Career and Community Engagement Program Manager, Community Specialist

This position is an on-campus, full-time, 12-month appointment covered by the Professional Support Staff (PSS) Union with an annual salary of $55,166.69.

Application Close Date/Time: Friday, January 3, 2025, at 6PM CT

Under the direction of the Director of Career and Community Engagement (CCE), this position has responsibility for outreach functions including CCE volunteer engagement, community partnerships, communications and outreach. In collaboration with the Director of CCE, this position will be responsible for developing the plan to accomplish broader community awareness and engagement, as well as execution on those strategies. In addition, the Community Specialist collaborates with and supports the work of the CCE Career Engagement Specialist, including helping execute career awareness events.

The Program Manager, Community Specialist is a full-time appointment on a schedule established by the Director of Career and Community Engagement. Overtime or an altered work schedule may be required in response to CCE activities and events. The position involves exposure to confidential information and records. Often, minimal supervision is provided; the Community Specialist must be able to work independently, collaboratively, and accurately to prioritize tasks and responsibilities.

Applicants Must Submit

• An online employment application
• Cover letter
• Resume or CV
  
  

Essential Job Functions

• Represent Parkland College in community initiatives and at events that support CCE's goals/strategies.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships to ensure success in CCE's community engagement efforts.
• Manage the Parkland Champions group, including meeting coordination, member recruitment, and activities/initiatives.
• Foster positive and collaborative relationships with District 505 community residents, parents, and schools, in partnership with Parkland's Administration, faculty, and staff.
• Develops meaningful connections within the college's rural and underrepresented communities and organizations; raises awareness of the college's programs and services among ALICE residents.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute CCE's community engagement events, including overseeing and actively participating in event setup, which involves moving tables, chairs, and boxes (up to 50 lbs. unassisted).
• Monitor the success of community engagement strategies and make suggestions for directional changes.
• Implement evaluation tools to gauge and ensure the impact of CCE's activities on college priorities.
• Network and collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and community leaders as necessary to achieve Parkland's strategic priorities and recruitment efforts.
• Collaborate with the Career Engagement Specialist to provide support and assistance for career events.
• Along with the Career Engagement Specialist, collect and track data through Parkland's
• Customer Relations Management System (CRM).
• Manage a database of community leaders, organizations, and other key partners.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or four years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
• Two years of experience in an educational environment.
• Experience with data collection or database management.
• Must successfully pass a criminal background check with fingerprinting.
• Verbal and mathematical abilities sufficient to perform the duties of the position.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including speaking in front of large and small groups, and the ability to listen effectively and respond accordingly.
• In order to meet the needs of the Department of Career and Community Engagement and be present at community functions, a flexible schedule to include occasional evenings and weekends is required.
• Ability to research, develop, and implement strategic plans.
• Strong command of MS Office tools including Power Point, Excel, and Word, with the ability to learn the Parkland information system and new programs as technology changes.
• Demonstrates a high level of cultural competency.
• In an effort to comply with SURS return-to-work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self-Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.
  
  

Robust benefits, including medical insurance with no monthly premiums, dental, life, disability, retirement plans, flexible spending, dependent care, EAP, work/life balance with generous paid time off, and tuition waiver. More information on the benefits package may be found online at our Benefits page .

Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://www.parkland.edu/careers will not be considered.

Please monitor your email, including spam or junk mail folders, for future correspondence from Parkland College Human Resources.

For further information on the application process, please contact Parkland College Human Resources at 217-351-2220.

Applicants with disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process.

Requests may be submitted by contacting Human Resources at 217-351-2220 or by emailing hr@parkland.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer