Outreach Coordinator

Outreach and Membership Coordinator

Reports to:       Lead Minister

Status:               Hourly, Non-Exempt, Part Time – 30 Hours/Week

Benefits:           Retirement,  Vacation & Holiday, Health, LTD, Employee Elect Dental & Life

Effective:          September 13, 2023

Job Summary: Under the general supervision of the Lead Minister, and in collaboration with lay leaders and volunteers, the Outreach and Membership Coordinator (OMC) is responsible for developing a vibrant and effective program of connection and community building at USSB. The OMC is responsible for promoting USSB activities and events to members, friends, and the general public, and keeping newcomers and members connected to one another and the congregation. Through various communication platforms, social media, in-person networking, and community partnerships, the OMC shares the USSB mission and vision with the wider community and fosters a sense of welcome and inclusion in all that we do.

Work Schedule: Flexible mid-week schedule and regular hours on Sundays; primarily on-site but with the possibility of some remote work. Occasional evenings and special events.

Core Areas of Focus:

Outreach: Seeks out ways to increase the visibility of USSB in the wider community, identifies and welcomes visitors who attend our services and events, and makes connections with other community groups that share our values.

Communications: Helps us communicate about our congregation and its activities with clarity and style so that the mission of USSB comes to life, including both internal and external communications. Effectively uses social media to invite engagement with USSB.

Membership: With a positive and outgoing spirit, works with our volunteer Membership Team to welcome and integrate newcomers as well as keep current members engaged and connected. Represents USSB in a compelling and inviting manner and helps people of diverse backgrounds and life experiences feel seen, respected, and welcomed at USSB.

Essential Functions:

• Creates and sustains an effective system for connecting with visitors, tracking engagement and participation, and inviting them into deeper connection with the congregation.
• Ensures that members, friends, and newcomers are aware of USSB events, programs, and initiatives.
• Creates, implements, and maintains a communications plan that includes social media, print mail, and email, which includes creating content and graphics, soliciting content from other staff and volunteers, posting and sending out content on a regular basis, monitoring engagement, and reporting outcomes.
• Is physically present on Sunday morning to welcome and connect with newcomers; Coordinates and supports the Sunday morning volunteer Welcome Team, including ushers, greeters, and coffee hosts.
• Is the staff support for the Membership Ministry Team, working with volunteers on membership engagement; Attends monthly evening Membership Team meetings; Attends other congregational events as needed, such as potlucks, the annual auction, and occasional special programs.
• Logs on to the Zoom Sanctuary on Sunday mornings to welcome and connect with our online visitors, friends, and members; Finds creative ways to connect with our virtual congregation and integrate them into membership.
• Oversees and invites people into the “path to membership” process, including coordinating the monthly Newcomer Orientation, supporting the periodic New Member Class, and organizing New Member Sundays, in collaboration with the Minister and volunteers from the Membership Team.
• Actively seeks opportunities to connect the work of the congregation with other community groups with shared values; Facilitates a visible USSB presence at events like the Pacific Pride Festival, interfaith gatherings, social justice events, other community engagement opportunities.
• Advises and assists on the overall design and content of our website and social media presence, keeping it up-to-date and engaging, with an eye for attracting visitors and connecting with newcomers.
• Creates flyers, mailers, postcards and creative on-campus communications, so that people visiting our campus can see and understand what USSB is all about.
• Coordinates with the Office Manager to maintain our CRM system (Realm) and input relevant data about visitors, members, friends, and community contacts; keeps the data current, provides reports as needed, and helps members access and update their own profiles and information; seeks to understand our congregation through the data we collect.

• Creates and edits congregational mailings and email communications, including the monthly “Kaleidoscope” long-format newsletter as well as the weekly Friday email update, as well as other occasional all-congregation communications, like the Annual Report.

Essential Qualities & Skills:

• A “people” person with an inclusive approach: Someone who loves getting to know people and is comfortable speaking to newcomers and small groups. Easily connects with people of diverse ages, backgrounds, gender expressions, identities, and abilities, with an awareness of how issues of justice and equity impact our community.
• Excellent communication skills. An interest in learning about new communication platforms and tools as they arise. Ability and interest in collaborating with others on communications.
• General knowledge of local social justice and community organizations. A passion for building relationships in the wider community.
• Able to self-manage and prioritize tasks, make independent decisions, and have a sense of ownership and accountability for their own work as well as their contribution toward the overall goals of USSB.
• Creative approach to communications and community building. Able to generate new strategies and explore new opportunities for connection and engagement.
• Excellent graphic design skills; able to create compelling invitations through digital and printed media.
• Friendly, encouraging, and non-anxious presence with volunteers and other staff. Ability to work with and support volunteers of diverse skills, abilities, and temperaments.
• Grounded in Unitarian Universalist Values: Supports the USSB mission as well as Unitarian Universalist principles and values. Supports an anti-racist, anti-oppressive culture within the congregation.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success promoting/publicizing events, program, and organizations.
• Three or more years not-for-profit or community-based work doing outreach, publicity, volunteer management or related.
• Professional experience using a database/CRM system.
• Strong skills in Word, Excel, Outlook, Google Docs, and presentation platforms.
• Strong Internet skills; experience with social media platforms.
• Education and/or experience in marketing and communications preferred.

Work Environment:

A combination of on-site and remote work. May need to travel locally.

Physical Requirements:

Able to move freely in and out of different congregational and community settings, manage basic office equipment, and lift up to 20 lbs. Able to speak in a public forum, in small groups, and one-on-one settings.

Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara as an Employer:

We are a community that welcomes people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds, wherever they are on their spiritual journey. We encourage all applications, especially those from members of traditionally marginalized communities, such as LGBTQ+, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color), neuro-diverse people, and people with disabilities. We welcome applications from those whose skills and talents for this work are not reflected in a traditional educational or career path.

To see the USSB mission: https://www.ussb.org/spiritual-life/who-we-are

For more on Unitarian Universalist principles: https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles

Send cover letter and resume to employment@ussb.org