Community Engagement Coordinator

On Our Own of Maryland, Inc. (OOOMD) is a statewide peer-operated behavioral health advocacy and education organization which promotes equality, justice, autonomy, and choice about life decisions for individuals with mental health and substance use needs. We work with peers (people who have lived experience with behavioral health challenges, services, or systems), service providers, community leaders, and organizations to ensure that behavioral health services and systems are recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, person-centered, and culturally and linguistically responsive. We focus on reducing stigmatizing practices and expanding peer involvement in mental health and substance use policy and planning at local, state, and national levels through training, technical assistance, mentoring, advocacy, and the expansion of peer support services. Learn more about our mission and activities on our website.

The Community Engagement Coordinator is part of the Community Engagement Department, which develops and delivers dynamic strategies, materials, activities, and events to educate and engage the behavioral health community and the broad public in anti-stigma, peer-led, person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally-responsive practices.

This position will support, innovate, and expand OOOMD’s print, digital, virtual, and in-person community engagement efforts to inform, inspire, and engage public audiences. Major areas of responsibility include ongoing development and implementation of multi-channel communication strategies (written and video content), and planning and production of the OOOMD Annual Conference (300+ attendees). This position offers a hybrid schedule of 60% remote and 40% in person work, often requiring daytime statewide travel. The ideal candidate will have strong interest in behavioral health stigma reduction, wellness and recovery topics, and community engagement and empowerment, as well as strong technical skills, knowledge, and experience with marketing and communications best practices.

Core Duties & Responsibilities

• Community Outreach & Engagement (40%):
  • Identify and directly connect with diverse community groups and organizations to raise awareness and promote participation in OOOMD activities.
  • Create and distribute dynamic and engaging written, audio, video, and interactive content to inform and inspire public audiences on specific topics and OOOMD activities through social media, newsletters, presentations, etc. using established and evolving best practices for each modality.
  • Collaborate with OOOMD projects and departments (ex: Anti-Stigma Project) to develop engagement and marketing strategies, materials, and outreach activities in response to observed needs and trends.
• Event Planning & Production (40%): Assist with the design, promotion, and production of virtual and in-person special events, such as OOOMD’s Annual Conferences and symposia, and assist with our participation in community events such as resource fairs. Tasks including but not limited to:
  • Logistics (venue, catering, vendors) planning, research, and coordination.
  • Programming content development and production (theme and agenda, learning objectives, proposal solicitation and selection, CEUs, etc).
  • Contributor coordination and communication (OOOMD staff, volunteers, presenters, participants, sponsors, awardees, special guests, etc.)
  • Promotion and engagement (publishing event information, managing registration platform, etc.)
• Information & Referral (15%):
  • Process incoming requests from members of the public via phone calls, emails, social media messaging platforms, etc.
  • Provide information and referral to other resources as needed.
  • Maintain working knowledge and Salesforce database records of wellness and recovery support resources across Maryland.
• Organizational Development (5%):
  • Participate in individual, team, and organization-wide professional development.
  • Collaborate with other internal departments and partner organizations on initiatives and special events.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Required General Experience & Education

• Behavioral Health Peer Experience:
  • Self-identify as having personal and direct lived experience with behavioral health (mental health and/or substance use) challenges, services, or systems.
  • Comfortable relating to others and publicly identifying as a behavioral health peer.
  • Strong interest in issues of wellness and recovery, healthcare equity and access, disability rights advocacy.
  • Preferred: Experience with peer support (ex: self-help support groups, mutual aid programs).
• Work Experience:
  • At least 3 years of professional experience and demonstrated success in similar job roles or functions.
  • Preferred: Experience with marketing, community engagement, event planning.
• Education:
  • At least a High School Diploma/GED.
  • Preferred: Associate’s Degree or higher.
  • Preferred: Specific education in communications, marketing, sociology, psychology, social work, or related fields

Required Position-Specific Skills & Knowledge

• Behavioral Health: Strong knowledge of concepts and competencies related to behavioral health, such as: mental health, substance use, trauma, self-help, harm reduction, stigma, peer support, strengths-based approaches. Preferred: Experience with Maryland’s public behavioral health and/or social services systems. Experience with Maryland’s Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credentialing process. Experience with peer-run programs and organizations.
• Marketing & Communications: Knowledge, skills, and interest in general marketing, communication, and engagement strategies (in person, digital, print, video, etc.). Preferred: Experience with behavioral health or health-focused public education and engagement campaigns.
• Community Empowerment & Social Change: Knowledge, skills, and strong interest in matters of personal empowerment and community-led social change. Preferred: Experience with interactive strategies and high-intensity topics.

Required General Skills & Knowledge

• Interpersonal:
  • Positive and collaborative approach to working with people with diverse life experiences.
  • Show a high degree of professionalism, integrity, and respect in all interactions.
  • Responsive to high-intensity situations in a timely, thoughtful, trauma-informed, and solution-oriented way.
  • Willing to continually grow and adapt skills and practices in response to identified needs.
  • Preferred: Previous experience working with behavioral health or community empowerment projects.
• Communication:
  • Clearly and concisely communicate accurate information in written and verbal formats.
  • Comfortable giving formal and informal presentations and writing for general audiences (ex: email, newsletters, social media).
  • Preferred: Previous experience interacting with the public for education, advocacy, or engagement purposes.
• Organization:
  • Excellent time management and organization skills with consistent attention to detail.
  • Effectively triage tasks for multiple projects with concurrent deadlines.
  • Preferred: Previous experience working with collaborations, grant-funded projects, and specific quarterly/annual goals and deliverables.
• Productivity:
  • Work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Highly responsive to external and internal requests or updates during business hours.
  • Effective and proactive problem-solving based on organizational values, goals, policies, procedures.
  • Preferred: Previous experience working virtually/remotely on long-term projects.
• Technical:
  • Proficient with office software applications: digital documents, spreadsheets, email, electronic calendars, virtual meeting apps, social media.
  • Preferred: Experience with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Meet), Zoom, Salesforce.
• Travel & Schedule:
  • Consistently and punctually attend virtual meetings and in-person events across Maryland.
  • Flexible to work hours as needed to achieve project or organizational goals, including infrequent early morning/evening/weekend hours and overnight stays.
  • Preferred: Valid driver’s license and access to personal vehicle.

Expectations & Impact: Excellence in this position will result in increased engagement and participation in OOOMD’s activities, events, and media platforms.

Benefits:

• Paid time off (15 holidays, and vacation, medical [sick & safe], personal leave)
• Employer-sponsored health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match (up to 3%)
• Professional development (training, conferences, etc.).

Schedule:

• Standard business hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Hybrid schedule of approximately 60% virtual / 40% in-person with flexible hours (within 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.) available, subject to job performance and organizational needs.
• Occasional morning/evening/weekend hours may be required for specific activities.

Location:

• The OOOMD Office is located in Elkridge, Maryland (Howard County).
• Required in-person activities may take place at locations across the state of Maryland.

Travel:

• Statewide daytime travel will be scheduled as required to meet project and organizational needs.
• Infrequent overnight or out-of-state travel may be required for specific activities.
• Mileage and per diem reimbursement provided.

English proficiency required. Additional language skills are appreciated!