Neighborhood Services Coordinator

The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

The City of Oakland

The City of Oakland is a dynamic, progressive, high-energy city in the heart of the Bay Area where 21st century challenges are tackled with cutting-edge approaches. We are driven to center equity in everything we do; by working together to eliminate disparities, we can create a community where everyone can thrive, regardless of their race or where they live.

Oakland is a vibrant city with 50 distinct and eclectic neighborhoods, 17 commercial districts, a progressive downtown, and exceptional cultural and recreational amenities. With an estimated population of 420,183, Oakland is the eighth largest city in California; with a $2 billion annual budget and 4,500 employees, it serves as the administrative hub of Alameda County and the center of commerce and international trade for the Bay Area region. Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, with more than 125 languages and dialects spoken.

Why join the City of Oakland Office of the City Administrator, Neighborhood Services Division (NSD)?

The City Administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of all City departments to ensure the goals and policy directives of the Mayor and City Council are implemented. Key components of that work include efforts to make our neighborhoods more resilient through the Neighborhood Services Division (NSD). Under the direction and guidance of the Neighborhood Services Division Manager, the NSD's mission is to organize, network, and empower neighbors to partner with City and outside agencies to build healthy, safe, resilient communities with a special focus in the areas of Oakland most impacted by crime, inequity, and past disinvestment. NSD aspires to optimize interdepartmental work and increase community engagement to create sustainable, well-organized neighborhoods whose residents are deeply engaged in civic life.

The Neighborhood Services Division liaises with City Departments to see that more complex problems that neighborhoods face are addressed holistically for more sustainable results. NSD also works with community partners, community-based organizations to incorporate equitable engagement strategies. NSD is hiring to fully staff their division which is comprised of 13 professional staff members including a manager, 2 Supervisors, 8 Neighborhood Services Coordinators, 2 Police Services Technicians, and an administrative staff person. Neighborhood Services Coordinators assist community stakeholders by capacity and skill building, assisting in setting attainable goals, following up on service requests, and developing outreach strategies to increase community involvement. Through this process they support community engagement, public safety, and support beautification programs. Neighborhood Services Coordinators also work on activities such as urban greening events, and participate in city wide events such as Earth Day, National Night Out and Creek to Bay Day.

Do you have a passion for public service and a calling to make a difference? Are you motivated to tackle complex problems and produce tangible results that improve the lives of real people in our community? Are you inspired to get out from behind a desk and connect with our most vulnerable communities with the services they need to thrive? Do you want to help develop neighborhood leaders to tap into the collective power of Oakland's neighborhoods to create lasting positive change? Are you a great listener and communicator? Are you looking for a meaningful, high-paced and challenging role in local government that rewards you with great pay and benefits? If so, the City of Oakland needs you as a Neighborhood Services Coordinator.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Skilled in effectively outreaching and engaging with underserved and historically disenfranchised communities.

• Collaborative, creative, self-motivated, team-oriented, compassionate, and focused.

• A resourceful and effective problem-solver.

• Empathetic to the needs of vulnerable populations.

• Ideally, fluent in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Mamm.

• Familiar with the principles of community organizing and techniques to address and improve the needs of the community.

• An effective time manager who is self-guided and a reliable team player.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Capacity building of Neighborhood Council groups.

• Organizing community events such as neighborhood clean-ups, safety walks, block parties, and trainings.

• Performing outreach directly in frontline communities to identify needs and encourage participation in civic activities.

• Referring residents and businesses to needed services and then following up with City staff to ensure the services are provided.

• Uploading data into a database to track the work of the division and prove measurable outcomes.

• Planning, implementing, coordinating, activating and evaluating a comprehensive community resource network in neighborhoods that directly support community policing and safety programs.

• Soliciting community participation, support and input in determining crime prevention needs.

• Supporting new City initiatives.

Read the complete job description by clicking this:

Neighborhood Services Coordinator

• Class Specification Bulletin

• Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!

Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will have a direct and tangible impact on the people who live and work in Oakland-on their health, well-being, access to services, and safety.

• You will have great city colleagues.

• Your work will be interesting with a balance of field work, office work, and collaboration with a great team.

• You will have the opportunity to be innovative and creative in your work.

• City employees are fiercely passionate about public service and community, and proud to uplift Oakland as a dynamic, innovative, vibrant city that is always on the forefront of social, economic, racial, and environmental justice.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will need to help set realistic expectations.

• The work requires patience and commitment to our vision of an equitable, safe, and responsive city.

• Reconciling problems and disagreements between competing groups and interests can be challenging.

• You will be working with people that have been historically marginalized and therefore have developed a mistrust of government.

• Work is fast-paced and you must be able to constantly reassess priorities.

Competencies Required:

• Critical Thinking:Analytically and logically evaluating information, propositions, and claims

• Decision Making:Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner

• Professional & Technical Expertise:Applying technical subject matter to the job

• Action & Results Focused (Taking Initiative):Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishment

• Adaptability:Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires

• Attention to Detail:Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products

• Displaying Ownership and Accountability:Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results

• Establishing Credibility:Doing what one commits to doing and respecting the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others

• Professional Integrity & Ethics:Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability

• Oral Communication:Engaging effectively in dialogue

• Writing:Communicating effectively in writing

• Professional Impact:Presenting self as a positive representative of the organization

• Leadership:Guiding and encouraging others to accomplish a common goal

• Valuing Diversity:Appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace

• Teamwork:Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

Examples of Duties

Minimum Requirements for Application

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who meet the minimum qualifications. The open list will be for all other applicants who meet the minimum qualifications.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply! Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire.

Education:Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, communications, social science, political science or a related field. Experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

Experience: Two (2) years of progressively responsible work experience in community-based or crime prevention programs or community organizing with a high degree of public contact. Experience identifying and developing leaders and providing training is highly desirable.

Desirable Qualifications:Bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnameseare highly desirable and may be required depending on assignment.

License or Certificate / Other Requirements:

Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a valid California Driver's License throughout the tenure of employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties.

Must be able to work flexible hours, which may include nights and some weekends.

Supplemental Information

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam). The tentative date of the structured interview is the week of April 29, 2024.

For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (multiple-choice test, structured interview, writing exercise, performance exam) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you're applying to a "restricted" posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What's in it for you?

• Work/Life Balance: 37.5 hour work weeks, and a hybrid remote schedule

• 15 paid holidays

• Vacation: 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service

• Retirement: CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security

• Health: The City of Oakland pays the full cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans

• Dental: Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents

• Vision: VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents

• Sick leave: Employees accrue 12 days per year

• Deferred Compensation: 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan

• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement, Life Insurance up to $200k & Employee Training.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner, applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers

All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs. If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday

• Friday. You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Cynthia Ng at cng@oaklandca.gov.