Outreach Coordinator

Open Date: 06/19/2025

Closing Date: July 14, 2025, 8:00 am

Interview Date: Beginning of August

WHO WE ARE:
The City of Santa Maria is a full-service City with a City Council/City Manager form of government with over 700 employees, an annual budget of approximately $222 million for FY 2020-21 and serves approximately 108,000 constituents. The City of Santa Maria is located on the beautiful central coast of California and covers over 23 square miles. The City has a harmonious balance of maintaining coastal and agricultural lands while promoting business. Santa Maria has been recognized nationally as an All-America City by the National Civic League and offers reasonably priced housing, community festivals, quality schools, and is in close proximity to beaches, cultural arts, a local airport, wineries, and higher education institutions.

WHAT WE DO:

The Santa Maria Police Department, Community Services Unit has an exciting, new opportunity for an experienced and energetic Outreach Coordinator to oversee and promote the various community engagement events and activities, and lead the social media efforts of the Department. This position will assist in continuing to foster the positive relationships between the Police Department, community, and various stakeholders.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

The ideal candidate will be comfortable speaking to both large and small groups within the community. We are looking for someone who can effectively coordinate multiple events and who has the creativity to keep marketing materials fresh and up to date. Experience with planning, developing, and implementing outreach programs is highly desirable.

The ideal candidate exhibits the following qualities:

• Experienced social media platform user/influencer
• Strong written communication skills
• Excellent public speaking skills
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude
• Ability to maintain effective and positive working relationships
• Ability to plan and think strategically
• Ability and willingness to work nights and weekends
• Spanish speaking skills are highly desirable

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION:
Outreach Coordinator

REQUIRED SUBMITTALS:
Due upon application:

These duties are a representative example; position assignments may vary depending on the business needs of the department and organization. This position:

• Develops, plans, and, implements community outreach programs and marketing materials while complying with Department budget.
• Coordinates focus groups and public engagement strategies to gather community input, concerns, and needs.
• Coordinates and attends outreach events to promote Department services and programs.
• Conducts reports, written and oral correspondence, and presentations.
• Works closely with City staff, community partners, stakeholders, and other external parties to accomplish Department objectives. Scope of assigned area will depend on departmental structure and is at the discretion of the department director.
• Upholds the values of the organization and has strong customer service orientation.
• Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.
• Demonstrates regular, reliable and punctual attendance.

• Prepare, organize, and implement department events and department-wide communication.
• Manage the Police Department’s social media platforms and coordinate the release of public information.
• Prepare and distribute educational safety announcements and crime prevention information to the public.

Individual Contributor:

• Team Player - Effective performers are team oriented, share resources, respond to requests, and support a spirit of cooperative effort.
• Customer Orientation - Effective performers are in touch with community needs and review the organization through the eyes of Santa Maria residents. They go out of their way to anticipate needs.
• Integrity - Effective performers think and act ethically and honestly, take responsibility for their actions and foster a work environment where integrity is rewarded.
• Communicativeness - Effective performers recognize the essential value of continuous information exchange and the competitive advantage it brings. They actively seek information from a variety of sources and disseminate it in a variety of ways. They use modern technologies to access and circulate information, even across great distances. They take responsibility for ensuring that their people have the current and accurate information needed for success.
• Initiative - Effective performers are proactive and take action without being prompted. They do not wait to be told what to do or when to do it. They see a need, take responsibility, and act on it. They make things happen.
• Composure - Effective performers maintain emotional control, even under ambiguous or stressful circumstances, and demonstrate emotions appropriate to the situation.
• Functional/Technical Expertise - Effective performers are knowledgeable and skilled in a functional specialty (e.g., finance, public works, planning, information technology, human resources, etc.), and remain current in their area of expertise.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making - Effective performers identify problems, solve them, act decisively, and show good judgment.
• Learning Agility - Effective performers continuously seek new knowledge, are curious, learn quickly, and use new information effectively.
• Drive/Energy - Effective performers have a high level of energy and are ambitious and passionate about their role. They have stamina and endurance to maintain a fast pace.

• Ideally, one year of experience working with community outreach programs; and
• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above; or
• Current technical/professional knowledge of complex principles, methods, standards and techniques associated with the scope of work of a recognized profession, such as:
  • Public outreach
  • Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Microsoft Office Suite (or equivalent).
  • Use computer and other office equipment effectively.

The completed electronic application packet will include the online application, supplemental questions and electronic attachments of a cover letter and resume. If you are experiencing any technical (computer related) difficulties or need help with attaching documents to your application, please call the NEOGOV help line for assistance at 1-855-524-5627.

The most qualified candidates will be selected to appear before a panel for an oral interview. Those applicants invited to interview will be notified electronically at the e-mail address provided by each candidate through the application process. Therefore, it is the applicant's responsibility to provide an accurate email address and to allow their inbox to receive emails in regard to this recruitment. Oral board interviews scheduled for the beginning of August. The oral board will recommend a limited number of candidates to the eligibility list from which the new Outreach Coordinator may be selected. This recruitment may also establish an eligibility list for future Outreach Coordinator openings.

Prior to an offer of employment, applicants must pass a thorough background investigation and polygraph test.