Markham Shkode Community Engagement Specialist

Community Engagement Specialist

The Community Engagement Specialist is part of the Chicago Area Conservation Team and implements projects and programs in coordination with the division and business unit leadership priorities. They will become part of a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, celebrates innovation, values collaborative approaches, and seeks lasting conservation results.

The Chicago Area Conservation Program focuses on engaging communities in conservation through outreach, aligned stewardship action, education, programming, volunteerism, and other nature-based programs. The Community Engagement Specialist brings enthusiasm to assist program staff on a variety of projects and tasks, including relationship management, leading events, and volunteer program administration in the Chicago Southland Region. They may work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain, and under physically demanding circumstances.

Working evenings or weekends is occasionally required.

This position reports to the IL Ecological Restoration Director and is based at the Markham Illinois office.

The Community Engagement Specialist will be responsible for improving and expanding community engagement in alignment with the Midwest Division's Human Rights efforts. They will lead partnership initiatives in stewardship, communications, science, development, administration, and other program areas at Markham Shkode Prairies and beyond in the surrounding Chicago southland to find collaborative solutions for accessing the benefits of nature.

The role includes both human health and climate resilience, will coordinate with staff, program partners and volunteers, improve the volunteer and community experience, and show leadership in promoting unbiased programming. They will help lead programs and supervise special events run by staff and volunteers, preserve work projects and public outreach. The Specialist will lead community engagement initiatives and will work cooperatively with Conservancy staff and members, as well as partner organizations, agencies and businesses.

They will help raise the organization's profile through select representation and cultivation of partnerships and serve as "brand ambassador" for the Conservancy's mission, inspiring people to want to learn more and engage with the organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES & SCOPE

Community Engagement (90%)

• Work in close alignment with the MWD Strategic Partnership & Engagement function to implement a Conservation Framework in the Chicago Southland Region.
• Cultivate and manage relationships with focal communities, organizations that increase trust and rapport, aiming to increase access, decrease barriers and empower communities.
• Lead on-site community engagement opportunities such as volunteer events, youth centric activities, visitor hiking, stewardship field days, recreational use, and other outreach programs at campus facilities or on TNC preserves and partner lands.
• Coordinate and provide support for Markham Shkode Prairies volunteers.
• Lead adaptive project management of values-driven and community-based conservation initiatives such as climate adaptation, access to nature, and related initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Markham Shkode Prairies team to pursue stewardship action planning and workforce development initiatives.
• Develop and manage communications and educational materials for program initiatives including direct support for community-based listening sessions.
• Collaborate with the Volunteer Stewardship Network (VSN) Manager to represent TNC in relationships with Chicago Southland VSN members.
• Collaborate in managing the Markham Shkode Prairies office and other onsite facilities to foster community engagement.

General & Administrative Duties (10%)

• Coordinate multiple tasks or projects in a timely manner and with attention to detail.
• Attend programmatic and business unit meetings.
• Oversee and direct work of volunteers, trainees and interns.
• Assist with program reporting, budget preparation and monitoring.
• Performs daily program implementation under the guidance of supervisor.
• Makes day-to-day decisions as delegated by the supervisor.

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 3 years related experience or equivalent combination;
• Must meet all TNC Youth Qualification requirements and background checks;
• Experience in business writing, editing, and proofreading;
• Project Management experience managing a variety of activities to meet deadlines;
• Experience supervising and managing staff, volunteers and/or teams;
• Experience in community relations or relationship building, community organizing, and communicating with a wide range of people.

• Multi-cultural experience and/or multi-lingual skills appreciated;
• Knowledge and understanding of the Chicago Southland's political, cultural, and environmental NGO landscape;
• Interest or willingness to learn about Illinois…