Community Outreach Specialist

Are you passionate about building strong connections, fostering community engagement, and making a positive impact? Join the Coon Rapids Police Department as a Community Outreach Specialist and play a key role in strengthening relationships between law enforcement and our community! Under direct supervision of the Police Captain, non-sworn position is responsible for facilitating positive police/community relations; implementing and maintaining community-based crime prevention efforts; implementing, maintaining and monitoring online/social media crime prevention efforts; supporting community-wide outreach and engagement; analyzing crime trends and disseminating data for strategic and tactical use. 
The City of Coon Rapids employs a great team of people dedicated and service centered! Our mission revolves around the understanding that only together, can we provide outstanding leadership and services that strengthen our community. Serving our Citizens and local businesses is essential in our work. Our vision is to strengthen our community with a respectful, collaborative, and innovative employee culture that values employee growth, personal balance, and contagious enthusiasm. Our core values include dedication to essentials such as trust, teamwork, innovation and commitment to excellence!  

Hiring Range: $36.99 - $39.10/hr
Salary Range: $36.99 - $46.09/hr

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The City of Coon Rapids is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. The City welcomes, and encourages any qualified applicant to apply regardless of race (including traits associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hair styles such as braids, locks and twists), color, creed, religion, familial status, sex (including pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity/expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, marital status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors or any other basis protected by law. 

Essential duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

• Assists in the development and implementation of new initiatives or programs that address crime problems in the City and facilitates positive police/community relations and encourages citizen and commercial participation in selected crime prevention programs.
• Monitors, designs and edits a variety of public informational materials disseminated via social media as well as broadcast and print news media, ensuring appropriate messaging of positive, educational, public safety or crime-related information based on intended audiences.
• Disseminates relevant crime prevention, crime statistical information and safety information to residents, businesses and civic organizations in an appropriate manner.
• Prepares crime statistics and annual reports at the request of department and City staff.
• Initiates and maintains Community Watch programs including Nextdoor and others.
• Assists in coordinating on-going public relations activities.
• Assists other departments in community engagement efforts, as needed.
• Responds to a variety of public inquiries in a courteous manner; provides appropriate information within the area of assignment; responds quickly and effectively to incoming calls/emails regarding questions, comments or complaints, or redirects them appropriately.
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance during scheduled work hours and outside regular hours as necessary.
• Maintains positive professional working relationships with all staff levels, other jurisdictions and outside agencies, and the general public.
• Performs essential position duties and responsibilities under the working conductions and physical demands described herein.
• Provides effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and citizen customers.
• Performs other related functions as apparent or delegated.
• Technical skills to design studies and reports to accurately depict the Police Department and emerging trends.
• Analyze crime trends, crime patterns and accident statistics using GIS mapping to identify and direct targeted enforcement activities in conjunction with department supervisors.  
• Create Coon Rapids-based information advisories to share timely information with department staff, community members, local businesses and public safety partners.
• Provide staff with real-time intelligence during critical incidents 
• Network with analysts and crime prevention specialists from other departments to promote information sharing. 
• Manage the information flow from regional, statewide and federal agencies in an accurate, efficient and legal manner. 

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques of public relations and community outreach.
• Methods and techniques of data collection, research and report preparation.
• Methods and techniques of conflict resolution.
• Criminal justice system, crime prevention and organization of neighborhood groups.
• Record keeping and file maintenance systems.
• Principles of report preparation.

Ability to:

• Promote a cooperative atmosphere in the department and exhibit a positive attitude.
• Comprehend directions set forth in State Statutes and City Ordinances.
• Work cooperatively with residents, community leaders, City officials, media representatives and the general public.
• Work independently under pressure with high degree of self-direction and effective time management to competently handle a number of different tasks under pressure.
• Understand policy and management implications of program issues and make recommendations.
• Perform duties with tact, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Be detail oriented and follow through with tasks.
• Maintain a team and service oriented approach to work.
• Accept criticism or discipline.
• Maintain and foster a work environment that supports the City's mission and values with a respectful, collaborative and innovative employee culture that values employee growth, personal balance and contagious enthusiasm.
  1. Service - We value outstanding service. Our City deserves the best.
  2. Trust - Trust means everything. Be accountable. Be transparent.
  3. Teamwork - Teamwork allows us to accomplish more. We tackle challenges and celebrate successes together.
  4. Innovation - Innovation is vital for our future. We are not afraid of new ideas.
  5. Excellence - It's the expectation. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A combination of training and experience substantially equivalent to the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Law Enforcement, Crime Analyst, Public Administration or related field.

• One year of experience in a similar role (Media Relations, Public Information, or Community Engagement).

• One year experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word and Excel).

• Excellent oral and written communications skills.

• Experience with crime analysis tools, i.e. ArcGIS, Workstation, etc

• Valid driver’s license with good driving record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.

• Experience managing multiple social media platforms.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting;   work has standard vision requirements;   vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word;  hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels;  work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities;  work has no exposure to environmental conditions;  work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

EQUIPMENT/JOB LOCATION:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The City of Coon Rapids is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Salary : $76,939 - $95,867