Community Engagement Specialist (NB)

Important Notice: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney Office is seeking a Community Engagement Specialist to join the prosecutors’ office committed to transformative justice for victims and defendants alike – and one committed to enhancing public education and transparency. This position will independently lead and implement community outreach, public engagement, public relations, internal and external communications, and other efforts to provide information to the public and the media concerning the work of the Office of the Commonwealth Attorney for Arlington and the City of Falls Church (CA), a national leader in criminal justice reform.  

Specific Duties Include:

• Developing and managing the implementation communications strategies;
• Coordinating and guiding community and public engagement efforts, and assist with managing communications in urgent matters;
• Driving efforts to proactively update the community on office activities, investigations, and upcoming cases as appropriate;
• Maintaining and developing office website and running office social media accounts; 
• Writing and distributing Justice Matters newsletter on a quarterly basis;  
• Managing Community Advisory Board, including organizing monthly meetings and recruiting new members as needed; 
• Coordinating the Commonwealth’s Community Academy (a contemplated 6-10-week course to familiarize members of the community with the work of the Office and stakeholders); 
• Facilitating office presence at community events, attending civic association meetings; and coordinating periodic town halls; 
• Organizing office-led community events such as our biannual Expungement Clinics and gun buyback, as well as spearheading additional events and initiatives; and
• Leading on office media interaction, including, responding to media inquiries; coordinate media outreach and interviews; developing talking points.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Interpersonal and problem-solving skills to gather relevant information; resolve complaints, coordinate with other departments, and speak in public; 
• Ability to balance multiple projects with competing deadlines;
• Ability to develop and implement community engagement strategies and events;
• Ability to interpret and communicate policy decisions; 
• Ability to develop or create web content; and
• Ability to use computer programs and applications to complete work.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public policy, public administration, education, journalism, public relations, or a related field; and

• Considerable experience in public engagement, communications, governmental policy, community organizing, journalism, public relations, or public information is ideal.

Substitution: Additional qualifying experience can be substituted for the educational requirement. A Master's degree or higher may be substituted for some of the experience requirement.

Desirables: Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following:

• Considerable knowledge of communications strategies development, survey development, writing, editing, graphic design, marketing, and/or social media;
• Knowledge of laws and regulations that govern the release of public information (e.g., FOIA);
• Knowledge of how to plan, design and implement communications projects; 
• Knowledge of new and emerging public relations/communication methodologies; and/or

• Writing skills to create and edit high-quality reports, news releases, talking points, newsletters, internal communications, and marketing materials.

   

Additional Information:

Work Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with some telework. Some evenings and weekends are required. 

The official title for this position is Communications Specialist II.

Selected candidat