Community Engagement Coordinator

Community Engagement Coordinator

Salary

$93,786.68 - $131,292.72 Annually

Location

On-site at Champaign Fire Department, IL

Job Type

Full Time

Department

Fire

Opening Date

10/16/2026

Closing Date

11/1/2026 11:59 PM Central

FLSA

Exempt

Bargaining Unit

NBU

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Overview

Full Salary Range: $93,786 - $131,292 annually

Starting Salary Range: Most new hires will be placed at or near the beginning of the range, DOQ.

Benefits: Paid vacation, sick, and personal leave; health, dental, vision and life insurance; 11 paid holidays per year; pension under IMRF and more. Visit champaignil.gov/hr/salaries-and-benefits/ and select Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt Full-Time to learn more

Location: Champaign, IL

Work Arrangement: On-site

The City of Champaign is seeking qualified candidates for a career opportunity as a Community Engagement Coordinator in the Champaign Fire Department. This dynamic position offers a front-row view of emergency response and public safety operations, giving you the chance to capture the moments that matter and help share the department's story with the community. Beyond reporting statistics, you'll have the creative freedom to craft meaningful content, build deep connections across the city, and see firsthand how your work supports life-saving services.

Job Responsibilities

The Community Engagement Coordinator's role adds critical value to the fire department by bridging the gap between first responders and the public through proactive education, transparent crisis communications, and promoting public preparedness. You will become the department's voice by developing communication strategies, responding to real-time incidents to gather information, creating visual and written content, and representing the department at community events throughout the year. Your work helps ensure our messages are timely, accurate, and reflective of the needs of the community we serve.

You will help shape communication priorities, monitor the effectiveness of outreach channels, and recommend ways to strengthen public engagement. You'll serve as a connector between City leadership and community stakeholders, ensuring department goals and public needs stay aligned. While most work is conducted during standard business hours, you should expect occasional evening or weekend commitments tied to community events, meetings, and emergency communication needs. General direction is provided by the Fire Chief, with the flexibility for you to determine the most effective tools, methods, and strategies to accomplish your work.

Core Responsibilities Include:

• Creating and delivering communications that help residents understand Fire Department programs, services, and emergency responses.
• Developing and executing outreach strategies through social media, printed materials, videos, presentations, and public-facing digital content.
• Preparing press releases, public service announcements, and other public communication for routine and emergency situations.
• Managing website and social media updates to keep public information accurate, timely, and accessible.
• Responding to media inquiries and gathering verified information during incidents to support transparent public communications.
• Building relationships with community partners, advisory groups, and residents to strengthen fire/community relations and encourage public participation.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of communication channels and adjusting strategies to improve engagement and reach.
• Preparing presentations, reports, and messaging that support department objectives, City initiatives, and command-level decision-making.

Applications, including required resume and cover letter, must be submitted online no later than Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, English, public administration or related field.
• Considerable progressively responsible related experience in public administration, public information, community or public relations, communications, marketing or a related field.
• Professional or volunteer experience with social media content management.
• An equivalent combination of work experience and training that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
• Current, valid driver's license.
• Ability to respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours, which can include evenings, weekends, or holidays.

Preferred Qualifications

• Public sector or public safety experience.
• Experience developing clear, engaging, and audience-focused content for communication across multiple platforms (e.g. websites, social media, email, public-facing documents).
• Experience preparing news releases and/or public service announcements.
• Experience with media interactions and/or community briefings.
• Experience with coordinating and/or planning community events.
• Experience delivering presentations, trainings, or educational programs to target audiences.

Drug screening and criminal background check will be required. A valid Illinois driver's license is required on Day One because this role involves driving to department events to capture photo and video content, responding to onsite incidents and attending community activities across the city. A City vehicle will be accessible, personal vehicle ownership is not required. Candidates must maintain a driving record meeting City standard.

Other Information

Contact the Human Resources Department at (217) 403-8770 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. if you require an accommodation to complete this application or during any phase of the application, interview, or employment process. The following locations offer free Internet access and assistance: Champaign Public Library, Champaign Public Library Douglass Branch, and the Illinois WorkNet Center.

The City of Champaign is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to promoting a work environme nt and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Women, minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The City of Champaigns mission is to provide responsive, caring, cost-effective service in partnership with our community. The following values guide our work: Personal Integrity, Responsibility, Respect, Teamwork, Results. The City of Champaign is committed to promoting a work environme nt and a community that values and supports diversity and inclusion. Learn more about the citys mission and values at https://champaignil.gov/city-managers-office

This position is classified as Non-Bargaining Unit Exempt. This information is current as of February 12, 2026.

