Job Announcement:

LiKEN & Martin County Concerned Citizens seek Community Engagement Coordinator

Posted: June 4, 2021 Application deadline: June 25, 2021 or until position is filled

We seek a full-time community organizer to work on community development projects in eastern Kentucky. The position will be based primarily in Martin and surrounding counties. The initial contract will be for one year, with the potential to become a permanent position.

Job Description: We are looking for an energetic individual with a passion to contribute to the wellbeing of communities in eastern Kentucky. We seek someone who enjoys working with people. A key responsibility will be to organize outreach and recruit participants in various community development projects. Your role will be to motivate and support people as they come together to identify needs and to solve problems in their locales. You will play an essential role in building effective communication and collaboration among diverse partners in this work — including community members and nonprofits, local and state officials, and researchers. Your first responsibility is to listen deeply to the diverse perspectives within the communities you serve. Other responsibilities will be to conduct educational and planning workshops, write reports, and to build leadership and skills among project participants. In 2021-22, this job will focus on projects to improve the safety and affordability of drinking water and to document problems of heirs’ property (e.g., land that has been passed on without a will to multiple descendents) across many counties in eastern KY.

Background: This position is co-managed by Martin County Concerned Citizens (MCCC) and the Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN). MCCC is a grassroots organization based in Inez, KY. Its mission is to help the citizens of Martin County in their pursuit of safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water and to give them a voice in their own community. LiKEN is a linktank, based in Lexington, KY www.likenknowledge.org. LiKEN’s mission is to help communities to grow good livelihoods based on local assets, to build community health and wealth, and to take evidence-based action for future well-being based on deep understanding of the past. We work on projects to protect and care for resources that people depend on for basic life needs — such as safe and affordable water, healthy forests and food, vibrant culture, equitable and dependable access to land and public revenues, etc.

Responsibilities Include:

1. Recruit new project participants

2. Plan and implement action plans

3. Conduct research

4. Train members in organizing and leadership skills

5. Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing

6. Plan and generate turnout for events

7. Help members in their contacts with public officials and researchers and help to translate between, and overcome miscommunication among, community members, officials, and researchers

Essential Qualifications:

1. A self-starter with the ability to work independently, think strategically, and be organized in a fast paced work environment

2. Demonstrated experience in bringing people together and guiding them towards collective action

3. Ability to complete complex assignments in a timely manner, to conduct research with accuracy and attention to details, and to document activities adequately for other team members

4. Strong speaking and writing skills

5. Skills in conflict resolution

6. Familiarity with computers and Microsoft Office

7. Bachelor’s Degree

Personal characteristics

1. Commitment to MCCC and LiKEN’s goals and values

2. Ability to get along well with people from diverse backgrounds

3. Kind, empathic, and community-oriented

4. Desire to seek out and learn from feedback

5. Respectful of human differences and non judgemental

6. Ability to work some evenings and weekends, and to occasionally travel out of town for 3-4 days at a time

7. Residence in one of the counties served by our projects

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Personal and / or family roots in, and first-hand experience of Appalachian KY, and a good understanding of the region’s history and issues

2. Experience with online organizing and outreach tools

3. College-level courses in Appalachian Studies as well as courses in water or other environmental or natural sciences

Salary and Benefits:

Starting salary $31k-$38k, depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance coverage, two weeks’ paid vacation, retirement program.

Application must include: cover letter (tell us why you are interested in the job), resume, contact information for 3 professional references

Send application materials to: Betsy Taylor, director@likenknowledge.org.

All documents should be in either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf).