The Director of Community Relations and Engagement is responsible for creating partnerships with community organizations, volunteers and working closely with our Community Engagement Coordinators to manage our volunteer and GNP RIS and other LSSNCA program team projects.
This position provides coordination and leadership in areas of community engagement, volunteers and donations management, and capacity building activities of LSSNCA. With an emphasis on Refugee and Immigrant Services (RIS), the position supports individual resettlement teams in MD and VA, strengthens the intra-RIS network, and builds and cultivates partnerships with congregations, organizations, and a wide range of stakeholders in the Washington, D.C. area. The Director oversees community partnerships with the programs including the agency’s refugee co-sponsorship programs and helps to engage volunteer organizations and represents LSSNCA at regular speaking engagements in the community. They provide strategic direction for RIS program development and expansion. Finally, the position collaborates with Program teams and the Digital Marketing specialist to create content about our events and partners in order to enhance social media, press, and the website.
Outreach & Engagement
Maintain and strengthen LSSNCA’s visibility and its community network of partnerships through regular outreach, speaking engagements, and partner meetings with congregations, community organizations, businesses, higher education institutions, and other groups. Mobilize congregations in engaging in the work of LSSNCA by sharing regular – and creating new – opportunities for involvement, managing communications, and revamping programs and materials. Raise awareness of refugee and forced displacement populations and promote involvement in LSSNCA’s work in the community. Plan annual and seasonal appeals, campaigns, and other giving and outreach efforts, with Development and Communications team. Engage staff and stakeholders in these activities. Develop marketing/communications assets including but not limited to: RIS activities, program activities, volunteer/donation needs, and client/staff storytelling. Represent LSSNCA at national and local social service and refugee resettlement coordination meetings, including Virginia Community Capacity Initiative (VCCI), and take lead on planning regular VCCI large body and working group meetings, regular communication with other resettlement agencies, targeted outreach to community partners, and website development. Leads the planning of in-person and virtual events to celebrate, educate, and advocate, including but not limited to: World Refugee Day (WRD) and Welcoming Week events, volunteer and donor appreciation activities, scholarship workshops and receptions, and educational panels and Lunch & Learns.
GNP Program
Oversees LSSNCA’s community-based refugee co-sponsorship program (Good Neighbor Partners) with regional CEC’s to be sure they are training, screening, onboarding, matching, and reporting. Identify funding sources with partners and take lead on grant writing opportunities to support the GNP program. Serve as an external point of contact for the GNP program as well as liaise between GNP groups and RIS directors and case managers, to ensure smooth and efficient GNP communication and processes. Develop streamlined protocol among RIS case management staff teams in VA and MD. Monitor the lifecycle of GNP commitments through design and maintenance of mechanisms for program tracking and evaluation. Collect records of co-sponsor, volunteer, in-kind, and cash donations for the GNP program. Creates and regularly update GNP training, resources, and other program materials. Research best practices in community sponsorship and innovates responsive program changes; Coordinates with RIS CEC’s to strategically expand GNP outreach and recruitment to boost ratio of clients served by a GNP co-sponsors.
Donations Logistics & Volunteer Management
Oversee in-kind donations and volunteer activity for resettlement teams across 3 sites in MD and VA, including donations procurement, intake, inventory, and reporting. Coordinate logistics and communication for pick-up, distribution, and delivery supplies for refugee clients including through apartment setups, donation drives, and individual donors. Serve as agency point of contact for in-kind donations by managing agency donations email account and responding to donor inquiries in a timely manner via phone and email. Work closely with RIS coordinators and staff to proactively identify donation needs, analyze trends, evaluate and improve donations processes, and strategize responsive programming and community outreach for volunteers and partners (e.g., initiatives, supplies, donation storage). Record in-kind donations provided to clients according to program guidelines and documentation, including but not limited to Reception & Placement and Matching Grant (MG) programs, and report to Finance on a monthly basis. Monitor and match requests and interest from volunteers, donors, and community members with gift-in-kind needs of clients and assistance for staff (e.g., organizing supplies). Organize and coordinate supervision of volunteer activities and special projects, such as community donation drives, World Refugee Day events, and holiday events. Cultivate partnerships with groups to increase apartment setup capacity and gift-in-kind donation base. Develop internal and external materials and resources related to donation needs. Recruit, train, and oversee two seasonal interns to support donations management across 3 sites in MD and VA.
Engagement and Special Projects
Innovate and lead development of new initiatives and programs to address identified needs and advance program goals (e.g., Employment Coaching Series, In-house ESL, Scholarship Workshops). Design and oversee Women’s TEA Club including program budget, activities, and sustainability. Oversee refugee family mentoring program, including managing family mentor requests, matching mentors with clients, and triaging needs/concerns with staff and volunteers. Design, launch, and oversee agency’s first virtual tutoring program, including managing tutor requests, matching tutors with clients, and triaging needs/concerns with staff and volunteers. Provide leadership in RIS strategic growth plan including development of activity tracker. Serve as point of contact for in-kind MG reporting and liaise with LIRS in developing best practices and materials for the MG program across LIRS affiliate sites. Oversee internal quarterly reporting across RIS programs and sites for agency dashboard. Participate in the Stewardship Committee with the Board of Directors. Participate in RIS program budget and monitoring activities such as reports and meetings. Spearhead, lead, or support a range of agency-wide capacity building activities, including risk assessment and strategic planning.
