Latinx/Latino Community Outreach & Engagement Liaison

POSITION SUMMARY

The Latinx/Latino Community Outreach & Engagement Liaison for the Citizens Police Oversight Commission plays a key role in the Commission by performing regular outreach to communities to spread awareness of CPOC and increase engagement, among other objectives. This role is responsible for ensuring constituents are served in a coordinated, person-centered approach, particularly as their needs can involve various city departments. This role will be crucial to advancing the Outreach efforts of CPOC to the Latinx community as their interaction with the police has increased in the past few years. The Latinx community is one of the fastest growing communities in Philadelphia with a population of 238,777. In establishing the role, CPOC fulfills an important core function of our mission toward improving community-police relations.  

The Latinx/Latino Community Outreach & Engagement Liaison will report to the Director of Community Engagement to help fulfill the Commission’s mission of providing oversight of the Philadelphia Police Department. In this role, the Latinx/Latino Community Outreach & Engagement Liaison  will work with the Director of Community Outreach & Constituent Services and other CPOC Leadership staff to develop, implement and evaluate programs and initiatives to promote transparency and policing within the Hispanic and Latinx communities.

The successful candidate in this role, will use their subject matter expertise and cultural competency to advise CPOC leadership and work with community stakeholders, elected officials and the public to gather pertinent data, experiences and feedback on policing from members of the Hispanic and Latinx community across the City of Philadelphia.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identify the unique needs, demographics, and cultural nuances of different segments of the Hispanic community to inform and refine engagement strategies.
• Coordinate closely with staff to plan strategic approaches for community outreach and engagement on behalf of the Commission.
• Under the direction of the Director, lead the creation and implementation of culturally specific programs, educational initiatives, and services that address the identified needs of the community.
• Assist with intake of Complaints Against Police, providing courteous, compassionate, and professional service to complainants, and when necessary, take complaints of Spanish -speaking residents either in person or over the phone.
• Ensure that constituents are served in a respectful and coordinated manner when their needs involve various city departments.
• Assist residents in communicating with Philadelphia Police Department personnel to problem-solve when their concerns do not rise to the level of a complaint.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Philadelphia Police Department’s community relations liaisons and other city departments.
• Maintain productive relationships with stakeholders and community leaders
• Develop recommendations for programmatic and operational modifications for the Commission and/or Philadelphia Police Department, as they arise.
• Assist with all community outreach initiatives and programing for the Commission.
• Assist with the coordination of the Commission’s monthly community meetings, establishing potential speakers and community partners.
• Engage the community through outreach to facilitate communication and understanding between the public and the police. 
• Help to maintain transparency between the Commission, the Police Department, elected officials, and the public.
• Work with Public Relations and Communications Manager on various community engagement initiatives, occasionally providing insight and direction on the translation of agency materials, brochures and literature in Spanish.
• Work with the Director of Outreach and Constituent Services to coordinate and schedule interpretation for community events and complaint intake to make CPOC’s services more accessible to the Hispanic and Latinx Community.
• Receive training on PPD procedures, policies, and discipline code; adjudicate discipline cases and make disciplinary recommendations as a rotating member of the PPD Police Board of Inquiry
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Community Engagement and the Executive Director. 

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES. 

CPOC Core Competencies:

• Communicates with residents, vendors, and other departments with empathy and politeness.
• Independently manages workflows and tasks; proactively identifies potential issues and comes up with solutions.
• Always comports oneself in a professional manner, whether in the office or off-site.
• Effectively collaborates with colleagues within and across office divisions as well as external stakeholders.
• Consistently fosters CPOC's values and mission, displaying a strong commitment to advancing police oversight in Philadelphia.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated capacity to utilize subject matter expertise with the Hispanic and Latinx communities to help shape and guide outreach efforts.
• Ability to organize, galvanize and inspire members of the community to participate in CPOC Outreach efforts.
• The ability to speak and read the Spanish language with proficiency.
• Strong organization skills, including the ability to handle simultaneous priority projects and meet established deadlines.
• Experience working with the public, or other comparable experience.
• Good communication and listening skills, capable of influencing others and keeping others informed.
• Ability to creatively solve problems with creativity and persistence.
• Ability to perform regular street outreach and comfort in working within all neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia.
• Values and encourage diversity of thought, background, and perspective.
• Experience and fluency in MS Office software programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Dependable, reliable, and punctual.
• Ability to be outside in various conditions for extended periods (i.e. summer heat, winter, snow emergencies).
• Helpful, respectful, approachable, and team-oriented; committed to building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Comfort, patience, and ability to diffuse challenging situations.
• Receptive to feedback.