Community Relations Specialist

The Community Relations Specialist strengthens Maryland Wellness's connection with the community by building relationships, fostering trust, and increasing access to mental health services. This role is actively present in the communities we serve, attending local events, collaborating with organizations, and engaging directly with individuals to ensure they are aware of and connected to available mental health resources. Through strategic outreach, advocacy, and in-person engagement, the Community Relations Specialist works to bridge gaps in care, particularly for underserved populations.

By cultivating partnerships, raising awareness, and creating opportunities for direct connection, this role helps position Maryland Wellness as a trusted, accessible, and responsive provider of mental health services.

Requirements

Drive the growth of Maryland Wellness by generating new leads, establishing

high-impact partnerships, and fostering relationships that align with and advance our mission.

• Participate in community events to engage audiences and strengthen the organization's community presence.
• Implement standardized communication strategies, including automated thank-you emails and proactive engagement, for 95+% of incoming referrals, to ensure timely follow-ups and increased access to care.
• Plan and execute high-visibility events to increase brand presence, aiming for a 15-20% increase in attendance and engagement.
• Capture and leverage event impact data (photos, testimonials, metrics) to demonstrate organizational impact and raise awareness.
• Track all leads, referrals, and events with 90% accuracy in Copper CRM and Google Calendar, ensuring seamless operations and timely follow-ups.
• Maintain a minimum attendance rate of 90% for all assigned stakeholder and steering committee meetings to ensure Maryland Wellness is consistently represented in key discussions and decision-making forums.
• Research, identify, and document new meaningful community partners to grow our agency's reach within the region, resource awareness, and referral connections.
• Strategize with outside agencies to formulate and maintain developed partnership agreements for the sake of referral relationships, resource acquisition, and/or event collaboration.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be highly flexible and able to adapt to change.
• Self-disciplined, self-starter, and able to work independently.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively build relationships with individuals of all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, education levels, and work experiences.
• Ability to effectively engage with internal staff and external agencies.
• Must be able to operate a vehicle for travel expectations within the community.
• Understands and maintains confidentiality and all regulations regarding HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.
• Exhibits professionalism, a friendly demeanor, and is a positive representative of the company over the phone and in person.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to speak to a variety of audiences using a variety of platforms.
• Comfort with computers and technology, particularly regarding various methods of communication.
• Strong multi-tasking and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and projects.
• Reliable, ethical, and honest work ethic.

SKILLS FOR SUCCESS:

• Develop and maintain strong community partnerships by establishing new collaborations and fostering sustainable relationships, with targets jointly determined with program leaders and evaluated quarterly.
• Engage directly with community members and organizations through in-person outreach, meetings, and events to build trust and awareness.
• Represent Maryland Wellness at community events and meetings, ensuring clear, compelling communication about our mission and services.
• Expand access to behavioral health services by generating new referral leads and strengthening follow-up engagement, with goals established in collaboration with program leaders and reviewed quarterly.
• Increase referral-based connections by 15-20% through proactive relationship management and consistent partner engagement.
• Strengthen community awareness with strategic messaging and grassroots outreach efforts.
• Plan and lead at least one internally developed outreach or education event per quarter, supporting community awareness, engagement, and access to Maryland Wellness services.
• Participate in at least 48 hours worth of in-community activities per quarter to include externally planned events, pop-up tables, community drop-ins, etc.
• Leverage Copper CRM and outreach tools to track connections and improve lead efficiency by 25%.
• Keep Google Calendar updated with all meetings, follow-ups, and deadlines to ensure optimal organization and performance.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Communications, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or a related field.
• Professional or volunteer experience in healthcare, behavioral health, or nonprofit settings.
• Familiarity with CRM systems…