Community Engagement Specialist

Description: Alderman Daniel La Spata seeks a hardworking, dedicated individual to serve as Community Engagement Specialist at the 1 st Ward services office. This individual will be the office lead on community outreach, making partnerships with other offices and organizations, and will be the “face” of the 1 st Ward at any community events. The ideal candidate for this position is idea-driven and creative, willing to offer fresh perspectives on ways we can get involved with our residents. This position is hired as a full-time position under the City of Chicago “Staff Assistant to the Alderman” title, and will report directly to the Policy Director. This
position may occasionally require evening and weekend responsibilities, which are allowed to be “flexed” with the job’s basic full time hour requirements.
This job is perfect for an early career professional who wishes to work in government services, especially in a public-facing capacity. Start date at the 1st Ward Office (1958 N Milwaukee) is expected to be January 5, 2026.Starting salary is expected to be $50,000 to $55,000.
Qualifications, Attitudes, and Skills:
● Demonstrates a “go-getter” attitude, with a passion for forming partnerships with both individuals and organizations
● Ability to work in an extremely fast-paced work environment with many distractions
● Excellent oral and written communication skills
● Ability to work cooperatively and courteously with others; especially as it relates to the intersection of public image of the Ward and our services
● Ability to multitask with several project details at once
● Ability to work with diverse groups of people in stressful and time sensitive situations
● Spanish language proficiency is a must
Preferred Qualifications:
● An understanding of the 1 st Ward, its constituency, and its community resources
● Previous community engagement or outreach experience is a plus
● A familiarity with nonprofit work is a plus
Values:
● A desire to be a service-oriented, “front line” employee in a public office
● A desire to build inclusive community processes and events that cater to a wide range of residents
Duties:
● Represents the Alderman at non-Ward-sponsored community events, including block parties, nonprofit-sponsored events, events for seniors, among other invitation the office may receive
● Assists in planning 1 st Ward community events
● Assists with the development and distribution of promotional materials, including event flyers, informational pamphlets, and resource guides
● Conducts outreach with nonprofit partners, faith-based institutions, and mutual aid networks to build positive relationships for resident referrals
● Conducts outreach to other governmental offices at the local, state, county, and federal level to establish reliable lines of communication and collaboration efforts across the various realms of public service

How to apply: Email leah@the1stward.com and nicholaszettel@the1stward.com by October 24, 2025, with your resume and a brief statement of interest, and “Application: Community Engagement Specialist” in the subject line.