Community Engagement Specialist

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC
-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, improve lives. The School’s curriculum supports the mission and recognizes the uniqueness of the region served, including concerns for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families and communities. Classes provide rigorous and evidence-based content, and give students the opportunity to explore theory, learn intervention skills and engage in challenging dialogue with colleagues.

This position is a 100% remote work arrangement, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station. If business needs change, an individual employee’s designation may be adjusted with a required minimum of ten (10) business days’ notice unless employee conduct or safety issues necessitate otherwise at the discretion of management.

Though this position is 100% remote, periodic travel within North Carolina will be required for in-person meetings or stakeholder engagement.

The Center for Aging and Adult Research & Educational Services (Cares) is one of several community engaged programs within the UNC School of Social Work. The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, and improve lives. Cares provides education, community engagement, systems capacity building, and policy analysis across the state to empower older adults, adults with disabilities and their families to experience choice and dignity in their lives.

The position of Community Engagement Specialist at UNC Cares serves to develop, support, and evaluate projects and activities that build communities’ capacity to enable adults of all ages and abilities to thrive. This includes creating curricula, training, and other educational materials as well as working with individuals, backbone and steering teams, working committees, organizations, and multi-stakeholder coalitions.

• Facilitate community engagement with diverse stakeholders.
• Lead, facilitate, or otherwise support steering teams, working committees, and multi-stakeholder coalitions, as required.
• Ensure that stakeholder groups involve representation of those with lived experience, i.e., self‑advocates and/or families.
• Support the use of Collective Impact by identifying or developing the five elements of the model (a common agenda, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, continuous communication, and backbone support organizations).
• Develop educational materials (courses, curricula, training, etc.).
• Research cutting edge and best practices, peer‑reviewed research literature, and existing resources related to educational topics, including subject‑matter experts.
• Write and design educational materials using best practice for instructional design (including plain language and digital accessibility).
• Tailor educational materials for different and targeted audiences, including individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), older adults, family caregivers, and professionals in various fields such as social work, education, and healthcare.
• Deliver education through presentations, training, and other settings. (Examples include creating online, on‑demand, hybrid, and in‑person training for several divisions under the NC Department of Health and…