Neighborhood Outreach Manager

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the "Hiring Process" section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Job Summary

Community Development Department vision: Securing Bellevue's future as a livable, inspiring, vibrant and equitable community.

Bellevue is a city of diverse and connected neighborhoods that provide amenities and opportunities for a high quality of life. People from around the world are welcomed by people from around the corner. The strong connections among neighbors contribute to creating a welcoming and inclusive community for all, greater mutual understanding, and the ability of neighborhoods to respond to change. Bellevue listens, engages and values the many voices within our community, and residents know they are an essential part of their community and have many opportunities to engage with the city and each other.

The Neighborhood Outreach Manager will focus on public outreach to Bellevue's neighborhoods and diverse communities and produce citywide classes and events to promote civic engagement, community collaboration and to build partnerships. This position manages, develops, coordinates and implements neighborhood programming and citywide events that is important to residents, businesses, news media and the city. Neighborhood programming promotes resident involvement in city government and provides opportunities for residents to learn about city programs, services and operations. This position is responsible for the oversight of programming and citywide outreach initiatives focused on deepening civic engagement from Bellevue's diverse communities and improving city responsiveness to emerging neighborhood concerns.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate aptitude working directly with multicultural and multilingual communities, be experienced in public outreach and engagement, co-creation and program management, community collaboration and have a vision to provide pathways for civic engagement for a diverse and changing community. The Neighborhood Outreach Manager supervises the Neighborhood Outreach team, and reports to the Assistant Director for Neighborhood Services, a division of the Community Development Department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area which may include, but are not limited to, a combination of the following tasks and roles:

• Ideal candidates will demonstrate aptitude in supervising staff, outreach and resources, be a skilled communicator with public speaking and facilitation skills, be knowledgeable about public engagement methods and event planning, volunteer management, exhibit consistent discernment and political acumen, and bring vision to provide pathways for education and civic engagement for a diverse community.
• Provide strategic planning and direction for citywide community outreach and neighborhood programming working collaboratively across departments to achieve city goals and objectives.
• Oversee annual programming, seasonal programming, and is on call for supporting city outreach initiatives as needed throughout the year. The Neighborhood Outreach programming includes, but is not limited to, NeighborLink, Jubilee in the Community, Cultural Conversations, Neighborhood Enhancement Program, Keep Bellevue Beautiful, Bellevue Essentials, Experience Bellevue, Neighborhood Walks, Neighborhood Forums and events, and Neighborhood News.
• Manages the Neighborhood Outreach team that provides a variety of neighborhood programs that build Bellevue neighborhoods' social and organizational capacity. Supervises staff and completes complex outreach events, including all aspects of event strategies and logistics, marketing, financial accountability, staff and volunteer scheduling, and evaluation of event goals and outcomes.
• Provides public engagement strategy and proactive implementation to ensure transparency and broaden public input in city decision-making.
• Works as part of the Neighborhood Services Division to plan and implement new projects and approaches to community involvement and neighborhood service delivery.
• Provides leadership and assists team members with programs, projects and events, and oversees programming budgets.
• Create citywide educational conferences and events that educate, inspire and connect Bellevue's community to city initiatives, services, and current issues.
• Oversee neighborhood liaisons for Bellevue residents, providing a key point of contact, communication and connection to residents, neighborhood associations and community groups for a portion of the service area.
• Integrate guiding principles of equity, access, inclusion, belonging and cultural competence into city outreach events and programming.
• Assists and provides training for neighborhood leaders in forming new community associations including the development and implementation of programs that enhance neighborhood character.
• Ensure effective two-way communication with neighborhood leaders and residents to address emerging neighborhood concerns.
• Track performance measures for Neighborhood Outreach engagement and programming to measure effectiveness, innovating and adapting to improve outcomes.
• Adept at providing in-person/virtual/hybrid events, developing class curriculums, communication and marketing materials, and providing exceptional direct customer service.
• Develop new programs and refine existing programs to enhance the city's communication and rapport with community members and neighborhoods.
• Support additional public engagement strategies and implementation for citywide initiatives to ensure transparency and broaden public input in city decision-making.
• Create, with other city staff, all communication program materials, website maintenance, distribution lists, newsletters, reports and presentations relating to program development.
• Communicate, advise and collaborate with city staff regarding neighborhood issues.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to Council, city leadership, neighborhood, community and decision-making groups.
• Has a background and comfort with modern outreach tools, including online surveys, social media, voting platforms, and mobile and online public engagement tools.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong public outreach skills and knowledge of the principles and practices of group process, community organizing and public participation that broadens participation for a diverse community.
• Supervisory or management experience, establishing effective working relationships with direct reports and maximizing their strengths and aspirations.
• Resourceful and adaptable to meet changing and emerging community needs. Has the ability to work independently and collaboratively to identify gaps and problem solve for equitable and effective service.
• Demonstrate leadership to address complexity and ambiguity and operate with a high level of autonomy.
• Strategic planning for community outreach and public engagement.
• Vision for new ways of addressing evolving and unexpected challenges.
• Astute political acumen and ability to understand and anticipate relationship between community priorities and citywide initiatives.
• Community experience working with diverse populations
• Collaborative skills required for citywide initiatives and community partnerships.
• Ability to innovate and adapt programming and prior program management experience.
• Knowledge of organizational development best practices, strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to build strong cross-functional teams.
• Adept at listening, public speaking, facilitation and community presentations.
• Ability to respond to urgent and sensitive information with discretion and accountability.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with stakeholders, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with community organizations, neighborhood groups, business leaders, city departments, governmental jurisdictions, regional partnership agencies and media.
• Exemplifies good judgment in prioritizing work assignments.
• Adept at producing accurate written materials, reports and program updates for the community, city leadership and Bellevue City Council.
• Contribute to Bellevue's One City culture and values of Sharing Leadership, Communicating and Collaborating Widely, Engaging and Empowering Employees, Encouraging Innovation, and Keeping a Short- and Long-term vision.
• Use good judgment in prioritizing work assignments.
• Sense of humor, humility to remember role in public service.

Core Competencies

• Builds Networks effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization
• Interpersonal Savvy relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Optimizing Work Processes knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done with a focus on continuous improvement
• Communicates Effectively developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Organizational Savvy maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process and people-related organizational dynamics
• Values Differences recognizing the values that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Understanding Cultural Competence produce equitable policies and practices by developing skills and knowledge that facilitate effective interactions across diverse cultures

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in a relevant field such as nonprofit management, political science, or public administration
• Five or more years