Community Organizer

Community Organizer

Reports to Job Role: Sr. Director Community Change Partnership

FLSA: Exempt

Employee Factor: 40

R/S/T/O/I: Regular

Level: Team Member

Descriptive Summary

The Community Organizer for the Opportunity Neighborhood (ON) initiative plays a vital role in cultivating strong equitable communities where children youth and families can thrive. Using a collective impact and community-driven approach the Community Organizer helps elevate resident voices strengthen networks of mutual support and connect families to opportunities and resourcessupporting ONs mission to build cradle-to-career pathways for success.

Working under the direction of the Strategy Manager and Lead Organizer the Community Organizer develops trusting relationships with residents schools nonprofits faith-based organizations and Fairfax County partners. The Organizer leads culturally competent outreach neighborhood activation event coordination and resident leadership development. This role requires a deep commitment to racial and social equity strong interpersonal skills and a hands-on presence in the community.

Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Core Responsibilities
Resident Engagement & Leadership Development

• Build authentic trusting and consistent relationships with residents resident leaders and community stakeholders.
• Facilitate and support outreach strategies including door-to-door canvassing tabling and informal and formal conversations to understand needs and strengthen engagement.
• Organize and support focus groups listening sessions and surveys to identify community needs strengths and priorities.
• Engage and empower residents particularly youth and parents as neighborhood leaders and participants in ON working groups and initiatives.

• Provide training mentorship and logistical support to Neighborhood Ambassadors and other residents volunteers.

Community Events & Neighborhood Activation

• Co-develop plan and lead culturally relevant community events activities and celebrations that reflect and respond to neighborhood interests and priorities.
• Coordinate logistics and provide on-site support including setup/breakdown volunteer oversight materials preparation and evaluation.
• Collaborate with the Strategy Manager resident leaders and partners to ensure events are inclusive accessible and well-publicized.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

• Serve as a visible and reliable liaison between the ON team and neighborhood schools service providers county agencies and faith or civic organizations.
• Support aligned action with initiative partners through consistent communication and shared outreach and referral efforts.
• Participate in relevant meetings coalitions and workgroups as needed to represent ON and bring community voice into decision-making spaces.

Communication Data & Administration

• Maintain up-to-date tracking of partners stakeholders residents and events through organizational databases and shared calendars.
• Contribute to the development of ON communications materials (flyers social media content brochures) in collaboration with the Strategy Manager and Communications Team.
• Document outreach activities attendance resident input and referrals; assist in producing monthly and quarterly data reports.
• Provide input on outreach strategies and program adjustments based on emerging needs and feedback.

Community Services & Referrals

• Stay informed on available resources and community services making appropriate referrals to Cornerstones Community Care Management team and other partners.
• Support case coordination and service navigation by following up with families and referring staff as needed.
• Assist with volunteer engagement and in-kind support requests in coordination with the Development department.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge Skills and Abilities)

• Bachelors degree in social work human services community organizing or a related field or equivalent experience.
• At least 23 years of experience in community organizing resident engagement or neighborhood-based programming.
• CPR and First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Fluency in a second language (Spanish Arabic Farsi or other languages spoken in the community) strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to work respectfully and effectively with residents from diverse racial cultural and economic backgrounds.
• Familiarity with the Reston or Herndon communities and/or similar multi-cultural suburban settings.
• Experience coordinating events and working collaboratively with cross-sector partners.
• Strong group facilitation interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively across multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Good judgment and conflict resolution skills; able to respond calmly and flexibly in dynamic environments.
• Commitment to racial and social equity and community empowerment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Google Workspace and basic database/data entry functions.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends for community events and outreach activities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with staff clients volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong attention to follow-through.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when necessary.
• Must be detailed flexible and able to work accurately under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Must be responsible dependable and display the highest level of integrity.
• Must have a valid drivers license with no history of significant accidents or moving violations

Key Success Indicators

• Increased resident participation in ON events leadership roles and planning processes.
• Strengthened trust and connectivity between residents and community institutions.
• Timely and accurate completion of outreach data collection and communication tasks.
• Visible presence and responsiveness in assigned neighborhoods.
• Successful support of collaborative culturally relevant community events and programs.

Attitude

• Attentive to constraints of time and funds in setting stretch goals
• Respectful of staff volunteers funders and clients
• Forward thinker considering not just today but what are the implications for tomorrow
• Collaborative leader working with others individually and in teams

Work Environment

• The work is performed in a typical office environment but requires significant community outreach in other locations.
• Some work is performed outdoors in both the winter and summer.
• Occasional driving or personal or Cornerstones vehicle.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Prolonged sitting and a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular in person interaction with the public clients and stakeholders.
• Handle or feel objects tools or controls.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25-50 pounds for event support as needed.
• Occasional navigation of stairs ramps ladders.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate