Director, Advocacy and Community Engagement, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

POSITION SUMMARY:
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to fill the Director position for the Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) department. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Community Advocacy and Family Supports, this role is pivotal in advancing the agency’s commitment to serving communities in need, amplifying community voices, and fostering engagement to promote economic equity and economic mobility. ACE serves as the primary driver of outreach to parishes and the community within the organization. The Director will lead various programs focused on outreach and community engagement, parish partnerships, grassroots community organizing and volunteerism across the agency. A key focus will be implementing the agency’s engagement in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan, with a specific emphasis on convening parish outreach networks, social justice initiatives, connecting and organizing with parish communities across the diocese, and addressing the root causes of socio-economic disparities.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate strategic leadership skills and possess a deep passion for community service and engagement. Collaboration will be fundamental, requiring the ability to cultivate strong relationships and work closely with various stakeholders including parishes and other entities within the Diocese of San Jose to drive positive community change.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership and Vision Development

• Ensure alignment between the agency’s long-range plan and the progress towards its goals. Provide strategic leadership for parish partnerships, community engagement, volunteer services, and advocacy in line with the mission and priorities outlined in the long-range plan.
• Cultivate a culture of collaboration, effective communication, shared learning, continuous improvement, and accountability among team members, leveraging their talents for organizational success.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic vision for the Advocacy & Community Engagement Department in alignment with the agency’s long-range plan to disrupt poverty.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Recruit, train, supervise, develop leadership and support staff in accordance with CCSCC human resource policies and procedures.
• Foster an environment that motivates and inspires staff to work collaboratively toward goals; establish annual program, department and staff goals and objectives; track results against these goals as well as accountability protocols; provide guidance to proactively troubleshoot program performance.
• Establish performance metrics and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of advocacy and community engagement activities.
• Implement and support professional development opportunities and training to enhance staff skills and knowledge in advocacy, community engagement, social justice, Catholic social teaching, and trauma-informed care.

Advocacy and Community Engagement

• Supervise the Parish Engagement programs, including Handicapables, fostering partnerships with Diocese of San Jose parishes to expand agency services and address social justice issues effectively.
• Drive the expansion of trauma-informed peer accompaniment teams, ensuring a comprehensive approach to supporting individuals and families on their paths out of poverty.
• Provide supervision to the Community Engagement program team, offering strategic guidance for collaborations within the diocese.
• Supervise the Outreach and Community Organizing (OCO) team, fostering teams of promotoras dedicated to outreach and amplifying community voices in strategically targeted neighborhoods, in alignment with the agency’s long-term plan.
• Offer strategic leadership for the department’s support of family-centric, neighborhood-based wraparound services at parish and community sites, fostering sustainable community development.
• Spearhead the agency’s volunteer strategy and oversee the volunteer program’s implementation, including recruitment, training, coordination, and retention. Cultivate strategic partnerships with corporate, community, and parish stakeholders to advance the agency’s mission.

Collaboration and Networking

• Convene Catholic social services organizations and ministries throughout the diocese, developing the capacity of parish outreach efforts, fostering training, networking opportunities, and enhancing collaboration for greater collective impact.
• Foster close collaboration with community social justice partners to advocate for and amplify community voices, with a special emphasis on working closely with the diocesan Office of Life, Justice, and Peace to organize and deliver training sessions to parishes on pertinent social justice matters, promoting alignment with the agency’s mission.
• Facilitate the formation of a diocesan task force on preventing housing displacement, promoting collaborative efforts to tackle complex societal challenges.
• Collaborate with the diocese and other internal departments to support and organize diocesan Mental Health Ministries, advocating for mental health awareness and support within the community.

Data Analysis

• Drive data-driven initiatives to evaluate program impact, identify areas for improvement, and shape program design for enduring positive results.
• Oversee the collection and analysis of data to assess program effectiveness in uplifting families out of poverty, guiding strategic planning for future initiatives.
• Provide comprehensive reports on program impact based on data analysis.

Financial Management & Fund Development

• Develop and oversee program budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and efficient allocation of resources to maximize program impact; consult closely with the Fiscal Department on monthly revenues and expenses to ensure budget is maintained and breaks even.
• Seek and secure funding opportunities through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships to sustain and expand program services.
• Oversee grants and contracts to ensure timely completion of promised deliverables and communication with funders; design and adapt service delivery methods to meet regulatory, contractual obligations and client needs.
• Support the development team and annual parish appeal for major support of ACE.
• In collaboration with the compliance and quality assurance departments, manage programs and staff to create a constructive culture that assures that CCSCC staff can meet contract requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., social work, public administration, communications, theology). Master’s degree highly preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience in a nonprofit or community-based organization, with a focus on advocacy, community engagement, and program management.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proven ability to inspire and lead a diverse team, effectively manage programs, and drive strategic initiatives.
• Experience in organizing and training volunteer networks for outreach or social action.
• Background in social services, volunteer management, and/or community development.
• Demonstrate a passion for social justice and community empowerment.
• Experience in cultivating and managing partnerships, particularly with Catholic institutions such as dioceses and parishes’ to cultivate relationships with parishes and across diocesan structures including with pastors, lay ministers and diocesan task forces.
• Demonstrate a deep knowledge of, and a commitment to, Catholic social teaching.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed approaches and peer support programs.
• Proven track record of collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including religious organizations, social service agencies, and community leaders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate the organization’s mission, engage diverse audiences, and convey complex social justice issues.
• Experience in providing leadership, guidance, and mentorship to program staff, creating a positive and supportive work environment.
• Proficiency in financial management, including budget development, monitoring, and securing funding for programs.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work at a desk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer workstation.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to travel to agency sites within Santa Clara County.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Criminal background check via livescan fingerprint.
• Must have TB test performed and submit results.
• Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster status.
• Automobile, valid driver’s license and auto insurance per agency policy; or have access to reliable transportation

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work may be performed at multiple sites, generally in an office environment.
• Home facility is located at Zanker headquarters.
• Some work will be spent driving a vehicle on community roads.

HOURS AND OTHER CONDITIONS:

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• This is a full-time, exempt position. Hours will vary on the basis of client availability and agency operation including some evenings and weekends.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons receiving services in our programs are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.

Travel Required

How to Apply: Email to Danielle Fae Patubo, dcancino@catholiccharitiesscc.org