Manager of Learning and Engagement

Description
Created in 2018, Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy’s role is to “Tell the Story of Freedom” by protecting and preserving Freedmen’s Town, and by educating and engaging visitors from around the world about the unique and revelatory history of this largely untold chapter of Houston’s and America’s past. The Conservancy has undertaken a variety of initiatives: the creation of historic and heritage districts;
an augmented reality app that reveals Freedmen’s Town’s many layers; and a Visitors Center to harness the burgeoning interest in African American history. In physical and virtual form, Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy is making Freedmen’s Town accessible to the world.

Position
(Contract to Full-Time)
The Manager of Learning and Engagement develops and manages HFTC community outreach, programs and activities in support of Freedmen’s Town programs, projects and initiatives.

Responsibilities
• Supports the development and coordination of all programs/projects including research, collection, live events, publishing, education and interpretive programs, as required.
• Develops, implements, manages and updates plans for a visionary, cohesive and comprehensive learning and engagement program, which recognizes and responds to diverse audience needs in order to fulfil both contextual and interpretative functions including the identification of costs, funding sources and staffing levels.
• Builds collaborative relationships with members of the local, national and international arts, culture, and heritage community for the purpose of strengthening learning and engagement programming.
• Supports HFTC projects and programs during all project phases, including planning, project delivery, and operations.
• Develops, implements and manages communication strategies and community engagement programs to inform the public, elected officials and stakeholders of HFTC projects, programs and initiatives.
• Serves as liaison between HFTC executive management and local elected officials, Councils of Government (city councils, neighborhood councils, etc.), chambers of commerce, public and private agencies, citizens, various sectors of community, and advocacy groups to develop and maintain strategic relationship with various stakeholders and opinion leaders in order to achieve resolution for projects concerning HFTC programs, operations and initiatives.
• Develops goals, objectives, workplans and budgets for assigned projects.
• Identifies opportunities, develops and implements strategies to promote HFTC programs, services and goodwill.
• Manages, trains and motivates staff engaged in outreach programs to develop consensus and strategies for successful outcomes and promote HFTC’s goals, services, programs and policies including participating in the development of information for public dissemination.
• Manages consultants, which includes developing and reviewing scopes of work and budgets, reviewing and approving invoices and managing performance.
• Evaluates and recommends level of outreach participation at events.
• Organizes and attends community meetings, press conferences and special media events.
• Represents HFTC at public venues and meetings, as needed.
• Maintains communications with staff of elected officials regarding constituent interests on studies, projects and initiatives.
• Researches complex and sensitive incidents, complaints and concerns and works with staff and management at all levels of the organization, as well as stakeholders, to achieve solutions.
• Provides or supervises responses to community concerns and inquiries from offices of elected officials and key stakeholders.
• Provides expertise for the FTC Board of Directors such as advising on agendas, briefings and meetings.
• Provides day-to-day management and strategic direction to assigned staff.
• Acts as lead strategist for use and development of visual, online and graphic communications.
• Utilizes social media metrics to continually enhance social networks and online communications.
• Develops strategic plans to mitigate impacts on related to FTC projects.
• Facilitates community advisory committees on challenging projects and achieves stakeholder consensus.
• Conducts crowdsourcing efforts.
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies and procedures in support of the HFTC’s safety, vision and goals.
• Contributes to ensuring that Equal Opportunity policies and programs are carried out.
• May be required to perform other related job duties as assigned.

Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Political Science, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Business or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Public Policy or related field preferred.

Experience
• Six (6) years of relevant experience or three (3) years of relevant supervisory-level experience planning, implementing and managing public affairs or community relations projects for a government agency, large public works, or construction projects.

Qualifications
Preferred qualifications are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills and abilities as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the positions. They will support selection decisions throughout the recruitment process. In addition, applicants who possess these preferred qualifications will not
automatically be selected.

The following are preferred qualifications:
• Experience creating and implementing community outreach plans for public works projects.
• Experience collaborating with elected officials and other staff regarding constituent interests on projects.

Knowledge:
• Principles and practices of community relations.
• Functioning and protocol of local and state government, public agencies and community groups.
• Theories, principles and practices for effective use of online communications and digital media to reach targeted audiences.
• Theories, principles and practices of planning, regulation and public finance.
• Federal, state, municipal and related legislative processes, procedures and protocols.
• Research and analytical techniques, methods and procedures.
• Social media strategy.
• Marketing and branding strategy.
• Protocol of communicating with public agencies.
• Group dynamics and community organizing techniques.
• Consensus building and conflict resolution.
• Modern management theories.
• Applicable business software applications.

Skills
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing – including public speaking and presenting.
• Developing and implementing communication strategies.
• Designing, implementing, and managing public or community programs to promote HFTC’s services and programs through traditional and social media platforms.
• Working and communicating with governmental and community-based organizations as well as diverse populations.
• Analyzing situations, identifying opportunities and problems, recommending appropriate actions and solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
• Exercising sound judgement and creativity within established guidelines.
• Interacting professionally with various levels of HFTC employees and outside representatives.
• Researching and framing complex issues for communication to non-technical audiences.

Abilities
• Reaching consensus through community engagement.
• Conducting meaningful and appropriate outreach to support projects, programs and studies.
• Effectively communicating complex technical information to diverse populations.
• Works well with others across departments and agencies.
• Represents HFTC before the public and elected officials.
• Coordinate multiple projects and tasks and meets criteria deadlines.
• Understand, interpret and apply laws, regulations, polices, procedures, contracts, budgets and labor/management agreements.
• Compile, analyze and interpret complex data.
• Prepare clear and comprehensive reports and correspondence.
• Supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff consultants.
• Interpret technical documents.
• Read, write, speak and understand English.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.