HEALTH INSURANCE

The City of Champaign offers a robust PPO Select Network plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois with a $500 individual and $1,000 family deductible. The plan covers nearly 98% of providers and facilities across the State of Illinois and grants access to providers nation-wide through Blue Cross Blue Shield. The City of Champaign pays up to $580.00 of the employee (single) health insurance premium and 50% percent of the dependent premium for continuous full-time employees. Premiums for single employee coverage above $580.00 per month are shared by the employee and the City. For the 2026/2027 plan year, NBU-EX Full-Time Employees contribute 1.5203% of salary towards employee only health care. Premiums may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Health insurance coverage begins on the date of hire and ends on the employee's last day of work at the City.

Health Insurance Premiums PPO (2026-27 Plan Year)

Type of Coverage

City Pays (per month)

Employee Pays (per month)

Employee Only

$580.00 + City share of premium above $580.00

1.5203% of salary

Spouse

$644.00

$644.00

Children (one or more)

$399.50

$399.50

Family (spouse and children)

$690.50

$690.50

DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE

Employees may purchase dental and/or vision insurance through payroll deduction. Employees pay 100 percent of the monthly premium for this coverage. Premiums for dental and vision insurance may be made on a pre-tax basis, through the City's Section 125 plan. Dental and vision insurance begins after waiting for one complete calendar month (e.g., if hire date is in the month of January, coverage begins on March 1st).

The dental plan has two options: Delta Dental Network Low Plan (PPO) and Delta Dental High Plan.

Dental Premiums

Type of Coverage

Low Monthly Premium

High Monthly Premium

Employee Only

$25.54

$ 44.50

Employee/Spouse

$52.57

$ 91.60

Employee/Children

$60.01

$102.82

Family

$95.76

$163.08

Vision insurance is provided by EyeMed.

Vision Premiums

Type of Coverage

Monthly Premium

Employee Only

$ 7.34

Employee/One Dependent

$13.94

Family

$20.48

LIFE INSURANCE

The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to annual salary rounded to the next highest thousand dollars (up to a maximum of $100,000), or $30,000, whichever is greater. Employees may elect to purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for themselves up to 5x their annual salary or $500,000 (whichever is lower), through payroll deduction. Employees may also purchase term life for their spouses/dependents.

• Employee voluntary supplemental life insurance coverage can be purchased in $10,000 increments and the price is calculated based on the employees age.
• Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their spouses up to half the amount purchased for themselves in $5,000 increments. Cost is calculated based on the employees age.
• Employees may purchase voluntary supplemental life insurance for their dependent children in the amount of $10,000 for any/all eligible children.
• Employees may purchase Basic Life Insurance for their spouse and eligible dependent children.
• Option #1: $3.60/month for $10,000 for spouse and $5,000 for any/all eligible children.
• Option #2: $1.80/month for $5,000 for spouse and $2,000 for any/all eligible children.

PENSION

Illinois state law requires that eligible municipal employees be covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). Employee contributions to IMRF are 4.5 percent of salary and are tax-deferred. For 2026,

the City contributes 7.97 percent of eligible employee's salaries to IMRF. In addition, IMRF members are covered by Social Security (FICA). Obtain additional information by contacting IMRF at 1-800-ASK-IMRF. Employees are eligible to contribute additional funds to IMRF through Voluntary Additional Contributions.

Per IMRF Guidelines, all "unused, unpaid sick leave" goes towards IMRF service credit for employees who retire from the City and whose effective date of their pension is within 60 days of their retirement. You will earn one month of service credit for every 20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave at the time of retirement. Employees with 1-20 days of unused, unpaid sick leave receive one (1) month of additional service credit, employees with 21-40 days of unused, unpaid sick leave will receive two (2) months, etc. If you have any questions regarding this, you can reach out to the Human Resources Department or IMRF directly.

RETIREMENT HEALTH SAVINGS (RHS)

A retirement health savings plan administered by the Mission Square Retirement Corporation has been established for NBU employees. NBU employees participate in a mandatory contribution of 1 percent of pre-tax salary into an RHS investment account. This account is available for use by the employee at retirement or separation of service. Eligible uses of the funds include medical expenses such as health insurance premiums, dental/vision expenses, coinsurance, and co-pays for employees, spouse, and/or dependents.

