Community Engagement Specialist

POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The Community Engagement Specialist (CES) will work to promote the Washtenaw
County Conservation District (WCCD), generate engagement for all WCCD Programs,
coordinate two large annual District events, lead annual report creation, facilitate the
natural resources assessment survey every five years, and recruit and engage
volunteers. The CES will create templates, guidelines, and processes for staff to
ensure consistency in branding and outreach and identify goals and subsequent
measurements for tracking impact. Content may include written materials,
brochures/flyers, postcards, printed/emailed newsletters, social media, radio,
television, newsletters, reports, press releases, etc. The CES will provide additional
support to grant funded staff when funds and capacity exist.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Reports to: Resource Specialist
Supervises: N/A currently
Works with: All WCCD staff
External Stakeholders: Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s
Office, Washtenaw County Public Works, Project Red,
Huron River Watershed Council, Pollinator Partnership, etc.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all the following essential functions.
These examples do not include all the duties which the employee may be expected to perform. To
perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function
satisfactorily.
1. Outreach & Promotion (45%)
 Planning
 Collaborate with staff to create a comprehensive outreach plan
and schedule incorporating all programs and events.
 Communicate outreach plan details to relevant staff. Work with
specific staff on finalizing outreach plans as needed.
 Manage the Outreach Budget, currently a sub-class of the
General Budget, including estimating costs, drafting a budget,
staying within budget, and timely submittal of credit card
receipts.
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 Annual Events
 Lead on the WCCD Annual Meeting event planning and
execution under the advisement of the Executive Director.
Recruit volunteers and train staff on roles.
 Lead on Native Plant Expo & Marketplace event planning,
development, and execution under the advisement of the
Resource Specialist. Recruit volunteers and train staff on roles.
 Support the CTAP Technician with the planning and
implementation of Field Day.
 General
 Attend, or coordinate volunteers/staff to attend, strategic
partner events and career fairs to promote the WCCD.
 Coordinate staff to update office outreach & education displays
with program and event information, and technical sheets.
 Assist with WCCD programs and events as feasible.
 Execute the planning, development, and distribution of the
annual report with assistance from the Executive Director.
 Every five years, lead the development and execution of the
natural resource assessment survey, including revising and
revamping of questions, methodology, and distribution
pathways for gathering data with support from the Executive
Director.
 Advise on public relations and respond to media inquiries.
 Grant Outreach
 As dictated by grant funding, or as time allows, assist grant
sponsored staff with the development and dissemination of
outreach materials. Share content created by grant partners on
the WCCD platforms.
2. Content Maintenance and Creation (25%)
 Create templates that staff can use to quickly design postcards, flyers,
factsheets, etc. using coherent branding guidelines for submission to
CES. Review, edit, and disseminate outreach materials as needed for all
sales/events/programs to meet attendee goals and other deliverables.
 For specified projects where budget permits, solicit quotes and
coordinate with graphic designer and printing contractor.
 Manage public content schedules and source content from staff and
partners (monthly e-newsletter, social media, targeted e-mails,
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postcards, website, etc.). Oversee cross-program promotion/marketing
schedules and revise processes as needed.
 Update website content to maintain accurate information about
programs, upcoming events, and office closures.
3. Volunteer Coordination (15%)
 Develop and expand recruitment methods to attract volunteers to
events.
 Expand opportunities for volunteer assistance.
 Coordinate volunteer schedules and roles for three plant sales events.
 Develop post-event surveys for volunteers and adjust based on
feedback.
4. Partnerships (5%)
 Represent WCCD on the Project Red Steering Committee and MACD
Education Committee.
 Organize and maintain countywide natural resource outreach group
with Legacy Land Conservancy, City of Ann Arbor Greenbelt Program,
and Washtenaw County Water Resources.
 Staff liaison with “Friends of WCCD” group, once established.
5. Training (5%)
 Create Employee Development Plan (EDP) and seek approval from
Supervisor to attend trainings.
 Attend quarterly staff retreats, and other required trainings.
 Learn and integrate project management software and time
management tracking (Toggl/Asana).
6. General WCCD (5%)
 Assist with general WCCD events as needed.
 Attend WCCD staff meetings, including in-person and virtual.
 Submit monthly board report, attend board meetings as requested.
 Assist with WCCD annual and long-term planning as requested.
