Community Affairs Specialist II

Position Summary

This position will work out of the Center for Child Welfare and Education (CCWE) DeKalb office at the NIU campus Health Services building. The specialist will support the Permanency Enhancement Project (PEP) by strengthening community engagement efforts to improve permanency outcomes for youth in foster care and reduce disparities affecting children of color.

• Provide strategies, planning, facilitation, and development services to create and implement local community PEP action teams
• Develop and implement approaches to engage community members and organizations as partners in collaborating to impact community issues
• Identify potential community partners and build relationships
• Develop mechanisms to assist community members understand PEP issues
• Facilitate and support opportunities for community engagement in identifying concerns and executing plans and activities for solutions
• Provide opportunities for early involvement and a meaningful voice in identifying community needs and shaping solutions in partnership and in support of other organizations
• Use training, one‑to‑one interviews, and small group meetings and other techniques to facilitate engagement in taking initiative to solve community problems
• Provide consultation, training and assistance to staff and volunteers on implementing engagement tools
• Leverage the use of technology to gain efficiencies and enhance two‑way communication between, and among stakeholders
• Maintain records, produce reports and evaluate progress
• Review and evaluate engagement goals, mechanisms and activities and make recommendations to improve effectiveness
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports related to program activities
• Provide updates on the status of PEP action team, goals, activities and accomplishments

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Four (4) years (48 months) of work experience in public contact with an agency or organization oriented toward community activities.

• Knowledge of community personnel, programs, organizations, resources, and issues of public concern.
• Knowledge of the administrative and organizational structure of the campus and/or its major components.
• Ability to establish a communicative role between the campus and/or its major components and the surrounding community.

• At least five (5) years of community engagement/development experience, and planning and organizing experience.
• Knowledge and/or experience of Child Welfare and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is preferred but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and decision‑making.
• Knowledge of community engagement and development practices.
• Ability to navigate systems and identify strategies to enhance community engagement.
• Skill in framing issues and asking strategic, thought‑provoking questions.
• Ability to influence, motivate, and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Emotional intelligence, including the ability to manage one’s own and others’ emotions.
• Ability to build trust and support individuals and groups through change.
• Skill in fostering inclusive environments where culturally diverse groups collaborate effectively.
• Training and facilitation skills.
• Ability to actively seek out, understand, and leverage diverse perspectives.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work independently with a self‑motivated, reflective, and adaptive approach.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate reports and documentation.
• Ability to deliver effective public presentations.
• Working knowledge of standard software applications, including Microsoft Word.
• Ability to navigate systems and identify interventions to enhance engagement within communities.
• Skilled at actively seeking out different viewpoints and leveraging the benefits of different perspectives.
• A work style that is self‑motivated, reflective, self‑aware, and adaptive and that includes the ability to fulfill a variety of functions with minimal supervision.
• Ability to plan, organize,…