PRINCIPAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SPECIALIST

 DEFINITION:

 Under  direction in an assigned geographical area, organizes  and
 coordinates  specific  projects  and  activities  involving   the
 citizen   participation  network  in  achieving  the  community=s
 development goals; 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.

 EXAMPLES OF WORK:

 Plans community activities around a specific goal or project; for
 example,  citizen  monitoring  of  fire  hydrants  in  summer  to
 maintain water pressure.

 May be assigned to handle multiple projects at a given time.

 Helps  coordinate  activities of the citywide  network  of  block
 clubs and tenant associations.

 Attends community meetings to educate and involve residents in  
 a given activity.

 Meets  with  representatives of other departments, agencies,  and
 nongovernment organizations in relation to the implementation  of
 a  given  activity;  for example, organizing of  citizen  patrols
 would  require  cooperation with the  police  department,  and  a
 citywide blood pressure screening campaign would require  working
 with the health department and hospitals.

 Gives   leadership,  direction,  and  technical   assistance   to
 community  organization specialists in various areas in  relation
 to a given activity.

 Performs  research  necessary to plan and implement  an  assigned
 activity.

 Gathers and analyzes data including conducting surveys.

 Writes informational, educational, and motivational material  and
 reports.

 Drafts proposals including budgets.

 Helps   develop  citizen  participation  mechanisms  for   funded
 programs in accord with requirements of funding source and agency
 including   conducting  elections  and  giving   leadership   and
 direction to community organization specialists involved in  this
 activity.

 Serves in liaison capacity to various citizen boards and advisory
 boards.

 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:

      Three  (3) years of experience in organizing various  groups
 of   people   in  such  fields  as  trades  unionism,   community
 organization, political action, or fund raising.

      NOTE: Applicants who do not possess the required experience
 may  substitute college level credits from an accredited  college
 or  university on a year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester
 hour credits being equal to one year of experience.

      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
 after a period of training.

 Knowledge  of  governmental  and  nongovernmental  services   
 and programs throughout the community after a period of training.

 Knowledge  of  state and federally funded programs and  resources
 after a period of training.

 Ability  to  prepare  informational  and  motivational  material,
 reports, and other documents of moderate difficulty.

 Ability  to  organize  assigned field and  office  work,  analyze
 problems arising therein, and develop appropriate work methods.

 Ability to establish and maintain liaison with representatives of
 various  public,  private,  civic,  neighborhood,  and  religious
 groups within the jurisdiction.

 Ability  to  work with community leaders to institute,  evaluate,
 revise, and/or clarify programs.

 Ability to plan and coordinate activities and a citywide basis.

 Ability to recognize developing problems, plan preventive action,
 and conceptualize strategy.

 Ability  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, and  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
02785@
L
C
  
N/A
07
-

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.

 6/30/1997