Director Community Engagement

WHO We Are:

Self-Help started in 1980 with a focus on economic inequality especially in communities that have faced systemic barriers in building wealth. At the core of what Self-Help does is a drive to create and protect ownership and economic opportunity. In other words, we’re committed to economic justice! Economic Justice means that all communities have the basic infrastructure they need to thrive, from high quality schools to grocery stores selling fresh foods resources that support opportunity at a neighborhood level regardless of demographics, income, or wealth. Since our founding, we’ve constantly sought to find new ways to pursue greater economic justice: from providing fair and affordable loans, to working with partners to demand that lawmakers change unjust policies.

We are seeking a Director of Community Engagement to join our team!

The Director of Community Engagement is a dynamic and collaborative leader with extensive experience in business and community economic development, along with a background in financial services. This leader implements community outreach initiatives and tools that support Self-Help’s lines of service and credit unions. Key responsibilities include:

• supporting and managing special projects and programs designed and directed by senior leadership and deemed critical to advancing organizational priorities,
• serving as an internal expert on best practices for community engagement, power building and coalition/organizing,
• drafting policies and procedures for organizational operations,
• providing analytical support on major financial and operational decisions for the team,
• assisting in the development and implementation of new community engagement initiatives,
• addressing issues or concerns with partners and helping to maintain positive client relationships, and
• providing direction on fundraising strategies for community engagement efforts.

In addition to these responsibilities, this individual will provide leadership and coaching to Self-Help staff across the nation, assisting them in identifying and engaging local community partners. The Director works closely with internal teams, including local branch community engagement leaders, Commercial Lending, Commercial Real Estate, DPI and the Center for Responsible Lending, to develop a wide range of support programs and resources to achieve Self-Help’s strategic objectives.

This individual may support our headquarters strategy by collaborating with Durham (NC) based mission-aligned organizations, including nonprofits, for-profits, faith-based groups, and community development departments.

This role may have direct reports.

WHAT You'll DO:

• Create and execute community engagement and outreach strategy and tools, including development of a market-building activities, in coordination with other internal teams.
• Lead collaboration with internal teams in the development and implementation of a national community engagement strategy.
• Represent Self-Help on panels/webinars, and at conferences that include community-based organizations focused on finance for low-wealth communities.
• Lead a workgroup of outreach professionals in executing community engagement activities focused on understanding the opportunities and barriers for providing access to finance in low wealth communities.
• Build relationships with external partners and networks: community, institutional and governmental organizations to grow market-building opportunities nationally.
• Product and Program Development
• Support and manage special projects and programs designed and directed by senior leadership and deemed critical to advancing organizational priorities.
• Work in partnership with credit union and lines-of-service leaders to ensure the development of products and programs to achieve the strategic goals.
• Develop feedback loops to Influence product and service design based on learnings from community engagement activities.
• Support the assessment of effectiveness of products and services in reaching target communities through qualitative data collection and stakeholder feedback.
• Communicate impact of products with community partners to ensure ongoing accountability.
• Lead sponsorship and event support policies and budgeting.
• Work with Self-Help senior managers to organize and mobilize organizational resources around new initiatives for Self-Help to pursue
• Ensure that local engagement strategies are coordinated and in alignment with Self-Help’s broader community engagement ethos and values.
• Perform other duties as may be deemed necessary.

WHAT You’ll NEED:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field OR equivalent related experience.
• Five (5) years of experience building coalitions and partnerships at a regional or national scale with experience preferred that includes actively working in social justice for low wealth individuals and communities.
• Experience with financial service delivery a plus
• Strong commitment to our mission – creating economic opportunity for traditionally underserved communities.
• Passionate about economic justice issues.
• Preference for working in organizations that place priority on teamwork and collaboration.

If you are interested in who we are and what we do; have a strong desire to work in an organization that places a high priority on teamwork and collaboration; and are interested in working to help create economic opportunity for all – THIS is the place for you! Click the “apply now” button to apply!

Compensation:

Competitive nonprofit compensation, based on experience, plus a generous benefits package.

Self-Help is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, class or family status.