Communication Specialist

The Communication Specialist is responsible for monitoring social media for indicators of potential violence (beefs between individuals), monitoring police/fire bands for emerging violence and communicating issues/incidents real-time to the Lead and the Program Manager. Duties include developing and distributing public education material and public service announcements, press releases; through traditional media (print, TV, radio) and through sanctioned social platform (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Linked-In etc.) Duties also include networking with community groups in person and via social media to distribute and gather ground level community information. This is a cross-functional role as the communication specialists may substitute for outreach specialists when conditions demand additional personnel.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES:
• Mine social media and other web sites to provide current and possible future violent behavior and intent to the violence prevention team lead (VPTL)
• Create and maintain violence heat maps for the community RCF serves
• Perform RCF incident response team dispatch responsibilities

Participate, as necessary, in organizing responses to shootings (and other community news) by creating and publishing official RCF notifications through, press releases, social media posts, web sites, pod casts, etc.)
• Provide RCF communication standards training to newly onboarded staff
• Own the logistics of community meetings by developing the budget, acquiring the venue, providing refreshments and coordinating set-up and break-down activities
• Develop and publish agenda for various community meetings
• Solicit RCF and guest speakers for various community meetings
• Attend weekly staff meetings; and/or meet with supervisor as needed
• Document detailed status reports
• Participate in all mandatory trainings and undertake any training and professional development as and when required
• This position is subject to additional responsibilities and program engagement activities as needed to meet the program needs
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
• High School Diploma/GED required. Bachelors’ degree in Journalism or Sociology with Journalism minor preferred. Associates’ degree or significant experience is acceptable
• At least three years’ experience writing technical or functional training manuals and procedures
• Experience recording, editing and publishing video
• At least two years’ experience working with people from various ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds, both as colleagues and as clientele
• At least one year in a training/onboarding capacity
• Candidate must feel comfortable engaging with community-based services and organizations
• Experience developing and retaining relationships with other service providers
• Proven crisis intervention training or knowledge
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking
• Experience producing management-level reports
• Requires mobility to work with a community-based caseload.
• Ability to maintain assigned community and home-based services.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and groups
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
• Demonstrate ability to work with high-risk, street-involved individuals
• Demonstrate firsthand knowledge of the community and knowledge of current street conflicts required
• Experience or training in crisis intervention preferred
• Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice and trauma informed practices

Experience working on a team
• No pending criminal cases or prior convictions for sexual assault, child abuse or domestic Violence
• Drug screening and background check is required prior to being hired
• Flexible schedule - This position is full-time and requires night and weekend hours
• High level of interpersonal skills and conflict resolution skills and ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written form
• Candidate must have their own vehicle, valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance and good driving record
• Must demonstrate crisis intervention training or knowledge
• Knowledge of Chicago and South Suburban Cook County and communities with histories of violence
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable using computer programs to track participant engagement and produce grantor and management reports
• Ability and commitment to maintain high level of confidentiality
• Ability to understand and follow safety/security practices and work in high pressure situations
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit and stand for sustained periods of time, frequently talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel, handle and operate objects or controls, and occasionally stand, bend, stretch, stoop, kneel and crouch.
• The employee is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing and viewing a computer monitor.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
COMPENSATION:
• Salary - To Be Discussed
TO APPLY:
• Submit cover letter, resume, and three references
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.