About the Nonprofit

Amplify GR is a newly forming nonprofit committed to facilitating increased opportunities for:

• Reinvigorated neighborhood-based economies by attracting employers, fostering entrepreneurship and investment opportunities, facilitating job placements, and expanding workforce development opportunities.
• Access to mixed-income housing by increasing the availability of high-quality housing options in a manner that includes current residents, while fostering community and neighborliness.
• Cradle-to-career educational excellence by supporting the education pipeline in its efforts to produce top-performing outcomes from early childhood through school, culminating in fulfilling careers.

The new nonprofit will strive to achieve system-level alignment, make catalytic investments, and develop strategic partnerships in Boston Square and the Cottage Grove/Madison Square area based on innovative and authentic community engagement.

Position Summary:

This position will assist with development of and manage the implementation of a robust community engagement strategy in partnership with residents, key stakeholders, and the Amplify GR staff and partners to identify how the above vision will be executed.  Full-time, salaried/exempt position which reports to the Project Director.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Engagement Manager will be responsible for developing and executing community engagement strategies that build community trust, cohesiveness, and foster neighborhood-level leadership.  As the community engagement matures, this position will assist and sometimes lead program implementation and/or facilitate resident access to programs and services which are provided in partnership with Amplify GR.  The Engagement Manager will make a significant contribution to the vibrancy of a small, new organization by also supporting the overall operational success of the organization.

• Assist with the development of the overall community engagement strategy, and manage the day-to-day community engagement efforts, such as scheduling, facilitating meetings, community surveying, etc.
• Collaborate with other Amplify GR staff to develop and strengthen partnerships and other engagement initiatives based on community engagement results and other data in a manner that improves resident satisfaction, nurtures community leadership, and contributes to healthy, thriving community.
• Identify, initiate, and deepen relationships with residents and various community stakeholders.
• Implement meetings, surveys, and innovative methods of effectively communicating with, and receiving feedback from the community, about the community, and Amplify GR initiatives.
• Attend community meetings on behalf of Amplify GR to identify community assets, priorities, concerns, and potential strategies.
• Attend non-Amplify GR programs and events to better understand community interest and activities.
• Assist in the development of Amplify GR’s strategic plan in concert with the Project Director, Amplify GR’s trustees, and public input.
• Maintain various databases of groups of stakeholders.
• Recommend mechanisms for internal and external evaluation of engagement initiatives.
• Distribute information to the community and broader publics through multiple channels.
• Compile collected information based on community engagement efforts for the Project Director.
• Support resource development activities of the organization as needed, with emphasis on achieving quality supportive programmatic activities in the community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a social science field and minimum of 3 years of experience working in community settings is required.
• In lieu of a Bachelor’s degree, minimum of 7 years of experience working in community settings is required.
• Community partnership and engagement experience that will contribute to community revitalization is required.
• Ability to work collaboratively across stakeholder groups to achieve an ambitious set of goals.
• Ability to build rapport with community residents and other stakeholder groups.
• Existing relationships and familiarity with the neighborhoods of Madison Square, Garfield Park, Boston Square, and Cottage Grove preferred.
• Experience implementing and managing community programs.
• Experience developing and implementing neighborhood-level community engagement strategies.
• Project management experience with multi-faceted projects resulting in measurable successes.
• Experience in a high-performance, collaborative, constructive peer group.
• Experience in a complex work environment.
• Experience with successfully negotiating agreements across multiple stakeholder groups.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail skills.
• Ability to work in fast-paced environments and in balancing competing priorities.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for Southtown, Grand Rapids, and our community’s future.
• Intermediate to advanced technical skills, with a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.