Community Relations Coordinator

Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world. We embrace discovery in a close and nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse, sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and practice.

At Pacific University, we thrive in an extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. We humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, and acquire and share knowledge.

Salary Range: $47,000-66,000

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The Pacific Opportunity Hub serves as the university’s center for ensuring that every Pacific student—regardless of background, starting point, or life circumstance—has access to the guidance, experiences, and global and civic opportunities needed to translate a Pacific education into meaningful work, engaged citizenship, and long-term economic mobility. The Pacific Opportunity Hub promotes the integration of academic programs, career development, applied and experiential learning, and strategic community engagement to prepare world-ready and purpose-driven graduates. 

The Community Relations Coordinator works on the Pacific Opportunity Hub team at Pacific University. We seek to inspire students to connect their experiences inside and outside the classroom to a meaningful future and empower them to actively engage in their academic and career development. The focus of this position will be on relationships, communications, marketing, and coordination related to that vision. The Community Relations Coordinator will work collaboratively with unit administrators and staff to locate and develop job and experiential learning opportunities for students and coordinate programs that enhance the educational value of student work and field experiences.

 
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary responsibilities include four central areas:

1) Community and Employer Relations,

2) Program Coordination,

3) Student Job Search Support,

4) Events & Communication:
 
Community and Employer Relations  

Provide support to employers and other community partners with the goal of connecting them with students to access educational experiences and post-graduation opportunities, including:

• Engage with undergraduate and graduate students to better understand their needs with student employment and help facilitate connections to jobs and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Cultivate a welcoming and inclusive environment that facilitates student connections to -- and positive experiences with -- employers and student supervisors (of work study, internships, practica, civic engagement, and other community-based learning).
• Conduct outreach and provide support to potential employers to expand off-campus job opportunities for currently enrolled students including Federal Work Study, Non-Work Study, and other student employment opportunities.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with employers and student supervisors.
•  Act as a liaison between campus and community employers and supervisors, including facilitating connections between campus and industry/employer representatives for class talks, advisory roles, recruitment events, etc.
• Manage job search platforms (i.e., Handshake), including helping students and employers to access and engage with the platforms.
• Represent the office to the public, employers, and university partners.

 
Program Coordination  

Coordinate programs that provide job and experiential learning opportunities for students and enhance the educational value of student work and field experiences, including:

Community Service Work Study

• Meet and work directly with students who are seeking a CSWS position.
• Coordinate Community Service Work Study (CSWS) supervisor recruitment, application process, and support HRIS (i.e., Paycom) onboarding/ troubleshooting in collaboration with university Human Resources office.
• Manage budget for CSWS program.
• Provide training and support to supervisors.
• Conduct site visits and meet with supervisors on and off campus. 
• Serve as a point person to interface between three distinct groups: community partners, students, and Pacific University.

Job Location & Development Program

• Administer job search software (e.g. Handshake) and related employer databases and office systems.
• Create and maintain JLD program materials.
• Administer JLD survey; track and report data for and act in compliance with federal Job Location & Development Program.

Student Job Search Support

• Meet with students who are seeking employment and provide support around the job search process.
• Support the development of core career competencies embedded into curricular and non-curricular programming.
• Provide support for job-seeking students with applications, personal statements, resumes, CVs, LinkedIn development, and mock interviews.
• Contribute to career services programming, such as workshops and office hours to support students currently looking for employment on or off campus.
• Collaborate with Opportunity Hub staff to provide coordinated support, share resources and models and contribute to a team environment of service delivery.

 
Events & Communications  

• Oversee events and communications, including:
• Host and coordinate campus visits by community stakeholders (such as recruiting events, job fairs, tabling opportunities).
• Collaborate with Pacific University staff and other stakeholders to coordinate planning and implementation of programs (such as Work & Service Fairs), including tasks such as supervising student staff during events, reserving rooms, and ordering catering.
• Create marketing and publicity plans for programs and events; coordinate use of social media and similar communications tools to promote opportunities to students.
• Develop best practices for ensuring communications effectively reach all relevant constituencies, with an emphasis on integrating communications into existing Pacific platforms (e.g. listserves, Handshake, digital signage, university calendars); cultivate and maintain communication systems related to academic communities (i.e. undergraduate schools and graduate programs) to facilitate getting the right opportunities in front of the right students.
• Provide logistical and coordinating support for students and community representatives planning events or programs related to the Pacific Opportunity Hub.

 
SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:
The Community Relations Coordinator will have additional responsibilities in the operation and promotion of the unit to complement the work of other staff and continue to advance advising, career planning, and experiential learning at Pacific.  In particular, the person in this position may:

• Supervise student workers or interns.
• Strive to ensure that community relations, programs, and communications support the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion, sustainability, and community responsibility embedded in the university mission.
• Update website and create and maintain print and digital materials and office systems.
• Provide administrative support as needed to the unit staff and team efforts.
• Attend weekly staff meetings, participate in professional development activities, and collaborate with co-workers as a proactive team member.
• Serve the college and university through governance, student support, committee representation, or other means.
• Maintain a working knowledge of local and national employment market trends and their actual and potential impact on the hiring of college students and graduates.
• Other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree 
• Two years of professional experience related to job location and development, such as career advising or coaching; relationship management, and/or acting as a liaison
• Two years of experience (including experience as a student) with communication systems, email programs, publicity, marketing, and/or social media with demonstrated ability to manage communications effectively.
• One year of experience (including experience as a student) with event planning or program coordination. 

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bilingual skills and/or strong intercultural communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work with students, faculty, staff and community partners in a professional manner.
• Demonstrates responsibility and critical thinking skills in problem solving and decision-making.
• Asks questions and seeks assistance; open to continued professional development.
• Demonstrates confidentiality regarding information pertaining to all students, faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed project work and/or track budgets or other data. 
• Familiarity with office technologies such as Google Drive and Box or other cloud-based storage solutions and demonstrates ability to use them effectively for file management.
• Familiarity with social media (i.e., Instagram & LinkedIn) and how it may be used in reaching college student audiences.

 
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Office environment primarily on Forest Grove campus with periodic presence at Hillsboro campus; on-site with limited remote and field work. Regular participation in large scale events with considerable ambient noise and dozens of people in attendance. Typical workday hours with just a few potential evening obligations. Local travel may be required. Must possess a valid driver's license. Must be able to pass a criminal background check. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, please upload your resume,  cover letter and three professional references along with your Paycom application.  Persons who do not follow and complete the application process are not applicants and will not be considered for employment.

Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. During the selection process, we will strive to provide timely notifications. The selection process may vary from recruitment to recruitment but typically includes multiple interviews and may take several weeks depending on the position. All qualified applicants will be notified once the selection process has closed.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and continue to work without employer visa sponsorship, now or in the future.

At Pacific University, we are dedicated to offering experiences that are authentic, holistic, equity-minded, and responsive. Our communal success rests on the recognition that complex problems and effective solutions are best approached by teams with a variety of diverse perspectives. and life experiences. As we continue to develop our equity practices, we actively promote access to opportunities and equitable pay for all employees.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs where they are unsure if they can perform every function in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about how your background and skill set may qualify you for the role.

We, who make up Pacific University, aspire to become a community of purpose where everyone is enabled to be wholly and comfortably who they are; accountable for inclusive behaviors and practices; built on trust, civility, care, openness, and honest conversations often around critical subjects. We know that these values are critical to prepare for a global world with complex problems, through an asset-based mindset so that everyone is afforded an opportunity to succeed. We believe in fostering a workplace where every employee is respected, their contributions are valued, and they are provided opportunities to succeed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for qualifying employees. Current benefits include:

• Generous paid time off (for vacation, holidays—including winter break—and sick leave)
• Medical coverage with alternative care options (with in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction)
• Comprehensive dental and vision plans
• Generous retirement contribution after one year of service with no match required
• Free mental health appointments
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependent child(ren) who meet eligibility requirements
• On-campus benefits, including free access to our sports facility and library
• Discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services, and outdoor program gear rentals (including kayaks, snowshoes, and bikes)

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT

Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all applicable laws, including those concerning employment and workplace policies. We are committed to fostering a non-discriminatory and inclusive work environment. We are proud to encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented groups.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

Pacific University makes all employment decisions without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law. Applicable laws include, but are not limited to, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Questions or complaints may be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs at 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116 or via email at [email protected].