Posting: Community & Resident Services Manager Position
October 16, 2019
Office of Detroit City Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López
Values:
Integrity, Equity, Access, Wellness
Vision:
A Detroit where every voice is valued
Mission:
Promoting a just and thriving Detroit through community advocacy, public service, and inclusive policy
Description:
Under the leadership of Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López and immediate supervision of the Chief of Staff, the Community and Resident Services Manager is a full time position that plays an integral role in the functioning of the Community Team. As Council Member seeks to enhance the quality of life of the residents in Detroit, the Community & Resident Services Manager helps create the conditions to empower the community by serving as the liaison between the Council Member and the community.
The position’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Community & Resident Services
- Promotes office mission and values, and works to implement goals and priorities as outlined in the team’s strategic plan.
- Develops and implements evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of the office’s interventions.
- In collaboration with the Policy Team, develops and implements assigned ordinance initiatives. This includes from inception through the passing of the ordinance.
- Works with members of the community, constituents, and other stakeholders to: assess residents’ needs and directs constituents to resources; assess community issues and helps build coalitions, and promotes collaboration to create a sense of District 6 solidarity and identity.
- Responds proactively to all inquiries, problems, and complaints from members of the community, constituents and other stakeholders.
- Responsible for the oversight of all constituent cases using Smartheets & VAN (constituent software tool.) This includes managing general workflow and input; monitor current practices continue to be efficient, as well as providing support to all staff.
- Plans and manages community outreach efforts. Initiates efforts to respond to community’ needs.
- Suggests and carries out improvements to the office’s community meetings; analyzes data and creates reports to determine the effectiveness of outreach and engagement efforts.
- In collaboration with Community Team members, attends and facilitates the office’s community meetings (which include evenings and weekends events).
- Attends and manages general staff attendance of all external community meetings and keeps supervisors informed of any issues, updates and/or changes.
- Proactively identifies new coalitions and/or external community meetings and responds accordingly.
- Coordinates interactions with media as needed.
- Develops key relationships and maintains regular contact with community members and other stakeholders.
- Manages and maintains communication within the community team, supervisors and other teams; as well as specifically with the policy team in relation to community and city projects, new ordinances and or initiatives that directly affect communities in District 6.
- Participates in community events: i.e. clean-ups, resource fairs, door knocking, parades, races, etc. (which include evenings and weekends.)
- Manages and coordinates special projects.
- Other duties may be assigned.
District Office Management
- In charge of the District office’s running functions, ensuring a safe and productive work environment. This includes: the opening & closing of the District office, ordering supplies, answering the main phone line, maintaining organization and cleanliness, reporting any malfunctioning issues, etc.
- Maintains effective communication and working relationships with the office of Senator Stephanie Chang.
- Other duties may be assigned
Mobile Office (MO)
- In charge of all Mobile Office (MO) running functions. This includes: confirming scheduling and coverage for all MO dates, ensuring that MO has sufficient literature, supplies and any office related tools needed, and over all ensuring the well-functioning of the MO which includes taking it to its regular mechanic visits, reporting unexpected issues, etc.
- Other duties may be assigned
Supervision
- This position may encompass supervising interns (depending on the team’s needs and the number of intern participation.) This includes, although not limited to: preparing projects, meeting with students regularly, as well as meeting with college supervisors as needed.
Ideal Candidate
- Master’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Social Work, Urban Planning, Public Administration or closely related field.
- 1-3 years of professional experience preferred.
- Bilingual Spanish or Arabic is a plus.
- Experience with community organizing or community engagement work.
- Must possess the ability to exercise judgment in all phases of analysis, ranging from sorting out the most important problems when dealing with voluminous amounts of information.
- Strong written and verbal communications to prepare briefings, recommendations and presentations.
- Must be comfortable with the media, interactions with the public and taking pictures.
- Good time management skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office.
- Ability to learn quickly (i.e. social media tools Hootsuite, Canva and project management tools Smartsheets).
- Ability to work independently or in a group.
- Approaches challenges pro-actively and is solution focused.
- A team player with strong work ethic.
- In depth knowledge of issues impacting City of Detroit residents and respect for communities and diverse cultures is highly preferred.
- A motivated individual who is passionate about a bright future for Detroit and the wellbeing of its residents.
- While all of us as human beings are biased, an individual who is able to recognize her/his own biases, and continues to think critically about how to overcome these biases.
To Apply:
E-mail a letter of interest and résumé to d6info@detroitmi.gov Please include “Community & Resident Services Manager” in the subject line.
About Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López
Raquel Castañeda-López, a lifelong Detroiter, made history in November 2013 by becoming the first Latina elected to the Detroit City Council. A social worker by trade, Castañeda-López has over ten years of experience in the non-profit sector and is committed to working for social justice to improve the quality of life for all Detroiters. She developed a strong resident service program and a mobile office, helping residents and businesses cut through the 'red tape' in order to access services and resources. She is working to ensure Detroiters have a voice on City Council championing policies that promote access, inclusivity and equity.