Outreach & Policy Specialist, Lowcountry

Description
Job Title:
Outreach & Policy Specialist

Employment Classification:
Exempt

Location:
120 Research Drive, Columbia, SC 29203

Full-Time / Part-Time:
Full-Time

Onsite, Hybrid, Remote:
Remote, Lowcountry

Travel Required:
Yes, 60%-75% travel required

Department:
Outreach Team

Reporting Supervisor:
Outreach Manager

Primary Job Objective/Job Summary
The Outreach & Policy Specialist secures partnerships with direct service nonprofits, businesses, healthcare agencies, schools, city, county, and state government entities and will promote SC Thrive brand awareness, providing excellent customer service throughout South Carolina. The Outreach & Policy Specialist also will support the ongoing relationship and usage of SC Thrive's online application completion system, Thrive Hub, among organization and agency partners with the goal of providing increased access to resources for South Carolinians. Additionally, the Outreach & Policy Specialist will oversee the successful implementation of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – commonly known as WIC – into the catalog of benefits available through SC Thrive's technology, partnerships, and programming.

Direct Reports/Supervisory Responsibilities:
None

Essential Functions
Outreach Responsibilities:

• Become a trained SC Thrive Benefits Counselor with the ability to perform client intake interviews and complete applications as well as determine how to expand and best implement usage of Thrive Hub within partner agencies.
• Become knowledgeable in all aspects of SC Thrive's client management system Thrive Hub and all other SC Thrive trainings.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner sites, providing excellent customer service, and support throughout the partnership life cycle.
• Participate in community coalitions, committees, work groups, and task forces in your region.
• Recruit and establish new SCT partnerships by using data driven approaches, providing demonstrations of Thrive Hub (SCTs online client portal), and proper communication through in-person meetings, emails, calls, text, and virtual meetings.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and contracts. Communicate in writing proposed services for partner prospects and document in customer relationship management software.
• Track and report on partnership performance, outreach events, collaborative meetings, pipeline activity, prospective and partner site visits in appropriate software.
• Perform client intake interviews and complete applications in person and via phone as well as determine how to expand and best implement usage of Thrive Hub within partner agencies.
• Demonstrate excellent proficiency in using integrated technology systems.
• Stay current on industry and organization trends, products, competitive activity, and customer needs.
• Attend and present at conferences, meetings, and trainings, and complete assigned reports as instructed.
• Travel throughout assigned region and state 60-75% of your time to effectively and efficiently complete job assignments.
• Maintain SC Thrive, partner, and client confidentiality at all times.

WIC Specialist Responsibilities

• Consistently maintain knowledge of the WIC program, including its services, eligibility requirements, and best-practice outreach strategies.
• Train and provide ongoing technical assistance to the SC Thrive staff—particularly those on our outreach team, training team, and Contact Center—to ensure that they are equipped with the most up-to-date and accurate information on WIC.
• Work with SC Thrive's training team to design a WIC 101 course for our partners, similar in nature and substance to SC Thrive's Medicaid 101 and SNAP 101 courses.
• Work with SC Thrive's marketing staff to design relevant and easily accessible outreach materials, ensuring that outreach staff has the tools they need to reach a WIC-eligible population in their region.
• Provide technical assistance to partners both in and outside of the Lowcountry/coastal region on the WIC program to SC Thrive partners as needed, and/or work with the Outreach Specialists in each region in a train-the-trainer model so that each specialist can provide this TA.
• This position is a grant funded position with duties that may shift with business need.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements
Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent years' experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex findings and recommendations to diverse audiences. Possesses strong technical skills. Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other technological tools.
• Possesses strong research skills and the ability to conduct internet navigation and research to assist clients.
• Proven negotiation skills, experienced in business development preferably in the nonprofit sector.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with an ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while simultaneously developing subject matter expertise in specific policy areas, such as healthcare, economic development, or legal content.
• Ability to analyze complex information, identify trends, and provide strategic, solutions-oriented recommendations.
• Proficiency in accessing and assessing a variety of information resources and research methods.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and deadlines effectively.
• Aptitude for working both independently and collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience in or displays comprehension of federal and state programs and benefits.
• Demonstrated desire and ability to work with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications And Experience

• Experience working in the non-profit industry
• Experience working with policy at a state level
• Three or more years of client management experience

Core Competencies

• Organizational & Planning Skills
• Judgement/Decision Making
• Intelligence
• Integrity
• Relationship & Conflict Management
• Innovation
• Adaptability
• Listening
• Communication (Oral and Written)
• Diversity
• Stress Management

Additional Notes/Requirements/Qualifications

• Pre-employment screens are required per standard policy.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including some nights and weekends, as needed.
• Must have reliable transportation or be able to secure transportation for travel as needed.
• Must have a valid SC driver's license, minimum state auto insurance, reliable transportation, and the ability to travel to multiple worksites in SC.
• Must maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with SCT policy.
• Must have consistent, secure, high-speed internet access that is at least 25 Mbps download and 4 Mbps upload and meets SC Thrive's standards.
• Reside in the region served.

Working Conditions And Physical Demands
Most of the time, the job will be performed in the community at partner and potential partner sites, events, rural locations, standard home office, and SC Thrive main office. Requires frequent travel, walking, setting up event space, and often works in outdoor weather conditions.

Must be able to work with individuals of various diverse backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. Consistently communicates information and ideas to others. Must be able to exchange accurate information in a manner others understand in these situations. Frequently meets with the public and observes details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). Occasionally lifts up to 20 pounds for outreach events, materials, and various purposes.

SC Thrive is committed to the inclusion of all qualified individuals. SC Thrive will take steps to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, perform the job's essential functions, or receive other benefits and employment privileges, please get in touch with the HR Contact for this job as listed above.

SC Thrive is an Equal Opportunity and At-Will Employer.
I have read and understand the job description above. I also understand that SC Thrive retains the right to change or assign other duties to this job. I acknowledge that this job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of every duty for which I may be assigned. I warrant that I understand nothing in this job description alters my at-will employment status, nor does this job description represent an express or implied contract of employment.