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Community Engagement Specialist (STAFF SPECIALIST - H)

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Community Engagement Specialist (STAFF SPECIALIST - H)

Salary

$30.00 - $36.09 Hourly

Location

Palo Alto, CA

Job Type

SEIU Hourly

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

202501163

Department

Community Services Department

Opening Date

12/22/2025

Closing Date

1/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

Description

Join Our Team! Now Hiring a Part-Time Community Engagement Specialist

The City of Palo Alto’s Community Services Department is excited to announce that the Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) is currently recruiting for a part-time Community Engagement Specialist (Staff Specialist H). Reporting to the Education Director, the Community Engagement Specialist will work with the Museum’s surrounding communities to forge new, and strengthen existing, relationships with the purpose of building the diversity of the Junior Museum’s audience. Estimated number of work hours per week: 18-20.

About the Junior Museum & Zoo

The Junior Museum & Zoo is a beloved local destination that:

+ Serves children from birth to age 8 through its science exhibits and live animal displays

+ Supports children up to age 11 through school programs and summer camps

+ Welcomes 121,000+ visitors annually

+ Delivers 23,000+ science lessons through school and community programs

Our mission is to engage a child’s curiosity in science and nature. To learn more, please visit our website (https://www.paloaltozoo.org/Home) .

This is an SEIU Hourly (limited benefits) position. In lieu of providing a medical plan, the City grants a medical stipend of $3.80 per hour in paid status. This position also accrues a certain amount of earned time off.

Essential Duties

+ Serve as the primary liaison between community partners and schools serving targeted neighborhoods in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, Menlo Park and other low-income and predominantly minority communities.

+ Develop a Plan for Increasing Diversity and Inclusion at the JMZ by defining key strategies for strengthening relationships with, and service to, these communities. Serve as key staff for strategy implementation. An example of this would be to identify and represent the Museum at neighborhood (or school) festivals and events, thereby strengthening our presence in the community and furthering our mission. Another example might be identifying key community members to serve as advocates for our work there (helping with front end and summative evaluation surveys, for instance).

+ Manage front-end focus group activities to establish baseline relationships with targeted communities, identify barriers to audience building with these communities, and pinpoint strategies for minimizing barriers to visitation and service of these communities. Manage summative evaluation activities to help measure progress toward audience building goals.

+ Manage the Summer Camp Scholarship Program, facilitating publicity and outreach to the community about the benefit, helping families navigate the application process, awarding scholarships, and serving as a liaison between families and JMZ staff during their child’s attendance at camp.

+ Help plan and attend targeted community affinity group events at the Jr. Museum.

Position success will result in:

+ Measurably increased participation by families from our identified communities in Museum visits and science programs and camps.

+ Increased outreach in targeted communities.

+ Increased awareness and positive regard among targeted community members about the JMZ, its reduced-priced admissions programs, special events, volunteer and employment opportunities, and other services.

+ Greater diversity among the Museum’s paid staff, volunteers, and interns.

Minimum Qualifications

Ideal Qualifications:

+ At least two years of related experience and a successful track record of audience building with diverse communities.

+ A bachelor’s degree.

+ Spanish language preferred.

+ Experience with, and knowledge of, issues related to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.

+ Familiarity with the local Peninsula community.

+ Experience with creating new partnerships in the community.

+ Experience conducting outreach through email, social media, websites, and participation in community events.

+ Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

+ Strong written and oral communications skills.

+ Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team, and excellent customer service skills.

+ Proficiency with MS Office Suite programs and the ability to learn new systems.

+ Ability to work some evenings and weekends.

Supplemental Information

Application Process:

+ Complete an online application with cover letter and resume attached.

The Selection Process:

+ Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).

+ Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.

+ The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.

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

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities, and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with their employer.