Job Description

Posting number: REIB Trusted Community Voices

Department: Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Job classification: Trusted Community Voices Liaison

Posting type: Open

Categories: Community and Social Services

Summary

Are you a passionate community advocate dedicated to fostering meaningful dialogue? Join our Trusted Community Voices (TCV) team to help build trust, strengthen relationships, and improve communication between Burlington’s immigrant and refugee populations and local government. The ideal applicant resides in Burlington or the immediate surrounding community and is closely connected to the Bosnian community.

We are specifically seeking candidates who are fluent in Bosnian to help us better serve this key population. In this pivotal role, you will leverage your deep community connections to amplify diverse voices and turn community insight into meaningful action. If you are a proactive communicator with a heart for service, we invite you to join our team to make a tangible impact in our city. Apply today to help us shape a more inclusive and connected community.

Trusted Community Voices (TCV) team members are members of the City of Burlington’s Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB), who serve as trusted connectors between the City of Burlington and communities that have historically experienced barriers to accessing government services, public safety resources, and civic participation. While administratively housed within the REIB, TCV team members support equitable engagement across all City departments and initiatives, helping ensure that community voices inform City policies, programs, services, and decision-making.

Culturally responsive community engagement recognizes that effective outreach must account for identity, language, history, culture, and experiences of systemic inequities. TCV team members use their lived experience, cultural knowledge, and trusted relationships to strengthen communication, build trust, reduce barriers to participation, and promote a greater sense of belonging for all Burlington community members.

Union Affiliation: Non-Union

Pay Grade: $30.00 Hourly

Please note, this role is an estimated 8 hours/week.

Examples of duties

• Attend required trainings, planning meetings, professional development opportunities, and REIB team meetings.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships within communities that have historically been underrepresented or underserved.
• Conduct culturally responsive outreach and engagement on behalf of City departments regarding programs, services, initiatives, public meetings, public safety efforts, and community resources.
• Serve as a liaison between residents and City government by facilitating meaningful two-way communication and ensuring community perspectives are shared with City staff and leadership.
• Advise City departments and REIB staff on culturally responsive engagement strategies, communication approaches, community priorities, and barriers to participation.
• Support community meetings, listening sessions, neighborhood events, workshops, and other public engagement activities throughout Burlington.
• Connect residents with appropriate City departments, community organizations, and available resources while helping to reduce barriers to access.
• Promote equitable participation in City programs, boards, commissions, planning processes, and civic engagement opportunities.
• Identify emerging community needs, concerns, and opportunities to strengthen trust and collaboration between residents and local government.
• Provide culturally responsive interactions that foster inclusion, belonging, and respectful dialogue.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism while working with sensitive community concerns and information.
• Document outreach activities and community feedback, and assist REIB and City departments in evaluating engagement efforts and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Provide candid feedback to REIB leadership and City staff regarding engagement strategies, community needs, and opportunities to improve equitable service delivery.

Guiding Principles

Trusted Community Voices team members believe that strong communities are built through trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Effective engagement recognizes the expertise that exists within every community and values authentic relationships as the foundation for equitable public service.

The TCV program seeks to:

• Build trust between community members and local government.
• Increase equitable access to information and resources.
• Ensure community voices inform City decisions.
• Promote inclusive participation across Burlington's diverse communities.
• Strengthen partnerships that contribute to safer, healthier, and more connected neighborhoods.

Qualifications

• Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional development.
• Has strong connections and credibility within one or more historically marginalized or underrepresented communities in Burlington.
• Demonstrates cultural knowledge and lived experience that supports authentic community engagement.
• Has experience or interest in community organizing, advocacy, public engagement, social services, restorative practices, public health, education, or related fields.
• Is committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging within Burlington.
• Possesses excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• Can work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.Maintains confidentiality and exercises sound judgment when handling sensitive information.
• Is able to speak and read English; additional language proficiency is highly valued.
• Demonstrates basic computer literacy, including the ability to navigate web-based systems and databases; use Microsoft Office Suite applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams); communicate effectively by email; and learn new technology platforms as needed to support program activities.

Time Commitment

• Trusted Community Voices team members generally work up to 8 hours per week, not to exceed 16 hours during a biweekly pay period, unless otherwise authorized.
• Work hours are flexible and based on community engagement activities, meetings, events, and City priorities. Some evening and weekend hours may be required to support community outreach and participation.
• Hours may vary from week to week depending on outreach initiatives, seasonal programming, and community needs.
• The Trusted Community Voices program values flexibility, collaboration, and authentic community leadership. Team members are encouraged to bring their lived experience, cultural expertise, and relationships to help create a more inclusive, connected, and responsive Burlington.

Supplemental information

Promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity.

The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work-force that mirrors the population and world that we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in employment or the provision of services.

In addition to being an equal opportunity employer we actively encourage applicants who can contribute to our growing diversity to apply.

Applications for our employment opportunities are only accepted online through our Government Jobs website.

For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at 802-540-2505 or careers@burlingtonvt.gov.