The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation's leading cancer advocacy organization. Together with our charitable partner, the American Cancer Society, we work in Congress, state legislatures and local jurisdictions to support evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the nation's leading cancer advocacy organization. Together with our charitable partner, the American Cancer Society, we work in Congress, state legislatures and local jurisdictions to support evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. Based in Washington, DC with offices throughout the country, ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority.
Position Description:

The Community Engagement Coordinator empowers and supports our rural constituents to have a voice and ensures their stories are heard and have a place in tobacco control advocacy, public policy processes, and in ACS CAN’s advocacy work. This position will outreach and provide interventions to prevent exposure to, and the use of, tobacco among rural residents in support of ACS CAN’s tobacco control grants and ACS CAN’s advocacy activities. This person must be willing to work with a team to increase project visibility in the rural and diverse communities of the Central Valley.

**This is a remote position that will be home based in the Central California -Merced /Fresno/Visalia area.  Candidates must be able to attend in-person local events or meetings as needed; specifically, but not limited to the communities of Madera, Chowchilla, Hanford, and Tulare. This includes community-based events that require working some evenings and weekends, and occasional travel for trainings. Spanish language fluency is required.***

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the Project Director (PD) and Community Engagement Managers (CEMs) in implementing the scope of work for a 15-month grant from the California Tobacco Prevention Program (CTPP) as directed.

• Implement quality community health education, evaluation, and organizing activities as directed.

• Attend community meetings virtually or in- person per community COVID 19 protocols. Represent ACS CAN and its mission in community meetings, trainings, and events.

• While in community meetings, keep accurate notes in order to ensure ACS CAN staff are aware of all policy and environmental change related activities in the communities being serve.

• Build relationships with the rural Central Valley community members and leaders, and ACS and ACS CAN staff and volunteers.

• Maintain a calendar of educational/ outreach activities and events. Work closely with CEMs, community partners, and volunteers to plan and execute various outreach events. Provide education and resources to communities the grant is working in through presentations and community events. Disseminate educational material as appropriate.

• Maintain a calendar of social media and digital media activities. This includes developing content that increases social media engagement, ensuring content on project website is updated and relevant. Identifying opportunities for volunteers to participate in media advocacy activities.

• Recruit and identify volunteers with personal stories related to tobacco control and prevention.

• Establish and maintain volunteer relationships and collaboration with community partners as appropriate; support CEMs with recruitment, trainings and documentation of volunteer and grant related activities.

• Support the collection of quantitative and qualitative data for project evaluation.

• Follow ACS CAN, ACS, and CTPP policies and guidelines, including COVID vaccination and willingness to follow CDC protocols for safety.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Associate degree or 2 years of college education (Course work in Public Health, Public Administration, Political Science, Social Work, or in related fields) OR combination of equivalent education and work experience in related field; this can include relevant work or volunteer experience (preferably in community organizing, outreach, media advocacy, and/or health education, health promotion).

• Native or Bilingual Proficiency in Spanish- Ability to fluently speak, write and read in Spanish.

OTHER SKILLS

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and communities.

• Effective verbal and interpersonal skills to facilitate effective communication with community members and community groups.

• Familiarity with social media

• Ability to enhance and expand partnerships with various organizations, including those with a focus on racial and ethnically diverse, rural, and LGBTQ+ members for advocacy and policy campaigns.

• Ability to work with rural and diverse communities in a culturally competent manner.   

• Strong writing, oral and computer skills to facilitate effective communication.

• Ability to complete work in a timely and efficient manner and ensure work is detailed and accurate.

• Team player with some direction.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Cultural Competency – Encourages diverse community members to be involved in the volunteer and advocacy efforts.

• Action -oriented - Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.

• Collaborative - Builds partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

• Networking - Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

• Situational Adaptability - Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

• Accepts Feedback - Willingness to learn and grow.

SPECIALIZED TRAINING OR KNOWLEDGE

• Familiarity with Microsoft Software, competency with Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; experience using social media platforms for community engagement.

The starting rate is $26 per hour. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network has adopted a vaccination policy that requires all staff, regardless of position or work location, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (except where prohibited by state law).

ACS CAN provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.