Community Relations Lead

Department: Community Relations Department
Salary: $81,226.00 - $116,762.94 Commensurate with Experience
Welcome to the City of Charlotte
Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.
Our guiding principles include:
Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development
Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services
Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems
Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions
SUMMARY
The Community Relations Lead performs advanced professional work in community relations, outreach, and engagement; investigates discrimination complaints; and carries out program administration to support community initiatives, resident services, public engagement, and partnership activities. Leads complex community relations programs, serves as a subject matter resource on community issues and engagement strategies, facilitates resolution of sensitive concerns, and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to improve community outcomes and service delivery.
Administer the local Fair Housing Ordinances and Nondiscrimination Ordinance (NDO).
Under the direction of the Fair Housing manager, serve as the supervisor of the NDO team.
Serve as the primary quality-control reviewer for NDO investigations before Fair Housing Manager review, ensuring each case is complete, accurate, grammatically and structurally sound, properly documented, jurisdictionally eligible, and supported by sufficient investigation and evidence; identify and resolve deficiencies, inconsistencies, or missing information before advancing the case for management review.
Responsible for NDO team management to include establishing performance metrics, providing performance feedback, monitoring caseload and completing annual evaluations.
Receive, investigate, and seek resolution to complaints of discrimination, or unfair treatment in housing, employment and public accommodations.
Administer fair housing and NDO training programs, fair housing real estate testing programs, and serve as subject matter expert and resource for subcommittees, task forces, and community coalitions.
Prepare and present reports, presentations, correspondence, recommendations, and program documentation for leadership, stakeholders, community groups, and governing bodies.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with residents, community organizations, advocacy groups, educational institutions, governmental agencies, businesses, and partner organizations.
Respond to complex community concerns, complaints, inquiries, and sensitive issues requiring independent judgment and resolution.
Develop campaigns and community outreach initiatives to increase awareness about rights and protections under Fair Housing and NDO.
Identify community needs and work with staff across the department to meet those needs.
Serve as staff liaison to the assigned subcommittee of the Community Relations Committee.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge and Skills:
Knowledge of:
Community relations, public engagement, and community outreach practices
Mediation, conflict resolution, conciliation, crisis intervention, and stakeholder engagement strategies
Related federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations regarding civil rights and discrimination
Program administration, program evaluation, and service delivery practices
Community resources, human services programs, and partnership development principles
Research, data collection, analysis, reporting, and performance measurement methodologies
Public presentation, facilitation, training, and community education techniques
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to assigned programs
Organizational and community engagement practices that support collaborative problem-solving and service delivery
Skills in:
Leading community programs, initiatives, and engagement efforts
Leading teams, overseeing team outcomes, and identifying growth opportunities
Analyzing information, evaluating program performance, and developing recommendations
Building partnerships and collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders
Facilitating mediation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving activities
Preparing reports, presentations, correspondence, and program documentation
Communicating effectively with diverse audiences and stakeholder groups
Providing training, guidance, and technical assistance
Exercising sound judgment and independent decision-making
Managing multiple priorities and sensitive situations simultaneously
Developing strategies that improve program effectiveness and community outcomes
Ability to:
Analyze, investigate and conciliate complaints of individuals or groups
Make decisions independently within general policies and guidelines
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse community groups and stakeholders
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration, Human Services, Sociology, Social Work, Community Relations, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field and five (5) years of experience in community relations, community engagement, mediation, human services, public outreach, program administration, social services, public administration, or a related field; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience as determined by Human Resources.
Preferred Experience:
Experience working with legal, regulatory, or compliance matters, including interpreting policies, agreements, regulations, and requirements and coordinating with internal or external stakeholders to ensure compliance.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.
Our culture is to serve the community honorably.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online.
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