Community Specialist Project Lead

Position Description

Create access and equity to City services ensuring that barriers to participation are removed for under-represented communities (transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive communities) and lead the development and maintenance of trusted relationships with transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive communities to engage them into the decision making processes for the development and implementation of programs and policies for the City of Minneapolis and neighborhood organizations. Manage projects that span across departments, neighborhoods, and communities.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Manage projects that span across departments, neighborhoods, and communities.
• Coordinate the planning, development, and implementation of department projects (past examples have been the Trans Equity Summit and the Trans Equity Council). This includes identifying staff to be involved, developing project scopes, creating work plans and timelines, and communicating frequently with staff, department partners, and external stakeholders.
• Act as liaison with other City departments on project requests, acting as a representative of the Department when assigned.
• Work closely with department leadership to assure that project scope and direction for each project is on schedule as well as meets intended outcomes, for NCR and other departments.
• Engage and establish relationships within under-represented communities, neighborhood organizations, and other community-based organizations, and provide leadership within under-represented communities to enhance access to City services
• Function as a liaison between NCR and other departments and agencies to anticipate and assist with issues where coordination with NCR will be required
• Provide leadership in development and delivery of outreach, community events, communication strategies, educational programs and materials, and providing knowledge of City services, the delivery of such services, policies, and programs
• Represent the City of Minneapolis in strategic partnership and solution strategies for increasing trusted relationships between under-represented communities and the City of Minneapolis enterprise
• Act as a liaison to create policies, promote equity and participate in community-wide equity projects, with a broad set of stakeholders, within the City of Minneapolis including non-profits, private and public sector organizations
• Represent the City of Minneapolis and serve as the staff person on task forces established by City Council and under-represented communities on issues that impact access and equity for residents
• Represent department where assigned for enterprise initiatives, including intergovernmental relations projects, City Council committees and outward-facing engagement opportunities
• Review, evaluate and implement City programs and services to determine methods to make them more accessible, equitable and useful for under-represented communities
• Participate in developing proposals, revision to rules, regulations, ordinances, and other formal documentation for the review and approval of elected officials, and other governing bodies
• Develop and implement issue-specific plans and strategies to effectively communicate with appropriate partners and stakeholders
• Coordinate partnership activities with both external and internal stakeholders that help achieve the goals of the project, program or initiative
• Use proven and innovative methodologies to engage the community in development of plans and actions to address racial and placed based disparities
• Provide recommendations, strategies and intent of policy development on local, state and federal government levels
  
  

Required Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION

Four year college degree in Gender studies, 2SLGBTQIA studies, African American Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, African Studies, American Indian Studies, Chicano Studies, Communications, Public Administration, Public Relations, Urban studies, Social Work, Political Science, Anthropology, or Equivalent.

Minimum Experience

Three years of related experience which includes program, project management, and community engagement work in under- represented communities.

LICENSES / CERTIFICATIONS

None required.

INFO SESSION

The Neighborhood & Community Relations Department will be hosting a virtual info session on Tuesday April 7th, 2026, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Below is the link and information to the session.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/22903587276981?p=pWcjJyPfw2WFyo2etv

Meeting ID: 229 035 872 769 81

Passcode: FF7i62cr

Need help? | System reference

Dial in by phone

1 612-276-6670,,212696353# United States, Minneapolis

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 212 696 353#

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process will consist of a rating of relevant education and experience (100%) . It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. This information will be used to determine which candidates will proceed in the selection process. A submitted application is also used to verify the answers to any supplemental questions. Only those candidates who attain a passing score (70%) on each step in the selection process will be placed on the eligible list. The City of Minneapolis Human Resources Department reserves the right to limit the number in any phase of the selection process.

BACKGROUND CHECK

The City has determined that a criminal background check and/or qualifications check may be necessary for certain positions with this job title. Applicants may be required to sign an informed consent form allowing the City to obtain their criminal history and/or verify their qualifications in connection with the position sought. Applicants who do not sign the informed consent form will not be further considered for the position.



ELIGIBLE LIST STATEMENT

The names of applicants who meet minimum qualification and who pass the screening process shall be placed on the eligible list for employment consideration. This list will be certified to the hiring manager who may use the list to fill a vacancy of the same job title. This eligible list will expire 1 (one) month after it has been established.

UNION REPRESENTATION

This position is represented by a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Professional Employees Association (MPEA). For more information on the terms and conditions of this agreement please visit: Professional Employees - City of Minneapolis

INTERVIEW SELECTION The hiring authority reserves the right to determine the maximum number of candidates to interview from the established eligible list. If the hiring authority decides to interview other than by exam score order, they may select additional people to interview based on a candidate’s education or experience related to the field, work history, or skills uniquely related to the operational needs of the position.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to read, write and translate other languages fluently as deemed necessary and where applicable (Hmong, Spanish, Somali, Oromo, or Amharic)
• Knowledge of the needs of under-represented communities (transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive communities) at macro and micro levels
• Knowledge of computer operations, applications and software
• Strong oral and written communications skills
• Good knowledge of neighborhood engagement system (neighborhoods and community-based organizations)
• Ability to collaborate and work across multiple communities and leadership levels within community
• Ability to create consensus across diverse populations and solve complex social/community issues
• Ability to collaborate and work across City of Minneapolis Council, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis Public Schools and other governmental agencies
• Ability to analyze information and make policy recommendations
• Ability to implement conflict resolution strategies
• Knowledge of cultural norms and values of under-represented communities (transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive communities)
• Knowledge of principles and best practices of engagement, outreach and resident participation
• Ability to manage projects
  
  

As the largest and most vibrant city in the state, Minneapolis depends on purposeful, dedicated and innovative employees. Minneapolis has a large variety of careers for people of all experiences and backgrounds who come together for a singular purpose—serving the residents, businesses and visitors of Minneapolis.

The City of Minneapolis is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.