CHIEF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SPECIALIST

Code: 01105 Local Competitive

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under direction plans, organizes, and supervises activities of the community organization and/or tenant organization program; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Plans and develops policies/procedures for the community organization program concerned with federal, state, and municipal services available to community residents.
• Assigns, instructs, and supervises staff in organizing/developing community oriented programs to improve living/social conditions in the community.
• Attends community meetings and public conferences.
• Introduces the concerned public to new/proposed projects using accepted community involvement techniques.
• Gathers community input/reaction to programs, and works with local officials to see that programs meet community needs.
• Estimates community interest in programs, and seeks to ensure community participation.
• Meets with local government/agency officials to make them aware of existing community problems and assists them in trying to solve the problems.
• Participates with local government/agency officials in the determination of allocation/distribution of funds to meet community needs or to improve conditions in the community.
• Prepares recommendations to municipal departments/agencies for the need of implementing/funding community action programs as they relate to a department/agency's responsibilities and jurisdiction.
• Supervises staff and participates in organizing/providing technical assistance to community organizations.
• Prepares reports.
• Supervises establishment/maintenance of records and files.
• 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.

Experience

Five (5) years of full time experience in organizing various groups of people in such fields as trade unionism, community organization, or political action or fund raising, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

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, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of principles, techniques, and methods of community relations and organizations as they apply to residents of older urban areas.
• Knowledge of techniques used to stimulate community interest in community programs and in ensuring effective community participation.
• Knowledge of functions and relationship of government/community groups at the local, regional, and state levels.
• Ability to organize assigned technical/supervisory work, to analyze problems arising therein, and to develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assign/instruct technical and other employees and supervise the performance of their work.
• Ability to gather/disseminate information regarding community programs and community responses.
• Ability to carry on a community oriented program using all available channels/resources.
• Ability to deal directly with the public and with government agencies.
• Ability to coordinate community oriented programs with other municipal programs.
• Ability to analyze public response.
• Ability to prepare reports containing suggestions for the resolution of problems where appropriate.
• Ability to supervise maintenance of records, reports, and files.
• 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 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 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.

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.

Satisfactory completion of sixty (60) college semester hour credits may be substituted for one (1) year of nonsupervisory experience or 120 college semester hour credits may be substituted for two (2) years of nonsupervisory experience.