Housing Authority Tenant Associations in the communities CFR serves, sharing information about CFR’s services and how to access support.
Coordinate community events, including know-your-rights sessions, community roundtables, and other informational sessions.
Coordinate CFR’s tabling outreach program across its service area.
Lead planning and execution of annual borough-specific Family Fun Day events and other community-facing events, working with community engagement leadership, borough directors, and relevant internal and external partners.
Participate in legislative lobbying and organizing efforts with the Senior Policy Counsel and other community teams as needed.
Attend Policy Team, Early Defense Team, and other internal and external meetings as organizational needs arise.
Support Early Defense and Family Defense Team outreach efforts as needed.
Work with elected officials and senior government agency officials.
Report community trends that could lead to impact litigation or legislative reform.
Represent CFR in the community with the Director of Government and Community Affairs and other CFR leaders.
Assist with data entry and tracking.
Update and manage a community engagement calendar.
Schedule and manage regular internal meetings between the Early Defense and Policy teams.
Maintain detailed records of community engagement activities.
Keep CFR staff informed about Community Engagement Team activities.
Maintain a database of community-based organizations contacted by CFR.
Help distribute flyers and informational pamphlets.
Supervise the Community Engagement Associate.
Participate in know-your-rights presentations about the Family Policing System throughout the five boroughs.