Note: Upon separation, a mandatory 50 percent of accrued vacation, compensatory and payout-eligible sick leave will be contributed to your RHS balance.

HOLIDAYS

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Memorial Day

Juneteenth

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

PERSONAL LEAVE

At the beginning of each fiscal year July 1st, employees are credited with three personal days (24 hours). Personal leave may not be accumulated and carried over into the next fiscal year. Personal leave during the first year of employment varies based on the date of employment. Personal leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work.

Date of Hire

Personal Leave Credits

7/1 - 10/31

24 hours

11/1 - 2/29

16 hours

3/1 - 6/30

8 hours

VACATION

Vacation accrual rates are based on years of service. Vacation leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work. Vacation accrual rates and maximum accumulations are:

Years of Service

Biweekly Accrual/Year

Max Accumulation

Beginning with Year 1 through 5

4.62 hours/15 days

240 hours/30 days

Beginning with Year 6 through 8

5.54 hours/18 days

288 hours/36 days

Beginning with Year 9 through 14

6.15 hours/20 days

320 hours/40 days

Beginning with Year 15 through 19

6.77 hours/22 days

352 hours/44 days

Beginning with Year 20 to separation

7.69 hours/25 days

400 hours/50 days

SICK LEAVE

Employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.69 hours per pay period (approximately 1 day per month). The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours. Employees begin with a "bank" of 48 hours and start accruing sick leave after six (6) months. The maximum accumulation of sick leave is 1,200 hours.

Sick leave is prorated based on the number of hours of regularly scheduled work.

LONGEVITY PAY

Employees receive longevity pay based upon their years of continuous employment with the City. Longevity pay is an addition to the employees' base wage rate, as follows:

Years of Service

Longevity Rate

10 years

5.0 percent

20 years

10.0 percent

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

The City of Champaign offers employees the opportunity to participate in a tax-deferred annuity plan and/or Roth plan of the Mission Square Retirement Corporation through payroll deduction. This is an optional plan with no City Contributions. More information may be obtained by contacting Client Services (1-800-669-7400) or Human Resources at 217-403-8770.

HANDBOOK

View the current Non-Bargaining Unit (NBU) Handbook at champaignil.gov/hr/jobs/bargaining-units.

01

Please select the option below that best describes your highest level of educational background.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Associate degree
• Bachelors degree or higher

02

If you selected Bachelor's degree or higher in question 1, please specify your degree type and major and/or minor field of study. If you selected high school diploma or equivalent or Associate degree, please describe your combination of experience and training to demonstrate you possess the required knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position.

03

Do you have a current, valid drivers license?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you able to respond to emergencies outside of normal office hours, which could include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.

• Yes
• No

05

Please describe any professional or volunteer experience you have had with social media content management. If you have no experience in this area, please enter N/A.

06

Please describe your progressively responsible experience in public administration, public information, communications, marketing, or a related field. Include the types of roles, how your responsibilities evolved over time, and the kinds of communication or outreach work you performed. If you have no experience, please enter N/A.

07

Please describe your experience in public sector and/or public safety environments. Highlight any responsibilities that involved public safety (such as fire, EMS, law enforcement, emergency management, or 911/dispatch). If you have no experience in either, please enter N/A.

08

Please describe your experience developing clear, engaging, and audience-focused content for communications across multiple platforms such as websites, social media, email, or other public facing documents. Include the types of messages you created and how you tailored content for different audiences or platforms. If you have no experience in this area, please enter N/A.

09

Please describe your experience preparing formal public communications such as news releases, public service announcements, talking points or briefing materials. If you have no experience in this area, please enter N/A.

10

Please describe any experience with media interactions or community briefings. If you have no experience in this area, please enter N/A.

11

Please describe your experience planning or coordinating community events or other public-facing activities. Include the types of events you supported and what your specific responsibilities were (logistics, promotion, scheduling, etc). If you have no experience in this area, please enter N/A.

12

Please describe your experience in delivering presentations, trainings, or educational programs to target audiences. How did you tailor your message? If you have no experience in this area, please enter N/A.

13

Have you attached a cover letter to your application as required?

• Yes
• No

14

Have you attached a resume to your application as required?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Champaign

Address 102 North Neil St.

Floor 1

Champaign, Illinois, 61820

Phone (217) 403-8770

Website http://www.champaignil.gov