 Meet with Supervisor for quarterly check-in and as needed.
 Complete annual performance review with Supervisor.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & ABILITIES:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities,
and minimum qualifications necessary to perform the essential functions of the
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position. These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified
individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.

1. Experience equivalent to or possession of a bachelor’s degree in marketing,
social marketing, communications, journalism, public administration, planning,
community development, or a related field.
a. 3+ years of experience in marketing and brand development and
management.
b. 3+ years of experience with meeting and event facilitation and public
speaking.
c. 3+ years of experience managing social media platform accounts and
growing community engagement.
2. Excellent communication skills - both written and verbal - addressing a variety
of audiences. Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise and high quality
written, printed and virtual materials, and presentations. Attention to detail is
critical.
3. Demonstrated ability to set priorities, coordinate multiple projects, meet
deadlines, and perform a variety of professional-level program and project
management work without close supervision.
4. Excellent computer skills, including Excel. Computer workstation will be
provided, including a standard PC, on a shared network with Windows
software.
5. Must maintain a valid driver’s license.
6. Willingness to travel regularly for local partner events, meetings, and site visits
within the county and occasionally regionally.
7. Must be able to pass a security background check.
PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS & ABILITIES:
1. Knowledge of conservation, natural resources, and local environmental
concerns.
2. Strong social and interpersonal skills. Comfort and familiarity with group
facilitation techniques, including consensus building and conflict resolution.
3. Comfortable working collaboratively as well as independently, giving
direction, and setting realistic goals and expectations.
4. Self-motivated and goal-oriented in developing communications pathways,
identifying and engaging stakeholders, and selecting metrics to measure
improvement.
5. Comfortable with in-office, hybrid, and remote working environments.
6. Experience with project and time management software (e.g. ASANA/Toggl).
7. Experience with design, marketing, and web development tools (e.g. Drupal
CMS, Canva or Adobe design, FormSite).
8. Experience working cooperatively with coworkers and partner organizations.
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PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are
representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential
functions of the job. These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise
qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.
1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to
talk, hear, stand, walk; use hands; reach with arms; lift and/or move items of
light to heavy weights (up to 40 pounds), including group or solo
event/presentation setup and clean-up. The employee is occasionally required
to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
2. Occasional fieldwork may be required, with potential exposure to heat, cold,
inclement weather, stinging and biting insects, rash inducing plants, uneven
terrain, moving mechanical parts and/or machinery, and loud noises.
3. Ability to work in-person at the office to assist with answering calls and walk-ins
from the public as well as capacity to work remotely (strong internet
connection, quiet workspace, self-discipline, etc.).
SALARY, BENEFITS, WORK HOURS, LOCATION
Anticipated start date is 11/17/2025 or 12/1/2025. The WCCD office is located at the
Washtenaw County Service Building at 705 N. Zeeb Rd, #201, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103.
Work time will generally be split between the main WCCD office, remote (home)
office, and field/event work. Typical work hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am –
4:30pm. Some evening and weekend work will be required.
This is a full time, FLSA exempt, partially grant-funded salary position between
$52,000-$60,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. As a full-time,
exempt employee, the CES is entitled to the WCCD’s benefits package, which includes
full medical insurance (approx. $8,500 value) or ability to waive this benefit and take as a
taxable cash payment or retirement contribution, 13 paid vacation days, 13 paid sick
days, 13 paid holidays, and 2.5 hours of flextime per week. Other benefits as described
in the Employee Handbook.
ABOUT THE WCCD
The WCCD is a local government agency and has played a significant role in assisting
residents and landowners with access to trees, plants, and conservation tools in
Washtenaw County since 1948. Our mission is to assist residents with the
conservation, management, and wise use of natural resources in Washtenaw County.
Since 1951 the WCCD has distributed over 7.1 million trees, shrubs, and native plants
for various conservation purposes.
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TO APPLY
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for two professional
references by email to [email protected] by 8 a.m. on November 7th, 2025.
(However, interviews will begin as early as October 20th on a rolling basis, so early
submissions are encouraged.) Please combine all application materials into one PDF
file for review and state “CES Application” in the email subject line. Contact Doug
Reith at the above email address with any questions related to the position. To obtain
further information about the WCCD visit our website at
The Washtenaw County Conservation District does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual
orientation, marital status, military service, disability or other non-merit factor