Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Community Relations Specialist is responsible for creating and implementing the constituent outreach and engagement strategy for the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement (MOLA). This individual is responsible for educating residents, community leaders, elected officials, civic associations and the general public about MOLA and the programs and services offered by the Office. This individual will assist with communications duties and storytelling around MOLA’s mission, programs, and events. They will perform this function and related duties to ensure that the Office effectively engages and serves residents, especially the most vulnerable, and advocates for LGBTQ+ advancement and equity, furthering the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet’s mission.

This role lives in the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet. Please read below to understand our larger vision.

The mission of the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet is to transform City policies, programs, and practices so that every resident has full access to what the City of Boston has to offer. With the goals of achieving racial justice and improving social determinants of health through systemic change for historically excluded communities, the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet: 

• Directly improves outcomes with and for residents.
• Counsels all City departments to better address issues of equity, inclusion, and access.
• Creates the conditions for residents to build their collective power.

Community Outreach & Engagement:

• In partnership with the Executive Director and Deputy Director, the Community Relations Specialist will help form relationships with LGBTQ+ community organizations and stakeholders on behalf of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement (MOLA).
• Attends community based organizational events and community meetings both in person and virtual; this will require some evening and weekend participation.
• Represents MOLA and serves as a community ambassador; this will require some evening and weekend participation.
• Develops effective community outreach plans, strategies, and messaging for MOLA, under the direction of the Executive Director; this includes but is not limited to cabinet, department and community events.
• Develops materials for community organizing and outreach and education efforts and all educational literature for the Office; ensure materials are available for distribution at events and other City services as requested.
• Works with City departments and external community organizations to create safe spaces for trans people that inspire economic advancement, leadership development and community.
• Prepares and delivers presentations on City and MOLA services and provides LGBTQ+ competency training for City of Boston departments.

Constituent Services:

• Conducts intakes, working directly with constituents to find the best referrals and City resources.
• Assesses needs, identifies resources, addresses barriers to solutions and equitable access.
• Assists and responds to intake forms, meeting requests, communication and office inquiries both via phone and emails.

Events & Communications:

• Create effective social media, newsletter and website content, maintaining current content.
• Works with the MOLA team to create and send out MOLA newsletters.
• Assists with all MOLA event planning and organizing, attending and assisting with event logistics day of.
• Responsible for assisting with the conceptualizing, developing and distributing information about MOLA programs and policies to community based groups and stakeholders
• Multilingual media and messaging to reach LGBTQ+ residents across the city.
• Supports in developing and distributing press releases, service announcements, brochures, flyers and newsletters, in physical and electronic form.

Program Development:

• Supports development and implementation of programs and activities that informs the public about the policies and services that MOLA offers, with a focus on hard to reach populations, especially queer youth, BIPOC and transgender women.
• Documents, monitors and reports outreach and engagement data, assessing efforts to identify gaps and recommends activities, initiatives, procedures or protocol for improving efficiency and outcomes.
• Assists with analyzing the effectiveness of outreach interventions and activities to engage the priority population and makes recommendations for improvements.
• Works collaboratively with the Equity and Inclusion Cabinet team as needed and required.
• Performs related work as required.

• At least three (3) years of full time, or equivalent part-time, experience in public administration, public relations, community organizing, human services, or related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree in communications, public or business administration, social sciences, social services or related fields may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience. A Master’s degree in one of these areas may be substituted for the required experience.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese or Vietnamese).
• Ability to use multiple forms of media including public service announcements, article placements in journals, press releases, speeches, brochures, technical documents, broadcast products and social media, etc.
• Ability to use software such as Microsoft Windows, Canva and Google Suite; graphic design experience ideal.
• Strong skills in oral communication and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to develop and implement effective consultations, outreach programs, educational opportunities and training.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with LGBTQ+ providers, community groups and with individuals of diverse economic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• Significant level of demonstrated cultural competency regarding all aspects of the BIPOC LGBTQIA+ communities.
• Ability to create timelines and meet deadlines, exercise initiative, work independently and as part of a team and to follow through on assignments/projects independently required.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of office procedures and business practices.
• Knowledge of community outreach and education strategies, including social media.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on details.

Cultural Competency:

• Demonstrated experience in receiving feedback from transgender, nonbinary and LGBQ+ communities, and subsequently changing behavior, in relation to evolving language, experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ communities.
• Extensive experience in working with communities who align with transgender, nonbinary and LGBQ+ identities, including knowledge of the cross sectionality and needs of the BIPOC communities of Boston.
• Experience with complex relationship dynamics, including polyamory, queer platonic, asexuality, aromanticism and other diverse family and relationship structures.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union: Non-Union

Salary Range: MM2, Grade 5

Weekly Hours: 35