COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SPECIALIST

 DEFINITION:

 Under direction in an assigned geographical area, participates in
 achieving the city's community development goals by organizing
 residents into an ongoing citizen participation network, with emphasis
 on block clubs and tenant organizations; does other related duties as
 required.

 NOTE: The examples of work for this title are for illustrative
 purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform
 all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties
 performed on the job may not be listed.

 NOTE: Appointments may be made to positions requiring 
 bilingual skills.

 07260 - Bilingual in Spanish and English
 SPECIAL SKILL
 Applicants must be able to read, write, speak, understand, or 
 communicate in Spanish and English sufficiently to perform 
 the duties of this position.

 EXAMPLES OF WORK:

 Conducts door-to-door visits and establishes communication with
 residents and existing organizations in the area (social clubs, PTAs,
 and so forth).

 Participates in civic activities to give leadership by example.

 Maintains a positive outlook when giving leadership to the public.

 Communicates with the public by writing and disseminating
 informational and motivational material such as leaflets.

 Arranges public meetings.

 Trains residents in activities necessary for them to assist the
 administration in accomplishing the city's community development
 goals; for example, to develop and maintain a community garden, to
 establish a tutoring program for neighborhood youth, to participate as
 a group in cooperative wholesale purchasing.

 Helps residents express ideas, formulate goals, and devise techniques
 for achieving them.

 Participates in projects or campaigns affecting the area.

 Is responsible for outreach work for all city departments and agencies
 that give services in the area.

 Recruits for city, state, and federal agencies.

 Provides training and technical assistance to residents in setting up
 their organizations, conducting meetings, preparing bylaws, and so
 forth.

 Gathers data which will help the agency in responding to citizens'
 needs, including conducting specific surveys.

 Helps develop citizen participation mechanisms when required for
 funded programs, including assisting in conducting elections.

 Writes reports.

 Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
 and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency,
 office, or related units.


 REQUIREMENTS:

      EXPERIENCE:

 One (1) year of experience in some aspect of organizing groups of
 people in such fields as trade unionism, community organization,
 political action, or fundraising.

      LICENSE:

 Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid
 in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee
 mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

 KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

 Knowledge of community residents and characteristics of the area, and
 of available services and programs in the area.

 Ability to perform research in the community.

 Ability to recognize and develop potential leaders in the community.

 Ability to conduct meetings.

 Ability to recognize developing social problems and recommend
 preventive action to avert crises.

 Ability to plan activities for small groups.

 Ability to suggest strategies for realization of community
 expectations.

 Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual
 recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or
 related units.

 Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English
 sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign
 Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
 communication.

 Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as
 they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable
 accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation
 cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship,
 such persons may not be eligible.

This job specification is applicable to the following title code:
Job
Spec
Code
Variant
State,
Local or
Common
Class of
Service
Work
Week
State
Class
Code
Local
Class
Code
Salary
Range
Note
01303
L
C
  
N/A
03
-

This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.

 4/29/1997