Special Olympics Tennessee
Unified Champion Schools Community Engagement Coordinator
Special Olympics Tennessee - Entry Level
Brentwood, TN
Community Relations · Community Impact & Foundation · Teacher
0
4
days ago
The Unified Champion Schools (UCS) Community Engagement Coordinator designs, implements, and expands outreach initiatives that connect schools with the broader community. This role focuses on rural and underserved communities driving engagement across the three core pillars of UCS: Special Olympics Unified Sports®, Inclusive Youth Leadership, and Whole-School Engagement. The Coordinator works closely with educators, students, families, corporate sponsors, and local organizations to foster a culture of inclusion and mutual respect. A vital priority of this role is building sustainable transition pathways, ensuring that graduating students with and without intellectual disabilities smoothly transition from school-based initiatives into lifelong local Special Olympics programming.
MISSION
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Identify, recruit and build partnerships with local businesses, civic groups, and non-profits.
- Serve as initial liaison between Special Olympics staff, school districts, and community stakeholders.
- Assist to secure external resources, sponsorships, and in-kind donations to support school-based inclusion programs.
- Monitor, track, and evaluate program participation data and community impact metrics for grant reporting.
- Assist in writing grant proposals and managing the allocated budget for community engagement activities.
- Collaborate with internal Special Olympics departments to align local efforts of Sports, Health and Unified Champion Schools programming
- Facilitate family engagement initiatives, ensuring parents and guardians are active participants in the UCS community.
- Design and execute transition pipelines that actively connect graduating athletes and Unified partners with adult community-based Special Olympics teams and leadership roles.
- Partner with high school guidance counselors, special education departments, and transition coordinators to educate exiting families on continuous local program opportunities.
- In coordination with local leadership, host events that integrate graduating students into adult community programs.
- Establish a tracking framework to monitor the enrollment and retention of school alumni moving into adult community programming.
QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS
- 2–4 years of experience in community organizing, social work, education, event planning, or youth development.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, Non-profit Management, Sports Management, Education, Social Work, Public Administration or a related field.
- Strong public speaking abilities and the capacity to write compelling newsletters, pitches, and reports.
- Ability to build effective relationships with a variety of organizations
- Excellent organizational, critical thinking, interpersonal, and time management skills
- Ability to work with diverse personalities with a team-first mindset
- Ability to work well independently and in a fast-paced environment
- Proficient in using relevant technology, including Microsoft Office Suite tools, Google Docs, and database systems
- Willing to travel and work evenings and weekends, as needed
- Have a valid Tennessee driver’s license and meet minimum Tennessee vehicle insurance requirements
- Must pass a criminal background screening and submit to random drug testing
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Diversity, Equity, and inclusion are at the very heart of all that we do at Special Olympics Tennessee. We strive to promote unity and create a community where everyone belongs. We value, celebrate, and support all differences, backgrounds, and viewpoints and understand that a focus on greater diversity and inclusion will enrich our organization and our world.
Special Olympics Tennessee is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on sexual orientation, marital status, disability, gender, neurodiversity, age, parental status, socio-economic background, military service, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.
BENEFITS AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Commensurate with experience. This full-time position is benefit eligible. Special Olympics Tennessee provides health and dental insurance, a life insurance policy, paid time off and a 401K match.
