Community Connections Specialist (Personal Services)
General Statement: The Fleet Science Center is a San Diego County-wide organization committed to our mission of realizing a San Diego where everyone is connected to the power of science. The Fleet was recently awarded funding from the National Science Foundation to support our STEM in Your Neighborhoods (SiYN) effort, which will expand our presence in the Neighborhoods of Southeastern San Diego. This grant project will focus on unearthing STEM stories from within the community to highlighting the STEM identities and contributions of historically marginalized groups. This is a partnership effort between the Fleet as the project lead and several other organizations and will involve working with the community to develop a community authored narrative around STEM.
In support of this initiative, we are hiring a Community Connections Specialist to manage the relationship between the project's community partners. This role will be responsible for supporting the members of the Leadership Collaborative and helping to foster the concepts of Liberatory Design. The person fulfilling this essential position will have a history of personal involvement and deep understanding of the cultural backgrounds and situational contexts of the Neighborhoods of Southeastern San Diego.
This position is grant funded by the National Science Foundation Award #2411999. The grant has been funded through 2028.
The role is in the field approximately 50% of the time which includes meeting with partners and attending/ hosting community events. There may be events outside normal business hours, either in the evening or during the weekend. Hours will be flexible to ensure a work/life balance.
Reports to: Community Collaborative Grants & Engagement Manager
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Project Implementation
- Serve as the point of connection for, and coordinate, the activities of the Leadership Collaborative's member organizations (the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch of the San Diego Public Library, Project New Village, NERDS RULE INC, the Worldbeat Center, the Elementary Institute of Science and the Fleet Science Center) using a range of approaches including email, phone, virtual and in-person meetings, community events, and large group meetings
- Sustain and increase the Fleet's presence in the community and represent Fleet in local community events, and other outreach activities.
- Raise awareness of the Fleet and its mission, and raise the profile of programs and initiatives, in support of place-based community networks and the broader San Diego STEM Ecosystem.
- Support the Fleet's ongoing community engagement strategy including building bridges between the Fleet's internal community and external efforts.
Grant Deliverables
- Contribute to the planning, logistics, promotion, and day-of staffing for grant related events.
- Collaborate with Leadership Collaborative partners to ensure all are meeting respective and collective grant deliverables.
- Responsible for tracking progress and making recommendations to strengthen grant initiatives.
- Practice awareness of successful community listening and informal science engagement practices.
Administrative/ Grant Reporting
- Record meeting minutes, event attendance, progress towards goals, partner engagement, and other evaluation metrics for STEM in Your Neighborhood programs and initiatives.
- Track grant deliverables to the standards and specifications of the National Science Foundation.
- Maintain accurate time and effort reporting and meet deadlines as established by department, the Fleet, and the National Science Foundation.
- Attend employee training programs and meetings as directed.
Experience, Education, or Skills Required:
- 2+ years' experience working and building trust with community-based organizations, community advocacy, or related experience.
- Lived experience with the Southeastern San Diego region.
- Familiarity with best practices around grant implementation and reporting.
- Strong personal affinity or curiosity for science, inclusive of STEM or STEAM.
- Experience in full cycle planning/coordinating logistics for meetings, program activities, and/or community events.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking, and experience communicating with diverse audiences.
- Must possess and maintain a current valid California driver's license and clean driving record. Must have reliable transportation and personal vehicle insurance. Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel will be provided.
Preferred Skills & Experience (Not Required):
- Prior experience working on federal or state grants.
- Bilingual/bicultural fluency.
