City of Bellevue

Come Join the City of Bellevue!

Please fill out your application as fully as possible. The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. Read the "Hiring Process" section below to learn more.

New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Job Summary

Bellevue’s strength is found in its actively engaged community. The City of Bellevue is committed to continuously improving equitable community engagement that promotes transparency, accessibility and greater trust between the city government and the Bellevue community.

The Community Engagement Coordinator will support the development and implementation of strategies to engage diverse communities within Bellevue. The role involves fostering strong relationships with neighborhood groups, Community Based Organizations, community groups and faith-based organizations. The position supports several city departments by creating engagement plans, staffing on the ground or digital activities, and managing relationships with internal and external collaborators. This role promotes community involvement in city government by providing opportunities for input and understanding of our programs, services and operations.

As part of the Community Engagement Team this individual will be tasked with providing expertise that will help shape citywide engagement practices. Specifically, how the city will approach and implement future digital engagement strategies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area within a city department which may include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following tasks:

• Develops engagement plans, strategies and methods to enhance and encourage public involvement for citywide projects and initiatives to inform city decision-making.
• Grow and maintain relationship between neighborhood associations and community groups and the city. Build best practices for equitable and accessible engagement and communications for city departments requesting resident and neighborhood input.
• Supports relationship building with Community Based Organizations, community groups, faith groups and community members impacted by our programs and services.
• Guides the best use for digital platforms to achieve meaningful public interactions. Must be familiar with digital tools and engagement platforms (online forums, idea submission portals, surveys) that best address community’s needs and preferences.
• Develops, coordinates, promotes and implements events and programs involving City departments, local businesses and community organizations.
• Coordinates with department’s communication staff on key messages and themes for engagement activities.
• Facilitates community engagement open houses, focus groups prepares and presents written and verbal communications for diverse audiences.
• Participates on various teams and committees; attends public meetings and advisory board meetings to obtain and disseminate information; may serve as departmental official spokesperson.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Works under general supervision.
• May supervise support staff, temporary staff, and/or volunteers, as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies

• Experience establishing clear goals for community engagement and delivering successful outcomes. Knowledge of public involvement techniques and analysis of audiences to right size engagement recommendations.
• Comfortable working with digital engagement tools and developing engagement content for digital platforms.
• Experience designing and facilitating open houses, focus groups, tabling, surveying and creating interactive community engagement activities to solicit public input for major projects and initiatives
• Experience building tracking systems to show efficacy of engagement efforts.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with, employees, managers, citizens, appointed and elected officials; ability to work in a team environment and to work independently.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; ability to listen and respond to citizens and other customers on a variety of issues.

Education, Experience, and Other Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Communications, Public Relations or related field.
• Four or more years of professional related experience involving communicating with the public and other related areas.
• Prior experience working with governmental institutions is highly preferred.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands

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

• Work involves walking, talking, hearing, using hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee may be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 20 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet.

Limited Term Employee (LTE): A fully benefited employee appointed to serve in a position scheduled to work a minimum of 30 hours a week for a specific project with a specific ending date which is anticipated to last more than five months but in no event longer than three consecutive years (36 months).

Flexible/Hybrid Working: The City is implementing a flexible/hybrid work policy that will allow staff to work remotely. Remote work for this position is subject to department's operational needs and will be discussed with candidates during the selection process. Once hired, employees must reside in the State of Washington.

HIRING PROCESS

The City evaluates candidates based on the information provided in the online application only. Do not submit resumes and cover letters. To evaluate all candidates fairly and equitably, the City will make all applicants anonymous when we are screening the applications. We will redact information from our application such as your name, address, and other demographics. To help us, please complete the online application form as fully as possible.

• Answer the Supplemental Questions when requested which can be found on the Questions tab of the Job posting.
• We do not accept resumes and cover letters during the anonymous application screening stage, unless otherwise stated in the job description.
• Applicants advancing to the next stage may be required to provide a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• All candidates will be required to establish employment authorization and identity at the time of hire. The City is not able to sponsor work visas.
• All positions require the completion of references checks, including at least one prior supervisor.
• Some positions may require completion of a criminal background check prior to start employment
• Some positions may require obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL), licensures, or additional certifications.

At the City of Bellevue, you'll be part of a team committed to providing exceptional customer service, upholding the public interest and advancing the community vision. The six essential and enduring principles that guide our individual actions, our interactions, and our decision making in the City of Bellevue organization is: Exceptional Public Service, Stewardship, Commitment to Employees, Integrity, Innovation, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. You'll work in an environment that is innovative, collaborative, future focused, and committed to excellence. Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past. It's what makes the City of Bellevue an exciting place to work, live, and explore.

Have we piqued your interest yet? Come join our team! The City of Bellevue supports workplace diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. Persons needing assistance with the application process may call the Human Resources Office, at 425-452-6838 or recruiting@bellevuewa.gov. If you are invited to participate in the selection process and need ADA accommodations, please notify HR before you are scheduled for an interview or testing.

The City of Bellevue participates in the E-Verify program. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/IER_RightToWorkPoster.pdf (Download PDF reader)

https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RighttoWorkPosterES.pdf (Download PDF reader)

For any technical difficulties with your application, please contact the NEOGOV support line at 855-524-5627.

• Please be sure to check your junk folder for any messages that may be sent to you about this recruitment.**

The City of Bellevue offers employees a comprehensive benefits package providing choice, flexibility, and value!

Please Note: Seasonal, part-time, and variable employees are not eligible for the below benefits except for mandatory participation in the retirement plan assigned to the position, which will be the Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (MEBT 2) retirement plan or the Washington State Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) retirement plan and any other benefits as required by law.

The following summary applies to fully benefited positions:

Medical

Employees are offered a choice of medical coverage through the City's self-insured Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan or Kaiser Permanente (HMO).

Dental

Employees are offered a choice of two dental carriers with plans that offer regular checkups, x-rays, fillings, and crowns. Orthodontia is available through one of the carriers.

Vision

Employees are offered a choice of vision coverage through an annual exam-only plan or a buy-up plan which includes an annual eye exam and hardware coverage.

Retirement Plans - Employees are offered three retirement plans:

• Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS): Mandatory participation (PERS, LEOFF or PSERS), depending upon eligibility.
• City of Bellevue Municipal Employee's Benefit Trust (MEBT): Optional participation in this 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match contributions that vest on a 3-year schedule.
• Deferred Compensation Program (457 DCP): Optional participation in the supplemental Deferred Compensation Program also administered by DRS that allows tax-deferred savings into a variety of investments options.

Other benefits include:

More detailed information about our employee benefits is available at https://c2mb.ajg.com/cityofbellevue

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD)
• Survivor Income
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 11 observed holidays per year plus 2 additional personal holidays, vacation (standard accrual of 12 days a year), and sick leave (accumulated at the rate of one day per month)
• An ORCA Card bus pass
• On-site fitness center, and self service food/coffee options
• Career development and training programs
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Paydays - The City of Bellevue pays employees on the 8th and the 23rd of each month (24 pay periods per year).

Please note that the City does not participate in the Social Security Administration (SSA) program, and employees do not earn social security credits. The mandatory DRS retirement pension plan provides the required social security replacement plan. Any social security benefits earned at other places of employment may be reduced because they are subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision or the Government Pension Offset.

NOTE: This is a brief summary of the benefit programs for the City's non-represented employees. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Benefits for employees represented by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) may have different benefits. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a CBA, the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.

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