Church & Community Engagement Specialist - 2025814

Job description

Are you a person of compassion? An advocate for justice? Someone who stands up for the rights of the vulnerable and speaks out for the marginalized, the exploited and the forgotten? Do you believe in our calling as Christians to welcome the least of these and love our neighbor? If you answered ‘yes’, to any of the above, World Relief, and millions of people around the world need you. At this pivotal moment in time, we are rapidly expanding and growing our team to meet the increasing needs of our world. We are looking for people who want to use their gifts and talents to make a real and tangible difference in our world and the lives of the suffering. If you’re looking for a purpose-driven career in which you can grow your talents, while also standing up for the rights of the vulnerable, we want you to join us today. **ORGANIZATION SUMMARY** World Relief is a global Christian humanitarian organization whose mission is to boldly engage the world’s greatest crises in partnership with the church. The organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of war-torn Europe. Since then, for 80 years, across 100 countries, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities to build a world where families thrive and communities flourish. Today, organizational programming focuses on humanitarian and disaster response, community strengthening and resilience, and refugee & immigrant services and advocacy. **POSITION SUMMARY:** The World Relief Western Washington (WRWW) Thurston County Office seeks an experienced, well-organized, and strategic-minded staff member to mobilize local community groups, churches, and individuals to join our mission of serving the vulnerable, particularly refugee and immigrant communities. This position reports to the Thurston County Site Manager and assists with public relations, marketing, and fundraising. This position also works to mobilize, train, and deploy volunteers from the community to serve refugees and other immigrants in Thurston County, with the goal of helping refugees and other immigrants flourish in every aspect of their lives. *Schedule: This is a hybrid position with 4 days in the office and 1 work from home day.* ### ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES: **Community Mobilization** - Collaborate with Thurston County Site Manager and Western Washington Outreach manager to develop and grow a diverse network of local churches and other faith communities who desire to serve, support, and advocate for refugees and other immigrants. - Equip and mobilize faith leaders, their congregations, and community members to engage refugees and immigrants in their neighborhoods. - Work with WRWW Outreach team to provide ongoing training and support for churches and other organizations who regularly engage and serve the refugee and immigrant populations through WRWW Thurston. - Regular public speaking at community groups, churches, schools, and public events. - Coordinate video conferences and webinars to inform and educate the community on issues relevant to the needs of refugee and immigrant communities. - Work closely with Site Manager and WRWW Outreach Manager to implement a strategy for sustainable volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and involvement in the mission of WRWW Thurston. - Participate in staff and departmental meetings in Thurston office, WRWW Outreach Team, and with WRWW External Engagement Team. **Public Relations/ Marketing/ Fundraising** - Collaborate with WRWW External Engagement team in planning, executing, and evaluating events, marketing campaigns, and fundraising initiatives. - Coordinate with Communications Coordinator to provide Thurston-specific material for social media, electronic, and print informational campaigns. - Cultivate lasting relationships with partner churches and individual donors, soliciting contributions and expressing appreciation for their support. ### JOB REQUIREMENTS: - Mature and personal Christian faith - Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief - Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities - Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs [Core Beliefs](https://worldrelief.org/values/), [Statement of Faith](https://worldrelief.org/statement-of-faith-details/), [Christian Identity](https://worldrelief.org/content/uploads/2022/06/Towards-a-Fresh-Embrace-of-our-Christian-Identity-2.pdf) and [National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document](https://www.nae.org/for-the-health-of-the-nation-publication/) - Valid driver's license, access to reliable vehicle and ability to pass MVR standards - Strong public speaking, writing, and interpersonal skills - Ability to work with partners from a wide range of faith perspectives - Previous experience working with vulnerable populations, especially refugees and immigrants - Previous experience organizing groups or volunteers - Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively with people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds ### PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: - Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited university in a relevant field. Bible school or seminary background preferred. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and Outlook, as well as ability to create and manage data - Self-motivated and able to plan and achieve goals with minimal supervision - Capable of working regular evenings and weekends when an event requires attendance