Job Title: Outreach Coordinator

Children’s Defense Fund – Minnesota (CDF-MN), a nonprofit, child advocacy organization, seeks a highly skilled and dedicated individual for the full-time, salaried position of Outreach Coordinator. We are looking for an individual to oversee our Bridge to Benefits and Economic Security Indicator tools with an eye to community connection and outreach to serve our and advance solutions that help children.

Organization Background

The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind ® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota (CDF-MN) is the only policy organization in the state to focus solely on the needs of children. CDF-MN pays particular attention to the needs of our most vulnerable children – children of color and Native American children, children from low-income families and children with disabilities. We support all children through policy, advocacy, research, outreach and youth development. CDF-MN provides a strong, effective, and independent voice for all the children who cannot vote or speak for themselves. We champion policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation. We build the capacity of organizations and community members to best serve and advocate for low-income children as well as children of color and American Indian children.

Position Overview:

CDF-MN’s Outreach Coordinator is responsible for guiding, developing, implementing and evaluating the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota’s tax and benefit outreach efforts. The Coordinator will work to improve access to federal and state public benefits (such as food support, free or reduced school lunches, WIC, child care assistance, energy assistance, tax credits, and health care programs) for all eligible low- and moderate-income Minnesota children and families, as well as raising public awareness and education to develop informed advocates for these programs. This position will do this through managing CDF-MN’s Bridge to Benefits and Economic Stability Indicator tool. This position will report directly to the Executive Director. See all CDF-MN program descriptions at our website at: www.CDF-MN.org

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate and improve the information contained on the Bridge to Benefits and Economic Stability Indicator websites to ensure accurate content and clear, navigable format.
• Research public programs to develop strong understanding to ensure accuracy on Bridge To Benefits and ESI tools.
• Work cooperatively with the web designer (Urban Planet or others) to retool the B2B website as detailed in annual work plans.
• Manage B2B and ESI customization projects and contracts with organizations and governmental agencies for whom we have customized our ESI site: Meeting, site development, contract and work plan development – with specific focus on Dakota and Olmstead Pathways to Prosperity project.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations, public agencies, faith groups, labor unions and volunteers regarding shared goals to assist populations who are eligible for public benefits by integrating use of Bridge to Benefits and, when appropriate, the Economic Stability Indicator into their work.

• Conduct trainings to inform community partners about features of the Bridge to Benefits and Economic Stability Indicator websites and eligibility screening tool, as well as general knowledge about work support programs and tax credits.
• Research and write Excel functions to maintain and develop family support program logic models.
  Oversee the continuing development and implementation of the Economic Stability Indicator that illustrates how the public programs included in the Bridge to Benefits project work together to improve or impede a family’s overall economic stability.
• Support linkages to community organizations throughout the state that agree to assist families that have been identified through the B2B screening process as eligible for public programs with actually applying for these programs.
• Strategically identify areas in the Twin Cities metro area and greater Minnesota in which to expand outreach activities.
• Identify barriers to enrollment or renewal that eligible populations experience with benefits programs to inform CDF Minnesota’s policy agenda.
• Collaborate with state, county and nonprofit agencies to customize Bridge to Benefits and the Economic Stability Indicator to meet their needs. Create contracts and manage development and customization of these sites in coordination with agency partners and web developer.
• Contribute to communication efforts to publicize and support benefits outreach and education, including newsletter articles, and printed and online materials.
• Oversee the maintenance and routine updating of the data and information on the Bridge to Benefits and Economic Stability Indicator websites.
• Collect data and evaluate all project activities.
• Develop yearly work plans and budgets and collaborate on fundraising efforts.
• Serve on advisory committees and coalitions that seek to improve access and effectiveness of work support programs.
• Oversee the work of other potential Outreach staff to ensure completion of annual work plans.
• Participate on and contribute to the work of the CDF-MN Policy Team in developing and executing CDF-MN’s legislative agenda and advocacy strategy.

Communications:

• Provide overall support for CDF-MN communication efforts
• Develop content and execute Bridge to Benefits quarterly newsletter
• Support KIDS COUNT publication through editing and review
• Contribute to writing and editing all reports, testimony, written comments to state agencies, fact sheets and issues briefs and corresponding media materials published by the organization.

Qualifications:

We’re seeking candidates who excel in relationship-building, are results-oriented, are committed to leadership development and race and economic equity and have strong project management skills. The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• A bachelor’s degree - preferred
• Experience managing staff, contractors, and volunteers
• Experience with data analysis and research
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of health care, tax credits, public work support programs, and early childhood needs and programs
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among stakeholders
• Project management experience
• Experience with program development and social enterprise
• Demonstrated experience, accountability to and cultural fluency with communities of color, American Indian communities and under-resourced communities
• Ability to work in multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-racial settings
• Brings empathy, passion, and humor to the work
• Highly organized and efficient, able to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Experience and knowledge of New Media tools, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, petition vehicles, video production preferred
• Exhibit positive behavior and attitude; model a mature and professional demeanor; possess excellent written and verbal skills
• Ability to take initiative and manage a project including creating a work plan, identifying deliverables and meeting deadlines
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among stakeholders
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among stakeholders
• Experience working on issues related to racial and economic equity
• A deep commitment to improving the lives of children as expressed in CDF’s mission statement

Personal characteristics

The Outreach Coordinator should demonstrate competence in the following:

• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to think about advocacy, social service, research and business applications of Bridge to Benefits.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization – must be able to work with people of all ages and backgrounds, skills and abilities.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques for multiple audiences.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problem, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule to monitor progress towards goals, and track details, data, information and activities.
• Understanding: Understand and appreciate the mission and work of CDF-MN and how public policy affects children and families.
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results.
• Have fun: Bring a sense of inquisitiveness and humor as well as flexibility to the work.

To apply submit writing sample, cover letter and resume. We recommend using Firefox or Chrome when applying.

The end date for application submission is February 19, 2020.

The Children’s Defense Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer.