Community Engagement Coordinator

Community Engagement Coordinator

The Community Engagement Coordinator serves as the Cleveland Police Commission's primary architect and steward of community engagement strategy. This position is responsible for designing, implementing, supervising, and evaluating programs and initiatives that increase public awareness of the Commission's role, strengthen community trust, and expand meaningful public participation in police oversight.

This role combines strategic planning, program management, public-facing leadership, and operational oversight. The Coordinator will develop structured pathways for community input, ensure transparency in communication, and build sustainable relationships across neighborhoods, advocacy organizations, faith institutions, and civic groups.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive community engagement strategy aligned with the Commission's mission and annual goals.

• Design, implement, and supervise community-based programs and outreach initiatives that increase awareness of the Commission's authority, processes, and impact.

• Create multiple, accessible avenues for community input and feedback, including public forums, listening sessions, surveys, focus groups, digital engagement tools, and stakeholder roundtables.

• Ensure outreach efforts are inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible to diverse communities across Cleveland.

Program & Project Supervision:

• Oversee assigned projects and programs from planning through execution and evaluation.

• Develop project timelines, deliverables, and measurable outcomes.

• Monitor program effectiveness and adjust strategies based on data, community feedback, and Commission priorities.

• Establish and document policies and procedures related to community engagement programming.

Budget Oversight & Financial Monitoring:

• Monitor and manage the operating budget for community engagement initiatives.

• Track expenditures to ensure alignment with approved funding.

• Assist in developing recommendations for the annual operating budget related to outreach and engagement activities.

• Identify potential grant or partnership opportunities to support community engagement efforts.

Event Planning & Public Programming:

• Design and coordinate public events, educational workshops, town halls, and community briefings.

• Ensure events are structured to encourage participation, transparency, and meaningful dialogue.

• Evaluate events using established performance metrics and community feedback tools.

• Coordinate logistics, vendors, materials, and communication for Commission-sponsored events.

Communications & Public Awareness:

• Collaborate with communications staff to develop messaging that clearly explains the Commission's work and impact.

• Develop (in collaboration with communications staff) educational materials that translate complex oversight processes into accessible language.

• Maintain consistent engagement with community stakeholders and ensure timely follow-up on public inquiries.

Stakeholder & Partnership Development:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with neighborhood groups, advocacy organizations, faith-based institutions, youth organizations, and community leaders.

• Serve as a liaison between the Commission and community stakeholders.

• Support Commissioners' participation in community meetings and events.

Program Evaluation & Reporting:

• Design and implement evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of engagement initiatives.

• Collect and analyze data related to participation, feedback, and community impact.

• Prepare written reports summarizing engagement outcomes for the Executive Director and Commission.

• Recommend program improvements based on evaluation findings.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Communications, Community Development, Social Work, Public Policy, or related field (Master's degree preferred).

• Minimum of 35 years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, public outreach, civic engagement, or public sector program management.

• Demonstrated experience supervising projects or programs.

• Experience managing or monitoring budgets.

• Strong understanding of community organizing principles and public participation strategies.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to facilitate public meetings and navigate sensitive discussions with professionalism and neutrality.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in police oversight, civil rights, public accountability, or government transparency initiatives.

• Knowledge of Cleveland neighborhoods and community networks.

• Experience designing evaluation frameworks and measuring program outcomes.

• Familiarity with grant-funded program reporting requirements.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.

• Skilled facilitator capable of building trust across diverse communities.

• Strong project management and organizational abilities.

• High emotional intelligence and conflict navigation skills.

• Data-informed decision maker.

• Commitment to transparency, accountability, and equitable community engagement.

Work Environment:

• Frequent evening and occasional weekend work required to support community meetings and events.

• Local travel throughout the City of Cleveland required.

• Combination of office-based work and field engagement.

Impact of the Role:

This position plays a critical role in ensuring that the Cleveland Police Commission's work is not only transparent, but truly community-informed. Success in this role will be measured by increased public awareness, expanded community participation, improved feedback mechanisms, and strengthened trust between the Commission and the residents it serves.