Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, domestic partner, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Wellness program, workout facilities
• Employee/family onsite health clinic
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment

Job Summary

The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department is looking for a Public Engagement Specialist who will plan, organize, direct, lead, teach, administer, and evaluate natural areas education and outreach-focused activities to inspire stewardship and connection to nature. This position works a Tuesday-Saturday schedule during May-October and the standard Monday - Friday over the rest of the year.
Main responsibilities of this position include:
CLUB OUTDOORS: Plans and leads weekly field trips for Boys & Girls Club members in the summer. This includes building and maintaining partnerships with two different club locations, working out the logistics and timeline for a 6-week program, developing field-based lesson plans that reflect Natural Areas values, and providing hands-on activities for children to experience nature. Volunteer training and recruitment will also be a part of this task in conjunction with the Volunteer Coordinator.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING: Plans, leads, evaluates, and supports Volunteer Naturalists to offer an extensive year-round schedule of educational activities. Regularly supports weekend and evening activities by being on-site or on-call.
PRODUCE THE EXPLORER: Creates the Explorer publication with collaborators including a graphic designer, https://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/the-explorer.

SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS: Contributes to Department communications outputs such as press releases, newsletters, web and social media posts, as well as other materials.
The Public Engagement Specialist is also responsible for developing, coordinating, delivering, and evaluating natural areas programs and services. Programs and services may include tours, youth clubs, interpretive media, public engagement events, volunteer projects, volunteer training, virtual programming, outreach events, strategic partnerships, and more.
This position requires significant collaboration with City departments, organizations, and community members. Ability to communicate in languages other than English is not required but preferred.
This job summary describes these specific vacancies while the Essential Duties and Responsibilities below apply to all Public Engagement Specialists across the City organization.
The City of Fort Collins is an organization that supports equity for all, leading with race. We acknowledge the role of local government in helping create systems of oppression and racism and are committed to dismantling those same systems in pursuit of racial justice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Develops and implements programs to educate community members and stakeholders about City strategies and resources.
• Creates educational activities and lesson plans that reflect a variety of program delivery models.
• Schedules and conducts public education and outreach to diverse audiences.
• Plans, leads and evaluates activities for diverse audiences including presentations, events, workshops, classes, and business outreach.
• Prepares, designs, disseminates and evaluates audience-appropriate messaging, materials, and related marketing, educational and informational campaigns.
• Creates, administers, and maintains strategic sponsorships and partnerships to foster an engaged community.
• Manages stakeholders for effective relationships with community groups, organizations, neighborhoods, and internal City departments.
• Provides support and advice on community engagement techniques that lead to the successful implementation of processes, projects or programs.
• Meets deadlines and uses time, materials, and resources efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Researches and resolves complex disputes and operations problems based on stakeholder engagement techniques.
• Supports internal City work teams by assisting with development and implementation of outreach strategies, engagement activities, and focused messaging.
• Coordinates volunteers including recruitment, placing, training, retention activities, project supervision and logistics, safety, recognition, communication and evaluation. Creates policies and programs to manage and support volunteers in partnership with the Citywide Volunteer Program Manager.
• May manage grant projects including tracking funding and reporting.
• Uses appropriate safety practices.
• Maintains equipment and inventory and prepares supplies for activities.
• Collects, compiles and reports program data and survey results.
• Assists with work planning, budget preparation and record-keeping.
• May actively solicit, write, and manage grants in partnership with City Grants Development Specialist.
• May direct the work of interns or volunteers.

Management Responsibilities

No

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of educational learning styles and communication techniques that are audience-appropriate.
• Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development, including forming instructional objectives and selecting appropriate materials.
• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing. Effective public speaking skills.
• Capable of working as a member of a team, as well as independently.
• Knowledge of principles of interpretation and public outreach.
• Understanding of effective public relations, marketing, and promotional concepts and objectives.
• Ability to deal with stressful situations and deadlines.
• Proven skills facilitating or leading discussions with a variety of groups.
• Ability to interact with members of City staff, other agencies, and general public.
• Competent in use of publishing, graphics, web page editing, Excel, presentation, social networking, volunteer management, and word processing software.
• Excellent customer service, presentation, communication and interpersonal skills to establish and maintain positive internal and external relationships.
• Ability to train and mentor volunteers, use volunteer management software, manage groups, communicate effectively, and accept and give feedback.
• Skills in evaluating public engagement activities and learners including quality and outcome-based metrics.

Required Qualifications