Are you passionate about connecting people with the resources they need? Are you energized by building and maintaining strong relationships? Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) is looking for a Bilingual Community Resources Specialist to join our Partnerships Team. In this role, you will engage directly with community members at events and meetings across the county to promote library services and resources, maintain existing partnerships with external organizations, and support member libraries by sharing community resources that can enhance library services.
Washington County is one of the most diverse counties in Oregon with one out of every four residents speaking a language other than English at home. A key priority for WCCLS is to serve community members who are underrecognized, especially people whose first language is not English. In this role, you will help promote library services in English and Spanish.
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work schedule with some requirements for on-site work, as well as attendance at meetings and events held across Washington County. As determined by business needs, you must have access to reliable transportation to appear in person at the WCCLS offices in Hillsboro. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington.
About WCCLS
WCCLS is not a library. We are a partnership among Washington County, nine cities, and three non-profit organizations that operate local libraries. WCCLS provides the majority of funding for all public libraries in the county. We are a Washington County department of 36 FTE that supports 16 public library locations, giving patrons access to 1.5 million items in our shared collection. WCCLS reduces costs by efficiently centralizing operations such as our shared catalog, logistics, digital library collections, IT, and more. Learn more about WCCLS at wccls.org/about.
Your Team
The Partnerships Team collaborates closely with WCCLS member libraries, community-based organizations, other county departments, and public agencies to build connections, grow relationships, and increase the impact of WCCLS in the community through strategic partnerships. We are committed to deepening our understanding of the community to better meet their service needs, while also raising awareness and sharing information about library programs, resources, and services with both the community and our partner organizations.
Who You Work With
You will report to the Partnerships Supervisor and work closely with two Partnerships Librarians. This role involves close collaboration with library staff across 16 member libraries and the entire WCCLS team, especially Marketing & Communications, Community Relations, and the Data Analyst.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Our ideal Bilingual Community Resources Specialist is passionate about library service and community engagement. You have a track record of work that prioritizes equity of access and inclusion, resulting in practical and meaningful improvements for the communities we serve. You are:
- A relationship builder: You excel at developing and supporting partnerships. You are an energetic ambassador for libraries, with demonstrated success connecting with diverse communities, cultures, and audiences, finding opportunities for collaboration and community-building wherever you go.
- An equity and inclusion advocate: You have a track record of work that prioritizes equity of access and inclusion, resulting in practical and meaningful improvements for the communities we serve.
- An effective communicator: You possess excellent communication skills and can engage effectively with a wide range of individuals. You are skilled at preparing and delivering presentations, writing reports, and creating outreach materials.
- Organized and detail-oriented: You have strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
- Collaborative: You work well in a team environment, collaborating closely with colleagues and partners.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish): You have to ability speak, read, and write fluently in both English and Spanish.
A Typical Day
As the Bilingual Community Resources Specialist, on any given day, you may find yourself:
- Coordinating details and logistics for an upcoming community engagement event, including scheduling, staffing, and promotional efforts.
- Providing technical assistance, training, and support to partner library staff on program implementation or community resources.
- Attending a meeting with the Partnerships Supervisor and Partnerships Librarians to discuss ongoing projects and team priorities.
- Meeting with a community partner to review an ongoing partnership agreement.
- Compiling and entering data into program databases for an upcoming report.
- Loading giveaway books and promotional materials into the EV van to join a community outreach event.
- Reviewing program statistics and data to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Collaborating with the Marketing and Communications team to develop and review resource materials such as flyers, brochures, and newsletter content.
- Working with the Partnerships Supervisor to prepare for a public presentation or workshop, ensuring all materials and information is ready.
- Working with the Business Operations team to order program supplies and track budget allocations.
Bilingual Community Resources Specialist is a working title. This position is classified as a Program Specialist. Classification descriptions are typically written broadly. To review this classification, please use this link: Program Specialist
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may come from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role, even if you believe you do not meet all the hiring criteria described above.
Minimum Qualifications
- Three (3) years of work experience in program administration, development, evaluation, and/or contract administration; OR
- An Associate Degree in a social service, business administration, or related field; AND One (1) year of work experience in program administration, development, evaluation, or coordination, and /or contract administration.