Community Engagement Specialist

Community Engagement Specialist

The Community Engagement Specialist supports the Community Engagement Division within the Department of Communications and Community Engagement. Working under the direction of the Community Engagement Manager, the incumbent assists in implementing the City's community engagement strategic plan and coordinating engagement initiatives across the organization.

The Specialist helps connect residents with information, facilitates two-way communication between the city and the community, and supports efforts to identify disengaged populations, strengthen partnerships, and increase opportunities for meaningful public participation. The incumbent is responsible for developing, planning, and executing the City's "City Academy" program, which provides residents with an opportunity to learn about Rockville's government, services, and civic processes.

Additionally, the position is responsible for maintaining the City's volunteer website and supporting the scheduling and coordination of engagement events hosted by the Community Engagement Division, including events for the Mayor and Council and those conducted in collaboration with other City departments.

This position requires strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to engage respectfully with diverse neighborhoods and stakeholder groups. Regular attendance at evening and weekend meetings is required.

Supporting Community Engagement Plan Development

• Assist the Community Engagement Manager with implementing the citywide community engagement strategic plan.
• Support the development of engagement plans for city projects, programs, initiatives, and events using the IAP2 framework.
• Maintain and update the city's volunteer website, including content, resources, and volunteer opportunities.
• Support community engagement databases, records, and tracking tools.

Community Engagement Strategy Implementation

• Assist with monitoring community engagement activities and in collecting data, organizing and analyzing participation and engagement data to support program evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Support the creation and implementation of processes that facilitate communication between residents, city staff, and stakeholders.
• Help build community capacity by assisting neighborhood groups in identifying issues, navigating City processes, and accessing resources.
• Serve as an initial point of contact to help residents and neighborhood groups seeking information regarding city services, engagement opportunities, or community concerns, connecting them to the appropriate departments or resources.
• Provide logistical and administrative support for engagement events, workshops, and outreach activities that are hosted or organized by the city.
• Prepare and distribute informational materials, presentations, and engagement tools for community use.
• Attend neighborhood meetings and community events to assist staff, observe concerns, collect feedback, and share information.

City Academy Program

• Develop, plan, and execute the "City Academy," a program designed to educate residents about city departments, services, operations, and opportunities for civic engagement.
• Coordinate with city departments to design sessions, schedule speakers, manage logistics, and create program materials.
• Lead engagement efforts to recruit and enroll participants and evaluate program outcomes.
• Track participation, feedback, and curriculum updates across cohorts.

Scheduling and Coordinating Community Engagement Division Events

• Manage scheduling and coordination of all engagement events hosted by the Community Engagement Division, including events led by or for the Mayor and Council with the Community Engagement Division Manager.
• Coordinat…