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Job Opening – Community Engagement Manager 2021

Position Description

The position is year-round from 30 to 40 hours per week. The work schedule is flexible, although an agreed-upon schedule of deadlines will determine the workflow. Compensation is commensurate with experience, starting at $22.00/hour plus benefits. This is an at-will position hired, supervised and evaluated by OPAL’s Director of Outreach.

Responsibilities

The Community Engagement Manager informs, educates, and engages community members in OPAL’s work through stories, publications, videos, events, and volunteer activities. Specifically, the responsibilities are:

• Storytelling: Interview people and write or edit content for written word and video essays.
• Producing Print, Digital and Video Communications: Create, write and edit content for print newsletters, impact reports, campaign updates, thank you messages, e-blast messages, website content, social media posts, and video content. Coordinate production with volunteers and independent contractors for graphic design, photography and video.
• Media and Community Relations: Manage contacts with relevant media outlets; develop and distribute timely news releases about OPAL’s activities, accomplishments and events; anticipate and pro-actively reach out to neighbors of OPAL projects when development is planned and in process.
• Events: Plan and coordinate implementation of events that engage and strengthen relationships with supporters. These include but are not limited to the annual meeting, and selected donor cultivation/stewardship gatherings.
• Planning: Work with the Outreach Committee and other staff to develop and implement annual and long-range communications plans that demonstrate the need and impact of OPAL’s work.
• C.R.M. Tracking and Analysis: Track supporter and volunteer activities in Salesforce. Create campaigns targeted to discrete audiences, and generate reports to analyze the effectiveness of communications efforts.
• Photography and Photo Archives: Take photographs and maintain relationships with photographers, and collect and maintain a searchable inventory of photos for communications and marketing purposes.
• Volunteer Program: Engage supporters to learn how they like to be involved, track volunteer time and provide proper expressions of gratitude.
• Office Support: Provide back-up for OPAL’s office manager by answering the phone, greeting visitors, and completing occasional office tasks as necessary or as assigned by supervisor.

Skills and Qualifications

1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
2. An active listener with an ability to work well with diverse individuals and balance a variety of needs;
3. A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on doing many things concurrently;
4. High energy and collaborative work style that draws out the best in each member of a team including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and supporters;
5. Maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels;
6. Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives;
7. Excellent computer and cloud computing skills. Regular use of Word, Excel, Salesforce, Word Press, Facebook. Preference for familiarity with Photoshop and design/layout software, such as InDesign;
8. Spanish language capability a plus; and
9. Interest in and commitment to affordable housing, sustainable economic development and a healthy island community.

Experience

• At least five years of comparable work experience with communications and publications;
• Candidates selected for interviews will be asked to provide references and a portfolio of writing samples, photography and/or graphic design products.

To Apply for the Position

Send or deliver a cover letter and resume to Lisa Byers, Executive Director, OPAL Community Land Trust. Email submittal with attachments preferred to opalclt@opalclt.org.

Position is open until filled. The initial deadline for applications is Monday, July 19 at 12:00p.m. (noon) by email or at the office of OPAL Community Land Trust, (Physical location: 286 Enchanted Forest Road, #B101, Eastsound). Mailing address: PO Box 1133, Eastsound, WA 98245.

Gifts enable OPAL to acquire 30 acres for future affordable housing

OPAL Community Land Trust recently purchased nearly 30 acres of land in Eastsound.

In keeping with OPAL’s long-term strategy of thoughtfully stewarding land for the benefit of the community and assuring that Orcas islanders will have access to homes they can afford, the board of trustees took action to acquire the property with a vision of affordable housing in future years.

To read the full article from the Islands’ Sounder click here.

To read the full article for The Orcasonian click here.

Lisa Update: Keeping Islanders in Their Homes

It’s a new world, and your team at OPAL is adapting. We’re learning new ways to stay connected, new “work from home” routines, and are striving to take frequent, deep, full breaths. Speaking of which, how about we each take this moment … one big breath in … one big breath out … thanks for joining me!

 

A brief update:

 

1. Julie and Jeanne are meeting (virtually) with any islander who asks for help to pay the rent or mortgage on their home. Numerous state and federal actions have been announced to help people pay their bills, and we’ll assist folks in navigating those programs. In addition, thanks to generous donations to the Community Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, OPAL will be able to make some direct payments to landlords or banks when that’s the best solution. Our top priority is to keep people in their homes.
2. The Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order identified exemptions for certain essential activities. Projects like April’s Grove that are providing much-needed affordable housing are considered essential. Therefore, construction will continue as long as suppliers are able to deliver. The crews working on site have adopted new protocols to keep workers healthy.

 

Despite the difficulties and challenges, I’m feeling grateful every day.

• Grateful to live in a neighborhood where we’re looking out for one another with shared grocery, pharmacy and take-out food runs.
• Grateful for your support and belief that housing is a basic human need.
• Grateful that our island community is pulling together to make it through this challenge.

 

Stay well, and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about OPAL’s activities.

 

From my home to yours,

Lisa

OPAL’s Response to COVID-19

It is better to light a tiny candle, than to rage at the darkness.

– Chinese Proverb

The COVID-19 virus is changing our lives. Your team at OPAL is doing our best to be part of a supportive response.  Here’s a quick update to let you know what we are doing:

 

1. OPAL is part of the Orcas Response Team, a collaborative effort of island non-profits addressing community needs. The team is meeting weekly to review needs and develop plans. One tool is a website where people can post needs and volunteer or donate goods and services.  It’s an islander-to-islander system. Check it out at orcas.recovers.org.
2. OPAL is also part of the Community Foundation’s Recovery Fund. The Fund’s advisory panel will meet weekly to review financial needs coming from non-profit organizations and to make distributions of funds weekly.  At some later date funding may be available from government sources, but the first wave of need is best served by local people.

   OPAL’s role is to help any Orcas islanders who are unable to pay their mortgage or rent.  We will work with each person in need to find the right solution. We’ll contact banks or landlords to see if they can delay receipt of payment. If not, we’ll make loans or forgivable payments to their landlord or bank. Our work may be eased a bit if Governor Inslee enacts a statewide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures based on lack of payment, but eventually rents and mortgages will need to be paid.

   Donations to the Orcas Recovery Fund to help people impacted financially by loss of wages or other COVID-19 related impacts can be made through the Community Foundation here.

3. OPAL’s staff and trustees are continuing to work. Although our office is closed to the public, we are using the phone, video conferencing, email, etc. We are grateful for robust and reliable fiber optic internet, and grateful to live in a community with such a strong support network.

 

If you are able to help keep OPAL operating during this time, we welcome your support.

 

–Your team at OPAL