Community Connector Manager

Summary Description:

The Community Connector Manager leads the strategic development and operations of the Community Connector program at Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM). This role supervises a growing team of Community Connectors and facilitates their outreach and community engagement work across MHM's service area. The manager is responsible for program design, internal and external collaboration, and strengthening upstream and root cause intervention strategies that advance health and wellbeing. The role focuses on program-level development and execution, cross-departmental coordination, and team member development.

Essential Duties:

Additional Managerial Responsibilities

• Supervise Community Connectors located in distinct regions, providing support and guidance as they adapt to opportunities and barriers within their own region.
• Visit each Community Connector in their region on a regular basis to gain a deeper understanding of the region where each Community Connector is rooted and actively engaged.
• Train and coach team members in the skills needed to facilitate conversations, planning efforts, and group decision-making processes with communities through critical thinking, teamwork, collaborative problem-solving, and inclusion.
• Lead the development and coordination of internal training for Community Connector processes, including onboarding, outreach, event logistics, and communication with MHM departments.
• Oversee the introduction and use of project management tools to support the Community Connector team.
• Contribute toward consistent, proactive, and accountable communication within the Communities of Solutions department and with interdepartmental efforts and working groups to remove barriers and foster healthy team dynamics.
• Advocate for and contribute toward the advancement of health equity as both an outcome and a process by integrating community residents and MHM team members with recent lived experience of health inequities into decision-making processes throughout the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To successfully perform this role, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty effectively. The qualifications outlined below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• • Bachelor’s degree in social/behavioral sciences, public health, or a related field.
  • Five (5) years of experience in community outreach or organizing, including work directly with individuals who have lived experience of inequities.
  • In lieu of a degree:
  • High school diploma or equivalent and
  • Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in community outreach or organizing roles.
  • Must demonstrate experience engaging individuals with lived experience in projects, programs, or decision-making processes.

Preferred:

• • Understanding of community development models, particularly Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD).
  • Experience working with and addressing health and social inequities in marginalized populations.
  • Background in community organizing and partnerships with grassroots organizations.
  • Experience engaging or collaborating with diverse faith-based communities.
  • Strong project management, public speaking, conflict mediation, and relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and work across departments to achieve shared goals.

Location:

Must live in a specific region within MHM’s service area: either Mid-Border (Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, LaSalle, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, or Zavala counties), Tri-County (Jim Hogg, Webb, or Zapata counties), South Texas / Rio Grande Valley (Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Kenedy, Starr, or Willacy counties), or a separate region that includes Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Live Oak, and McMullen counties. Must also be rooted in that region, having lived in that one region for at least 5 consecutive years. This position will require frequent travel within the regions where Community Connectors are located.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

None.

Language Skills:

Comfortable speaking and responding to questions in front of diverse audiences, including community members, leaders, and staff. Bilingual in English and Spanish required. Must be able to develop documents and deliver presentations in both languages.

Reasoning Ability:

Demonstrates creative, strategic thinking and sound judgment. Able to work independently and collaboratively across diverse stakeholders to build consensus. Skilled in problem definition, data collection, analysis, and drawing valid conclusions. Excels in complex, matrixed environments with a focus on collaboration, negotiation, and innovation.

Computer Skills:

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual collaboration tools such as Zoom and MS Teams. Must be able to navigate online platforms and systems effectively.

Other:

• Commitment to health equity and community-driven approaches
• Learning-oriented mindset with willingness to innovate and “fail forward”
• Understanding of upstream and root cause community health work and the differences between charity, equity, and liberation
• Passion for creating positive change that leads to thriving communities
• Adaptability to shifting priorities and evolving circumstances
• Strategic and analytical thinking about social, economic, and political issues
• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to engage across sectors
• Understanding of the roles and contributions of community stakeholders
• Must have a valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle, and auto liability insurance

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

This role involves bending, walking, standing, and sitting for extended periods. Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds. Travel within assigned regions and to San Antonio is required up to 75% of the time. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Medical, Dental and Vision.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries pays 100 percent of team members’ premiums and 55 percent of dependent premiums on the base medical plan. The Methodist Healthcare Ministries dental plan allows team members to freely choose their dentist, regardless if they are in or out of the Guardian’s DentalGuard Preferred Network. The Methodist Healthcare Ministries vision plan allows team members to receive an annual eye exam for just $10.

Voluntary Life Insurance.

Team members have the option to purchase voluntary life insurance through a payroll deduction. The benefit maximum for team members is $300,000, not to exceed five times one’s annual salary. Team members may increase their benefit amount by two increments ($10,000) without having to complete an Evidence of Insurability (EOI) form.

Flexible Spending Account.

Team members have the opportunity to pay for out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars through a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) while being automatically deducted through your payroll. Team members can save approximately 25 percent of each dollar spent on these expenses when participating in the FSA!

Employee Assistance Program.

All full-time team members, as well as any family members residing in their household, have access to the Methodist Healthcare Ministries Employee Assistance Program offered through Unum. Members can receive confidential counseling and referral services designed to help with any personal, job or family related problems.

401(k) Plan and Roth 401(k).

Methodist Healthcare Ministries currently makes a matching contribution of 7 percent after one year of service and 9 percent after 10 years. With a 401(k) plan team members can save pre-tax dollars to lower taxable income to take more income home. With a Roth 401(k), contributions are taxed now, earnings grow tax-free, and no taxes are paid when a withdrawal is made (certain conditions apply).

Holidays and Paid Time Off (PTO).

Methodist Healthcare Ministries observes nine official holidays. In these instances, Methodist Healthcare Ministries closes all operations for the day. Team members begin accruing paid time off (PTO) upon their date of hire. Team members who have been with the organization for sixty continuous days may use their accrued PTO.

Health & Wellness Incentive Program.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is committed to the emotional, mental, physical, spiritual and occupational well-being of our team members. The Be Well program encourages a healthy lifestyle for all team members through the availability of an incentive program for health improvement related expenses.

Education Reimbursement.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries offers education reimbursement for completion of courses of study that support both the business plans and future objectives of the organization and meet the individual aspirations of the team member.

Comfortable speaking and responding to questions in front of diverse audiences, including community members, leaders, and staff. Bilingual in English and Spanish required. Must be able to develop documents and deliver presentations in both languages.