What Does a Community Liaison Do?

Community liaisons are often the face of an organization. They interact with members of their community on a daily basis, building relationships and fostering connections that help their organization thrive.

Community liaisons may work directly for a company or organization, but they also commonly work as contractors or consultants who provide services to multiple companies at once. In either case, they’re responsible for building positive relationships between their organization and its surrounding communities.

Community Liaison Job Duties

Community liaisons have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Coordinating educational programs for community members about relevant issues or topics such as health, safety, or environmental issues
• Sharing information with the community about relevant local events and activities through social media channels or other communication avenues
• Serving as a liaison between residents and police officers to resolve problems or concerns
• Participating in community events such as block parties, neighborhood cleanups, and business openings
• Coordinating with non-profit organizations to provide assistance to low income families, senior citizens, or other vulnerable populations
• Encouraging residents to join neighborhood watch groups or crime prevention programs
• Acting as a liaison between the community and local government agencies and officials
• Participating in community outreach efforts such as town hall meetings, community events, and neighborhood watch programs
• Promoting awareness of community services available to residents, such as food pantries, homeless shelters, mental health counseling services, etc.

Community Liaison Salary & Outlook

Community liaisons are typically paid hourly wages, and their salaries can vary depending on a number of factors.

• Median Annual Salary: $52,500 ($25.24/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $84,500 ($40.63/hour)

The employment of community liaisons is expected to grow much faster than average over the next decade.

Demand for these workers is expected to increase as healthcare providers continue to seek ways to improve the quality of care and reduce costs. Community liaisons can help health systems identify and address the needs of specific populations, such as patients with chronic conditions or those who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

Related: Community Liaison Interview Questions and Answers

Community Liaison Job Requirements

A community liaison typically needs the following qualifications:

Education: Community liaisons are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as community development, public relations, social work or community outreach. Some employers may prefer community liaisons to have a master’s degree in community development or public administration.

Training & Experience: Community liaisons often receive on-the-job training from their new employer. This training may include learning about the organization’s mission, values and goals. It may also include learning about the community the organization serves, such as the neighborhood, demographics and needs. Community liaisons may also receive training in the organization’s software and computer systems.

Certifications & Licenses: While certifications are not often required for community liaisons, they may benefit from a variety of professional certifications that may improve their job prospects and enhance their skills.

Community Liaison Skills

Community liaisons need the following skills in order to be successful:

Communication: Community liaisons often communicate with a variety of people, including members of the public, other employees and company executives. They need to be able to communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms. They also need to be able to communicate with a variety of people, including those with different backgrounds and experiences.

Listening: As a community liaison, you should be able to listen to the concerns of your community and relay them to your organization. You can also use your listening skills to understand the needs of your community and help your organization meet them. For example, if you notice that a certain area of your community has a high crime rate, you can relay this information to your organization and suggest ways to reduce crime in that area.

Active listening: Active listening is the ability to focus on the speaker and understand their needs. As a community liaison, you may be in contact with a variety of people, including community members, business owners, city officials and other liaisons. Being able to listen to their concerns and respond appropriately can help you build positive relationships with these individuals.

Public speaking: Public speaking is a necessary skill for community liaisons to have, as they often present information to community members and other stakeholders. Community liaisons often speak at community meetings, conferences and other events, so they need to be comfortable speaking in front of an audience. They also need to be able to speak clearly and concisely to ensure everyone understands the information they’re sharing.

Networking: Community liaisons often work with other members of a company to develop and implement community outreach initiatives. This often involves networking with other employees to identify the needs of the community and the resources the company has to offer. Community liaisons can also use networking skills to build relationships with community members and encourage them to participate in company initiatives.

Community Liaison Work Environment

Community liaisons typically work in an office setting, although they may travel to meet with community members, attend community events, or give presentations. They typically work a standard 40-hour week, although they may occasionally work evenings or weekends to attend community events or meet with community members. Community liaisons may also work extra hours to complete reports or other projects. The work can be stressful at times, particularly when dealing with controversial issues or difficult community members. However, community liaisons generally find the work to be rewarding and enjoy the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of community members.

Community Liaison Trends

Here are three trends influencing how community liaisons work. Community liaisons will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Community Liaisons Need to Be More Than Just Salespeople

Community liaisons are an important part of any organization, as they are responsible for building relationships with members of the community and helping to promote the company’s products and services.

In order to be successful in this role, community liaisons need to be more than just salespeople. They need to be able to communicate effectively with a variety of people from different backgrounds and understand their needs and concerns. Additionally, they need to be able to create a positive image for the company that is both accurate and appealing.

More Focus on Employee Engagement

As businesses become more focused on employee engagement, community liaisons will play an increasingly important role.

Community liaisons are responsible for connecting employees with the outside world and helping them feel connected to the company. This can include things like organizing social events or creating opportunities for employees to give back to the community. By developing strong ties with the community, community liaisons can help businesses attract and retain top talent.

A Greater Emphasis on Customer Service

As customer service becomes more important in today’s economy, community liaisons will need to focus on providing excellent customer service.

This means that community liaisons will need to be well-versed in customer service best practices and be able to handle difficult situations with professionalism and tact. In addition, they will need to be able to communicate effectively with customers and understand what they want and need.

How to Become a Community Liaison

A community liaison career can be a great way to get started in the nonprofit sector. As a community liaison, you’ll be responsible for building relationships with members of your community and helping them find ways to get involved in your organization. This is a great role for people who are outgoing and enjoy meeting new people.

To become a community liaison, it’s important to have strong communication skills and be able to build rapport quickly with strangers. It’s also helpful to have experience working in customer service or sales.

Advancement Prospects

Community liaisons typically advance by taking on more responsibility within their organization. As they gain experience, they may be promoted to positions with more authority, such as community outreach coordinator or community relations manager. With further experience and training, they may eventually become executive directors or CEOs of their organization.

Community liaisons may also advance their career by moving to a position in a related field, such as public relations, marketing, or government relations.

Community Liaison Job Description Example

At [CompanyX], we’re proud to be a part of the fabric of the community we serve. As a community liaison, you’ll be the face of our company, working to build and maintain relationships with the people who live and work around us. You’ll be responsible for organizing and executing community events, attending local meetings and networking functions, and generally promoting [CompanyX] as a good neighbor. The ideal candidate will be outgoing, organized, and have a deep understanding of the community we serve. They will also be able to effectively communicate the company’s message to a variety of audiences.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with key community members, including public officials, business leaders, and media representatives
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the organization in the community, responding to inquiries and concerns in a timely and professional manner
• Plan and implement community outreach initiatives, such as events, programs, and workshops designed to engage the community and promote the organization’s mission
• Develop and distribute educational materials about the organization and its programs to various audiences
• Write articles, press releases, and other content to generate positive publicity for the organization
• Monitor local news sources and social media platforms for mentions of the organization and proactively address any negative sentiment
• Keep abreast of developments in the community that could impact the organization and its programs, and communicate this information to relevant parties
• Attend community meetings, forums, and events on behalf of the organization
• Represent the organization at public speaking engagements and conferences
• Serve as a resource to staff on matters related to the community
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the organization’s programs and services
• Perform administrative tasks as needed, such as preparing reports and maintaining records

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field
• 3-5 years professional experience in community outreach, marketing, or similar role
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and social media platforms
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or related field
• Experience working with diverse communities
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Experience with graphic design software (Adobe Creative Suite)
• Experience planning and executing events