Community Engagement Advisor - Center For Congregations : Job Details

Do you enjoy working to engage with and support your local community? Are you familiar with the congregational landscape of Indiana? Congregations With Community (CWC) is seeking a new Community Engagement Advisor! You'll guide the connection between community entities that provide services and support and the congregations who need them. In addition, you'll conduct research, work with data, staff events and generally stay connected to the many diverse communities and community entities the organization supports.

This full-time position (35 hours a week - we finish at 2:30PM on Fridays!) is based in downtown Indianapolis, next door to the thriving arts and culture neighborhood of Mass Ave. We're open to hybrid working arrangements, and offer a great suite of benefits like group health, disability and life insurance, a retirement plan, as well as annual and medical leave. The salary range is $55,000 - $65,000. We look forward to hearing from you!

Job Description

Community Engagement Advisor | Indianapolis, IN

ABOUT CONGREGATIONS WITH COMMUNITY

Congregations with Community (CWC) is a part of The Center for Congregations. Through a grant funded by Lilly Endowment for the state of Indiana, CWC strives to energize collaboration between congregations and community partners with shared values to address social opportunities as one unified force. Additional information about Congregations with Community is available at Additional information about the Center's work is available at

POSITION SUMMARY

Community Engagement Advisors are pivotal in guiding congregations through the grant process in partnership with the community entity. Their assistance in relevant training, application completion, and education, as well as their ongoing management support to successful applicants, is invaluable to the success of our mission.

This is a full-time position, requiring 35 hours of work per week. The working hours are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday and Friday 8:30-2:30 pm. The office of Congregations with Community is in downtown Indianapolis, IN. We are open to discussing hybrid work arrangements during the week.

This position is supervised by the Director of Staff & Grants Administrator.

The position is grant-funded through 12/31/2027, demonstrating our commitment to its stability. Even though it is funded through this period, the position will remain at will. If the grant is not extended, the Center expects employees to be notified six months before the end of the grant.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Resource Consulting (80%)

• Support assigned congregations through inquiry, education, and application to grant opportunities.
• Ask questions and listen actively to understand the concerns and needs of the congregations and community entities in the grant process.
• Initiate research and identify opportunities for grant partnership between congregations and community entities.
• Be proactive in sharing this grant opportunity with congregations and community entities.
• Represent CWC in the community according to CWC's values: Forming Relationships, Building Unity, Absorbing Knowledge, Inspiring Imagination, and Securing Sustainability.
• Enter relevant data into the Contact Management System (CMS) and The Congregational Resource Guide (CRG).
• Provide congregations and community entities with resource information.
• Assist with training for grant participants.
• Travel across the state as assigned to meet the job description.
• System-wide connectivity through meetings, trainings, and interaction with other Center for Congregation staff

Special Projects (20%)

• Scope, plan, and/or provide implementation support for projects, convenings, and strategic initiatives, as assigned by the Senior Director of CWC.

TRAVEL

Community Engagement Advisors (CEA) will travel extensively for congregational site visits as mutually planned with congregational leaders and community leaders.

A personal automobile, auto insurance, and a valid driver's license are required. CWC will reimburse all business-related travel expenses.

EVALUATION

Participation in staff and self-development activities. Monthly meetings with the Director of Staff & Grants Administrator and Senior Director of the CWC. Annual performance review with the Director of Staff & Grants Administrator and Senior Director of the CWC. On-going mutual conversations about expectations of work will take place quarterly.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The salary range is $55,000 - $65,000.

According to the Center for Congregations' policies, benefits include group health, disability, and life insurance, a 403(b) plan, and annual vacation and medical leave.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in appropriate discipline.
• Relevant experience from jobs or internships, volunteer and community work, and academic study.
• Previous experience in a professional work setting.
• Experience working in a team setting with effective results.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & Teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with congregations.
• Experience in a consulting and/or relationship management role.
• Familiarity with congregational issues, needs, and opportunities.
• Experience serving as a community advocate and/or building community awareness.
• Knowledge of learning theory and types of learning.
• Knowledge of change management theory.
• Proven record in working across cultural, socio-economic, theological, and disciplinary boundaries and with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs.

POSITION-SPECIFIC SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strong interest in congregations and in helping them.
• Interest in community engagement.
• Curious; eager to discover and gain knowledge.
• Quick study; transfers knowledge into action quickly.
• Excellent communication skills, especially questioning, active listening, and articulating what is being learned.
• Able to maintain objectivity and appropriate boundaries.
• Highly organized; takes initiative, sets priorities, and follows through; can shift quickly between multiple priorities while staying focused on quality interactions.
• Attentive to details and accuracy.
• Collaborative and eager to help others.
• Strong cultural competency knowledge; hospitable, flexible, and adaptable in interpersonal interactions.
• Maturity and professional judgment; ability to maintain discretion with sensitive and confidential information.

PERSONAL TRAITS FOR CULTURAL FIT

• High alignment with Congregations with Community's mission to strengthen Indiana congregations. We know when congregations are thriving, our communities are thriving too.
• High alignment with Congregations with Community's values of Forming Relationships, Building Unity, Absorbing Knowledge, Inspiring Imagination, and Securing Sustainability.
• Positive view of congregations.
• Positive view of community engagement.
• Lifelong learner: desire to grow professionally and personally through interactions with diverse populations.
• High personal work standards in a high-expectation workplace.

Industry

• Religious Institutions

Employment Type

Full-Time