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Job Description
Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist 3.2 3.2 out of 5 stars Oakland, CA 94601 $30 an hour - Full-time Operation Dignity 15 reviews $30 an hour - Full-time Position Overview The Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist serves as a primary field representative (liaison) of Operation Dignity and is responsible for building trusting relationships with unsheltered community members, facilitating connections to housing and supportive services, and ensuring accurate documentation of outreach activities and client engagements. The Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist utilize a strength-based model, trauma-informed approach that promotes dignity, self-determination, and meaningful engagement. This position plays a critical role in supporting outreach operations, maintaining high standards of data quality and documentation, and contributing to positive outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Position Responsibilities :
Community Engagement & Outreach Services Build and maintain trusting relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness through consistent, respectful, and trauma-informed engagement. Serve as a primary field representative of Operation Dignity and a reliable point of contact for community members within assigned outreach areas. Conduct outreach activities at encampments, public spaces, and other locations where unsheltered individuals reside throughout Oakland. Regularly engage in assigned locations and respond to service requests, referrals, and operational priorities identified by Operation Dignity, City staff, and community partners. Complete HMIS enrollments, and other client engagement activities in accordance with program requirements. Provide harm reduction supplies, basic needs resources, and service information to support client health, safety, and stabilization. Maintain outreach vehicles, supplies, equipment, and assigned materials in a clean, organized, and operational condition. Participate in encampment engagement activities, including postings, closures, site assessments, and scheduled operations, while providing information on available resources, service options, and operational timelines in a respectful and professional manner. Collaborate with Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist, Mental Health Specialists, the Triage/Data Specialist, and other partners to support coordinated service delivery. Participate in outreach coordination meetings, trainings, and community engagement activities as assigned. Identify individuals who may be eligible for housing programs, shelter opportunities, Coordinated Entry System (CES) assessments, and other supportive services; collect relevant information and facilitate referrals, service connections, and program participation in accordance with agency procedures. Assist individuals in accessing interim housing, healthcare, health service connections. Other duties as assigned. Documentation, Data Integrity & Reporting Complete outreach documentation, HMIS records, service transactions, site logs, census information, and engagement notes in a timely, accurate, and professional manner. Maintain accurate records of client interactions, referrals, service connections, outreach activities, and operational observations while collecting, verifying, and documenting outreach-related data, including site assessments, encampment census information, demographic information, and service utilization data, in accordance with agency standards and program requirements. Utilize HMIS, CES-related systems, ESRI, and other agency databases in accordance with program procedures and confidentiality requirements. Maintain confidentiality of client information and adhere to all agency, HMIS, and data security requirements. Collaborate with the Community Outreach & Engagement Program Manager and Triage/Data Specialist to ensure outreach data is accurate, current, and aligned with reporting requirements. Ensure documentation is complete, legible, accurate, and submitted within established timelines. Support quality assurance efforts by correcting documentation errors, responding to feedback, and maintaining compliance with documentation standards. Assist with preparation and organization of documentation required for audits, program reviews, and reporting activities. Communicate significant field observations, emerging trends, and community needs to the Community Outreach & Engagement Program Manager to support program planning and service delivery. Maintain a high standard of documentation quality by ensuring records are accurate, complete, timely, and reflective of services provided. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Relevant experience providing outreach, community engagement, social services, homeless services, behavioral health support, or related human services work is preferred but not required. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build compassionate, respectful, and empowering relationships with highly marginalized populations, effectively engage diverse stakeholders, and exercise sound judgment in crisis situations and rapidly changing field environments. Cultural competency and ability to establish effective professional relationships with culturally, racially, and socioeconomically diverse populations. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and commitment to accurate documentation and data entry. Self-motivated and able to work independently and collaboratively while maintaining timely, accurate, and professional documentation, reporting requirements, HMIS activities, site logs, and other program records, and effectively utilizing HMIS, CES-related systems, ESRI, Microsoft Office, and other program databases and technologies. Ability to lift 50 pounds, bend, walk uneven terrain, and remain on feet for extended periods during outreach and field operations. Personal lived experience with homelessness, recovery, behavioral health challenges, or strong understanding of these issues is preferred. Valid California Driver License with a clean driving record and ability to operate agency vehicles. Compliance with applicable State, County, and agency health and safety requirements. Operation Dignity is an
Equal Opportunity Employer Pay:
$30.00 per hour
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): We appreciate your interest in joining our team! Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we're only able to contact candidates whose qualifications best match the requirements of the position. If you meet the qualifications, we will be in touch to discuss next steps. Thank you for your understanding. Employment Relationship Disclosure To help ensure appropriate reporting relationships, please disclose if you have a relative, household member, or close personal relationship with anyone currently employed by the organization. If yes, please provide the employee's name and department: __ __ __ __ __
