Community Engagement Director at Seattle Community Police Commission

Position Description

THE COMMISSION

The Community Police Commission (CPC) envisions communities and Seattle’s police working in alignment with shared goals of safety, respect, and accountability. We listen to, amplify, and build common ground among communities affected by policing in Seattle. We are a small, but dedicated, team championing policing practices centered in justice and equity.

THE JOB

The CPC is recruiting for a Community Engagement Director to lead our Community Engagement team as they continue to build strong and collaborative relationships with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. In this role, you will conduct equity-driven assessments of current engagement and develop engagement plans that continually expand and enhance community connection and collaboration. You and your team will gather, synthesize, and elevate community feedback and emerging issues to the CPC Policy team and Commissioners. The focus of this job is to build relationships with communities most impacted by policing, cultivate current and emerging leaders, and facilitate community inclusiveness on issues of individual and community safety, as well as police reform.

Job Responsibilities

To be successful in this role, you are committed to:

• Racial equity and social justice
• Equitable, culturally competent, and inclusive outreach and engagement
• Inviting feedback and listening, especially when it is challenging
• Transparency and clear communications based on the needs of the audience
• Building trust and strong relationships
• Elevating community voices, concerns, and needs
  
  

To be effective in this role, you are:

• Motivated to make the City of Seattle more accessible to, and interactive with, community members, and seeing those interactions as learning opportunities.
• Self-motivated and a strong leader, consistently looking for ways to support team development, cohesion, and performance
• Comfortable leading community engagement, including pre-engagement strategies, needs assessments and mapping, and evaluation tools to determine which events to attend, the value of each event, and after-action reporting themes
• Energized by this work and getting people involved in and teaching them how to make change
• Knowledgeable and sensitive to the interests of a wide range of community members, partners, elected officials, and colleagues, and can navigate interactions at all levels, including how to de-escalate conflict
• An active listener and versatile and successful communicator, gathering information and keeping people informed using the best content and format depending on the complexity of the issue/situation – written articles, reports, memos, presentations, and infographics
• Able to turn community feedback into action
• Capable of becoming a valued and innovative resource for community support, capacity building, customer relations, and constituent inquiries and concerns
• Multi-lingual and can provide in-language support to community members would be a plus
  
  

Qualifications

Successful applicants will have experience that reflects people and community engagement management that centers equity and anti-racist practices. This experience should be complemented by demonstrated ability in most of the following areas:

• Managing people, their performance, and development
• Broad written and oral communication skills, including representing their team or organization with a variety of audiences
• Cross-cultural community engagement
• Advocating for BIPOC communities
• Successfully having difficult conversations about race
• Navigating political nuances and confidentiality concerns
• Working in a dynamic, diverse, fast-paced environment
  
  

Please note that this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information

This position is classified as a Strategic Advisor 1, Exempt. The 2026 salary range for this position is $51.88 - $77.82. Our target salary for this position is $66.00 - $68.00.

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be based on agreement between the employee and management. It will also require the ability to attend night and weekend meetings and events in-person and virtually.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at:https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans

Here is a resource for Application and Interviewing tips with the City of Seattle.

In addition to completing the application at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle fully, please attach:

• A PDF of your current resume
• A cover letter explaining your motivation for applying and examples of similar work you have done where you collaborated with and achieved goals that improved the lives of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
  
  

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Why Work for the City of Seattle? At the City of Seattle, public service is more than a job; it’s a chance to shape the future and make a meaningful difference in the lives of everyone who works, lives, or plays in our city. With 12,000 employees across 40+ departments and 1,100 job titles, we are united by a common purpose: to create a Seattle that is vibrant and welcoming for all. Whatever your role, you’ll help power a forward-looking city that leads by example — inclusive, innovative, equitable, and community-focused — while joining a diverse team committed to solving challenges and making a lasting impact together. Join us in building a Seattle that thrives!

This position is open to all applicants that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The City encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Accommodations:

Individuals with disabilities will be provided with reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please get in touch with [email protected] for questions or to request accommodations.