Community Engagement Specialist

Job Summary/Objective

The Community Engagement Specialist plays a key role in advancing HALI’s mission of supporting mental health recovery, peer support, and social inclusion. This position focuses on developing strong community partnerships, engaging members in meaningful opportunities, and promoting HALI’s visibility and impact throughout Suffolk County. The Specialist will act as a bridge between HALI’s programs, participants, and the broader community, ensuring that individuals with lived experience are empowered, connected, and supported.

Essential Job Duties/Responsibilities

Community Outreach & Relationship Building

• Develop and maintain partnerships with local organizations, coalitions, community leaders, and stakeholders to expand HALI’s reach.
• Represent HALI at community events, forums, and public meetings to share information, build visibility, and foster advocacy around mental health and peer support.
• Utilize the PODS model and approach to empower members to take more agency of their goals and programming/participation in agency planning of groups, events, etc.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration with schools, healthcare providers, advocacy groups, and government agencies.
• Create and maintain a database of community contacts, partners, and outreach efforts.

Program & Participant Engagement

• Support HALI programs by assisting in the planning and facilitation of groups, workshops, and special events.
• Encourage participant leadership and involvement in HALI’s advisory boards, committees, and advocacy initiatives.
• Assist with recruitment and engagement of new members through outreach and peer-driven strategies.
• Foster a welcoming, inclusive environment for HALI participants, ensuring alignment with recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practices.
• Hold monthly Engagement Sessions to introduce the PIDS model to new members and utilize current members in doing so.

Advocacy & Education

• Assist in organizing HALI’s advocacy and awareness campaigns, including events related to mental health awareness, recovery month, and legislative advocacy such as the annual Legislative Day.
• Educate community members, partners, and stakeholders about peer support, recovery principles, and HALI’s mission.
• Support peers in sharing their lived experience in appropriate advocacy and community settings.
• Represent and promote HALI services and the peer model at community-based meetings and events.
• Encourage more self-driven advocacy and overall action from the members for themselves personally as well as in the Recovery Center itself.

Communications & Promotion

• Collaborate with HALI staff to create outreach materials (flyers, newsletters, social media content) that highlight programs, events, and success stories.
• Help maintain HALI’s online presence by contributing updates and content related to engagement and community activities.
• Assist with media, storytelling, and public awareness efforts that promote HALI’s role in the community.
• Help to develop and maintain strong avenues of communication for members to utilize yo have their voices heard.

Administrative & Reporting

• Track outreach activities, participation data, and community engagement outcomes for reporting purposes.
• Provide regular updates to the Director of Recovery Center on outreach efforts, partnership development, and community engagement impact.
• Contribute to grant reporting and program evaluation by documenting outcomes and success stories.

To accomplish this job successfully, employees must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Core Competencies

• Commitment to recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and person-centered principles.
• Relationship-building and trust-building skills.
• Creative problem-solving and resourcefulness.
• Cultural humility and dedication to equity, inclusion, and social justice.
• Ability to adapt to changing community needs and organizational priorities.
• Familiarity with community resources and systems advocacy

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory duties or direct reports.

Education, Experience, Licenses and/or Certifications

Required:

• Highschool diploma/equivalent required.
• 2+ years of experience in community outreach, engagement, or advocacy work (nonprofit, behavioral health, or social services setting preferred).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to connect to diverse populations.
• Comfort with public speaking, group facilitation, and representing HALI in community forums.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and collaborate across teams.
• Knowledge of Suffolk County community resources strongly preferred.
• Basic proficiency in Foothold electronic medical records, Microsoft Office/Excel, social media platforms, and data tracking systems Strong

Preferred:

• Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery
• Peer Certification not required, but a plus.

Supervisory Responsibility: This role supervises work activities for Recovery Services team members. 

Required Skills/Abilities 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize, and delegate responsibilities when appropriate
• Familiarity with benefits applications/advocacy resources 
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Electronic Health Record, and other web-based technologies
• Creative visionary to inspire team and participants
• Demonstrated ability to creatively design programming.
• Ability to commute to Central Islip office Mon-Fri

Work Environment & Schedule

• Standard office hours with flexibility for some evening/weekend events.
• Combination of office-based, community-based, and outreach work.
• Travel throughout Nassau and Suffolk County is required; a HALI vehicle is provided for work-related travel. A valid driver’s license is required.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel frequently within Nassau and Suffolk County for community outreach, events, and meetings.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to engage in community-based work, including attending events, visiting partner sites, and participating in outreach activities.
• Ability to lift and carry materials up to 20 pounds (e.g., outreach materials, event supplies).
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle for work-related travel.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, over the phone, and via electronic means.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.