Director of Community Engagement

Position: Director of Community Engagement

Position type: Full-time, exempt Salary Range: $80,000-$85,000 per year

Benefits: 6 weeks paid vacation per year; medical, dental, vision, short-term/ long- term disability, and life insurance benefits, with insurance premiums covered by the agency.

Supervisor: Executive Director

The Policing Alternatives and Diversion (PAD) Initiative seeks a Director of Community Engagement who will lead community engagement, training, communications and advocacy efforts to build broad public support for alternate response and diversion from incarceration.

PAD is a, Atlanta-based nonprofit that developed one of the country’s first community response programs as well as pre-arrest diversion programs. PAD provides in-person response to calls through the city’s 311 line and works with people diverted from arrest and jail to navigate housing and behavioral health systems. Our mission is to reduce arrest and incarceration for people experiencing extreme poverty, problematic substance use, or unmet mental health needs, and increase the accessibility of supportive services in Atlanta and Fulton County.

The Director of Community Engagement plays a key role in promoting PAD’s mission and approach and engaging diverse stakeholders in PAD’s work. This is a leadership position that frequently represents the organization in public forums and serves as a liaison to local government, media, and funders. The Director of Communications supervises a team of four as well as contracted staff and works closely with and reports to the Executive Director.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a community engagement strategy to effectively engage diverse institutional and community stakeholders in Atlanta and Fulton County, including businesses, neighborhood groups, advocacy and grassroots organizing groups, service providers, and faith-based organizations;
• Increase community awareness and support for non-coercive responses to crisis, poverty, substance use and mental health needs through pubic education and marketing campaigns, direct outreach and organizing, and policy advocacy;
• Work closely with partner organizations and community groups to advocate for investments in housing, peer support, public amenities, and community-based resources that meet people’s needs;
• Supervise the Community Engagement team, including a Communications Coordinator, Training Coordinator, and two Community Engagement Specialists;
• Contract with external design, marketing, data, and policy experts to implement community education and engagement strategies;
• Recruit and facilitate community volunteers to participate in the PAD Community Leadership Team which serves as an advisory board to PAD;
• Supervise the Communications Coordinator to execute PAD communications and marketing strategies including developing strategy, content, and calendar, and producing monthly, quarterly and annual external reports;
• Supervise the Training Coordinator to implement regular Mental Health Awareness trainings to the public and partner agencies, in collaboration with internal and external trainers;
• Supervise Community Engagement Specialists to implement in-person and digital community engagement activities;
• Manage PAD Volunteer Program in collaboration with PAD Operations team;
• Solicit public input on PAD services and related topics through surveys, polling, listening sessions, and collaboration with partner organizations;
• Represent PAD in public forums and liaise with community partners, local government, and funders;
• Maintain internal talking points and key messaging strategy and train staff on how to effectively communicate with stakeholders;
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience supervising staff;
• Demonstrated leadership and experience in social justice, disability justice, peer recovery, harm reduction, criminal justice reform or related movements;
• Experience with in-person engagement strategies, organizing and facilitation;
• Experience with narrative strategy, strategic communications and campaign development;
• Ability to use quantitative and qualitative data to communicate with diverse audiences;
• People with lived experience of incarceration, recovery, homelessness, and those who identify as POC, Trans or LGBQ strongly encouraged to apply;

PAD provides a starting salary range of $80,000-$85,000 and comprehensive benefits in a people- centered environment.

APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED:

APPLICATION:

1) A cover letter which:

a) Describes your relevant experience leading a team

b) Describes your approach to engaging community members and why it is effective

c) Describes why you believe it is important to expand the use of alternate response in our community

2) A resume

DEADLINE: Friday, January 24th

SUBMISSION: Send in PDF format to jobs@atlantapad.org

The Policing Alternatives and Diversion Initiative is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, age, qualified handicap, or disabled status. We are committed to providing a workplace free of any discrimination or harassment.