Government and Community Relations Specialist

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities. 

At Easterseals Southern California, the Government & Community Relations team helps strengthen relationships with government leaders, community partners, advocates, and other key stakeholders. In this role, you’ll provide operational, research, and coordination support to help prepare for external meetings and events, maintain important tracking tools, and ensure engagements are organized, accurate, and professional. Your work will help senior leaders communicate effectively and advance ESSC’s mission of creating a more inclusive, person-centered community.

Starting Rate: $37.50+

OVERVIEW OF POSITION:

Responsible for providing operational, analytical, and coordination support to the Government & Community Relations function, ensuring that external engagement with government entities, community stakeholders, and advocacy groups is well‑informed, well‑coordinated, and executed with appropriate sensitivity and professionalism. This role supports government and community engagement activities by maintaining critical tracking and research tools, preparing materials for meetings and events involving external stakeholders, and coordinating logistics for government‑ and community‑facing engagements. This position plays a key role in enabling senior leaders to engage effectively with elected officials, advocates, and community partners through accurate preparation, consistent messaging, and organized execution. In all responsibilities, this position demonstrates a strong commitment to ESSC’s mission and values by supporting a high‑quality, person‑centered service environment.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Maintains and updates government and community engagement trackers, incorporating inputs from the Government & Community Relations team and other organizational leaders to document meetings, outreach activities, and follow up actions involving elected officials, agencies, advocates, and community stakeholders.
• Leads and supports migration and ongoing management of department data from legacy platforms into Salesforce and other tracking systems to improve visibility, accuracy, and reporting of government and community engagement activities.
• Streamlines coordination, content delivery, and advocacy related workflows to ensure timely execution of government and community engagement activities while maintaining consistency and appropriate sensitivity across communications and materials.
• Coordinates contract review and documentation in collaboration with ERM colleagues, including tracking key terms, renewal dates, and executed agreements related to government, community, or advocacy activities.
• Conducts data collection and background research to support Board reports, strategic planning, leadership briefings, and preparation for key meetings involving government agencies, elected officials, and community organizations.
• Drafts and coordinates communications and materials for government and community engagement activities, ensuring messaging is accurate, appropriate for external audiences, and aligned with organizational positions and priorities.
• Manages department relationship management systems and coordinates workflows with MarCom, including submitting and tracking MarCom requests through Zendesk and maintaining version control for materials related to government and community engagement
• Oversees development of government and community focused collateral materials, serving as the liaison between Government & Community Relations, MarCom, and external vendors to ensure materials are accurate, timely, and suitable for external distribution.
• Designs and prepares invitation materials for government and community related meetings and events, including Board communications, external email invitations, and internal messaging support.
• Tracks RSVPs and coordinates communication with a range of external stakeholders, including government offices, advocacy groups, community partners, and internal participants, regarding event logistics and expectations.
• Coordinates logistics for government and community related meetings and events, including vendor coordination, travel planning, materials preparation, and onsite or virtual event support, in collaboration with department members.
• Supports departmental budget planning and administration by tracking expenses, vendor invoices, and agreements related to government and community engagement activities.
• Manages department purchasing and expense reconciliation, including AMEX reconciliation and coordination with Accounts Payable to ensure timely and accurate monthly submissions.
• Supports preparation of internal briefing materials for executives and senior leaders participating in meetings with government officials or community stakeholders, including agendas, background summaries, and follow up documentation, as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

• Associate’s degree combined with relevant, job related experience.

EXPERIENCE:

• 5+ years of program or project management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the role successfully.

EXEPECTED NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS: 0

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Ability to coordinate, prioritize, and implement multiple shifting tasks with a strong bias for action and attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively through oral, written, and proofreading skills with all levels of staff and the public.
• Demonstrated ability in preparing accurate information for presentation via research, writing and compilation of data.
• Demonstrated proficiency with managing online content.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to operate with discretion in externally visible or sensitive community and government facing contexts.
• Ability to gather and summarize background information to support leadership preparation for external engagement.
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel); experience with Canva, Smartsheet, and Salesforce platforms is a plus.
• Ability to skillfully deal with internal associates and external partners respectfully, professionally and with diplomacy and tact.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise a high level of discretion.
• Ability to be focused and flexible while shifting/changing priorities.
• The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to maintain driving record in compliance with Transportation Safety Standards; have and maintain a valid Driver's License, proper auto insurance and vehicle registration.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
• Must pass all drug testing required by ESSC.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ADA:      

• Carrying/Lifting:

Occasional/ 0-30 lbs.

• Standing:

Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.

• Sitting:

Constant / Up to 8 hours per day.

• Walking:

Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.

• Travel:

Local travel for events on occasion.

• Repetitive Motion/Activity:

Occasional bending, reaching, stooping, squatting, kneeling, grasping, lifting and twisting, keyboard activity, telephone use, writing.

• Visual Acuity:

Ability to view computer monitor and read newsprint.

• Environmental Exposure:

Standard office and travel environment.