Community Schools Coordinator

The Community Schools Coordinator is responsible for planning and implementing the United Way of Greater Knoxville’s Community Schools strategy, utilizing the Four Pillar model of shared collaborative leadership & practice, active family and community engagement, integrated systems of support, and enhanced learning opportunities. This work is done in close collaboration with school leadership, educators, families, neighborhoods, and community partners at designated schools. This school-based role focuses on identifying and coordinating available community resources while developing innovative partnerships and strategies to provide holistic support for students and their families. Will adhere to the principles and philosophy of United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Assess the strengths, needs, and opportunities within the community and school to develop an annual site plan that aligns with school goals and avoids duplication of efforts.
• Monitor and evaluate school-wide and targeted strategies through data collection and analysis, reporting progress to school leadership and community partners.
• Implement and coordinate site plan strategies, continuously assessing their impact and making necessary adjustments to maximize effectiveness.
• Convene and facilitate a site steering committee composed of community members, family representatives, and school personnel to address and prioritize needs and opportunities collaboratively.
• Partner with school administrators, educators, and CS leadership to build upon existing strategies while identifying new opportunities that support students' academic, behavioral, social, emotional, and resource needs.
• Foster open and effective communication with all stakeholders, serving as a liaison between the school, site steering committee, and broader community networks.
• Support the steering committee in identifying resource gaps, setting priorities, securing partnerships, and ensuring effective governance of CS activities.
• Cultivate partnerships with local organizations that expand resource access for students and families, streamlining collaboration for efficiency, reducing redundancy, and increasing impact.
• Manage budget allocations responsibly and seek additional funding opportunities to ensure the financial sustainability of CS initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with school leadership to align initiatives with school-wide goals and maintain regular communication regarding progress and outcomes.
• Serve as an integrated school faculty member, participating in relevant committees to contribute to strategic visioning efforts.
• Support school & community-wide engagement efforts by sharing information, coordinating events, and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Ensure targeted stakeholders can access the supports, programming, and events that align with identified school priorities.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to further the mission of United Way of Greater Knoxville.

Required Skills/ Abilities

• Strong interpersonal, customer service, and coaching skills, with the ability to cultivate relationships across diverse communities and organizational levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint) and a willingness to learn new technologies as needed.
• Ability to analyze data, interpret reports, and use insights to inform decision-making.
• Strong attention to detail, commitment to accuracy, sound judgment, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to navigate fast-paced environments, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to evolving needs.
• A blend of emotional intelligence and analytical thinking to address complex challenges effectively.
• Curiosity and openness to learning, innovation, and creative problem-solving. Resilience to effectively navigate challenges and overcome barriers among stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with cultural responsiveness in engaging diverse audiences.
• Commitment to the mission and values of United Way of Greater Knoxville.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree in social work, human services, business, or an impact-related discipline.
• Minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience

Desirable, But Not Required:

• Deep understanding of the local community, including its strengths and challenges, with an interest in and desire to fix upstream barriers.
• Experience in education, social services, mental health, juvenile justice, or related fields.
• Professional experience working within communities with similar strengths and needs.
• Multilingual and/or multicultural experience is highly valued, particularly in working with Spanish-speaking communities.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to remain seated and use a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and events, including carrying and distributing materials.
• Moves supplies and donations weighing up to 30 lbs.
• Access to reliable transportation for meetings and events within the Greater Knoxville area and state and regional locations.
• Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required, with flexibility.

Work Environment:

• This role requires flexibility, as responsibilities may be carried out in various locations based on organizational and community needs.
• The primary office setting is a standard school environment.

Start your journey here:

United Way of Greater Knoxville (UWGK) is part of a global organization that directly impacts our local communities. We are committed to fostering a collaborative culture where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. Our work is rooted in making a meaningful impact, changing lives, and embracing the strengths of our community. YOU are an essential part of making our mission a reality. Join a team of great people, collaborate on meaningful work, and serve the communities you call home while you do it.

To model equitable hiring practices, UWGK strives to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The determination of this range includes various factors not limited to skill set level, experience and training, and licensure and certifications. To support the ability to reward merit-based performance, UWGK typically does not hire individuals at or near the top of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $42,000- $60,000/year.

How we think:
Our human capital is our most valuable asset. The collective sum of individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of our culture, reputation, and the organization’s achievement.

When you join UWGK, you become a trusted advisor, collaborating with colleagues and community stakeholders to bring actionable insights that deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes. In 2022, we celebrated the United Way of Greater Knoxville's centennial year and unveiled our plans for the next 100 years.

As a Thriving United Way, we are broadening our scope to include systems-level work in the areas of Community Schools, Early Education, Economic Mobility, and Health Communities. We will continue acting as a nonprofit funder and supporter, but we will also advocate on a larger scale to create lasting, systemic change in our community.

As an equal opportunity employer, we want to empower all our teammates to succeed and grow. Please let us know if you require accommodation at any point during the recruitment process. We will be happy to assist.

Ready to become part of our mission? Join UWGK - where your ideas and actions make a difference.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, sex, religion, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, familial status, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status or characteristics.

UWGK provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

UWGK offers of employment are contingent upon the ability to successfully complete a background investigation. Background investigation components can vary depending on specific job criteria. UWGK will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with all local regulations and ordinances.

UWGK will not discharge or, in any other manner, discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with UWGK's legal duty to furnish information.