Job Description

At Upbring, our team is united by a shared mission: to break the cycle of child abuse and advance the wellbeing of children, families and communities, empowering them to thrive. As servant-leaders, we lead by example, working passionately to create a brighter future for those we serve. Every day, we strive to embody our core values:

• We are Warriors: Fierce, resilient, and courageous, we face challenges head-on with unwavering loyalty and passion.
• We are Servants: We dedicate ourselves to serving others, empowering those around us to thrive.
• We are Family: We work together as a supportive, caring community, creating a sense of belonging and strength.

Joining Upbring means becoming part of a family of passionate individuals who are fearless in their pursuit of lasting change. Together, we are making a difference, one life at a time.

Your Mission in Action

The Community Engagement Specialist is responsible for implementing and sustaining community engagement activities at the regional and program level in alignment with agency priorities and strategies established by the Engagement Expansion Coordinator. This role focuses on day-to-day execution, relationship maintenance, and coordination of community-based partnerships that support children, foster families, and program operations within an assigned Texas region. The Specialist works closely with program teams to identify service needs, facilitate referrals to wrap-around supports, coordinate volunteers and community resources, and represent the agency in approved local collaborations. This position also plays a key role in information sharing, documentation, and ongoing partnership support to ensure effective service delivery and compliance with agency and regulatory requirements. Complex partnership development, expansion opportunities, and cross-regional initiatives are elevated to the Engagement Expansion Coordinator for guidance and direction.

Responsibilities

• Participate in staffings to make referrals or provide access to additional/wrap-around services for youth in the Vector Point program
• Complete and maintain accurate case files and records for participants, including official documents into the Agency’s database and in accordance to Agency policy, licensing standards, funding requirements, and other federal, state, and local regulatory requirements
• Implement community engagement strategies and priorities as established by the Engagement Expansion Coordinator to support children, foster families, and program operations within the assigned region
• Develop and maintain a strong working relationship and presence with the program operations team to identify needs, volunteer opportunities and sustain strong rapport
• Identify, develop, and solidify network of key stakeholders and partners to build strategic partnerships in conjunction with Agency initiatives and goals through definition and management of partnership framework and approach
• Develop partner strategy through collaboration with all relevant functions and programs within the Agency and manage current portfolio of strategic partners
• Represent the Agency at approved key area collaborations/coalitions
• Coordinate with External Relations to share information on potential volunteers, in-kind donors, grants and other funders to support programs in the region
• Work as team player and exhibit professional behavior and a positive attitude with both internal and external clients that reflects positively on the Agency and is consistent with Agency policies and practices
• Actively participate in exhibiting cultural awareness and sensitivity when interacting with staff and the community
• Communicate effectively and clearly; articulate an overview and the stories of Agency programs, such as program outcomes, program goals and need, and industry trends as it relates to program service population

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Counseling, Psychology, or closely related field
• One (1) year of cumulative relevant experience working with diverse stakeholders, research, foster care or child welfare environment, and/or community engagement
• Strong interpersonal and people skills with the ability to cultivate and maintain long-term relationships
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision (oversight); take initiative and be a self-starter
• Strong project management skills: ability to manage and complete multiple tasks simultaneously
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to build positive working relationships with internal and external customers
• Strong organizational and time management skills with a proven track record of meeting deadlines and juggling committing requests and tasks; strong ability to prioritize
• Ability to use creativity to plan and execute tasks; ability to be resourceful
• Ability to travel including weekends/evenings
• Proficient in Desktop publishing software, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications

• Three (3) years’ experience in child welfare; demonstrated experience with community partnership building and community engagement

Travel

• This position may be required to travel up to 20%

Perks at Upbring

• Competitive PTO & paid holidays 
• Health, dental, vision insurance & more 
• 403(b) Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounted Gym Memberships 

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• This position requires sitting and looking and using a computer for long periods of time
• Position has constant exposure to children
• Position requires frequent standing and walking
• Lift, push, pull, move up to 25 lbs.

The physical requirements for this position with or without reasonable accommodation are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. While performing this position the employee with or without reasonable accommodation should have the ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, speak, and hear with aid, see, read, reach with arms and hands, lift and/or move up to specified weight, and use equipment that is essential to performing the job, such as a computer, copier, fax machine, telephone, and automobile, if applicable. Specific vision requirements of this position may include color vision, seeing things close up, and the ability to adjust focus.

Upbring is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.