Community Outreach Specialist (Volunteer)

Blind Professionals Network (BPN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals to achieve professional success. We provide free specialized training, career development resources, entrepreneur support, and a vital peer network to break down employment barriers.

Position Summary

The Community Outreach Specialist is a dynamic volunteer role focused on growing BPN’s membership and strengthening its presence within the blind and visually impaired (BVI) community. This individual acts as a brand ambassador, reaching out to potential members, partner organizations, and local agencies to share BPN’s mission and free resources. The Specialist works to ensure that every BVI professional or job-seeker knows that BPN is a resource available to them.

Key Responsibilities

Member Recruitment & Engagement:

Individual Outreach: Identify and connect with BVI professionals and students via LinkedIn, community forums, and professional groups to introduce them to BPN membership.
Onboarding Support: Act as a welcoming point of contact for new members, helping them navigate BPN’s resources and encouraging participation in upcoming events.
Community Presence: Monitor and participate in relevant online communities (Facebook groups, Reddit, email lists) to share BPN news and answer questions about the organization.

Partnership Support:

Agency Liaison: Maintain regular contact with state vocational rehabilitation agencies, university disability services, and local non-profits to ensure they have updated BPN brochures and program information.
Database Management: Keep accurate records of community contacts and partnership leads using BPN’s contact management tools.
Event Representation: Represent BPN at virtual resource fairs, community town halls, and networking events to distribute information and collect interest from potential members.

Promotional Assistance:

Resource Sharing: Collaborate with the Marketing Team to distribute "Call for Participants" flyers for BPN’s specialized training and workshops.
Storytelling: Identify success stories within the community and encourage members to share their professional journeys for BPN’s newsletter or social media.
Feedback Gathering: Conduct informal check-ins with members and partners to gather insights on community needs, reporting these findings to the Outreach Directors.

Qualifications

Interpersonal Skills: Natural ability to build rapport and talk to new people; a "people person" with a persuasive and empathetic communication style.
Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable with public speaking in virtual settings.
Proactive Mindset: Ability to work independently to identify new outreach opportunities and follow up on leads.
Knowledge of BVI Community: Familiarity with the challenges and resources relevant to the blind and visually impaired community is highly preferred.
Tech Savvy: Proficient in using Microsoft Office, Google Workplace, LinkedIn, Zoom, and basic database or spreadsheet software.

Reporting Structure

This position reports to the Community Outreach Directors.

Time Commitment

This is a volunteer position requiring an estimated commitment of 3–5 hours per week. This includes outreach activities, attending BPN community meetings, and occasional evening virtual events.

Application

If you believe this position aligns with your skills, experience and career goals, please follow these steps to begin the application process:

Submit Your Credentials: Send your resume and a letter of interest to Training@BlindProNet.org. In your letter, please detail your relevant professional experience and your specific motivation for joinzing the Blind Professionals Network Team.
Complete the Application: After submitting your application, finalize your application by completing the BPN Volunteer Application.

Important Note: Completing both of these steps is essential to initiate our onboarding process and helps us ensure a mutually beneficial placement within the organization.

LOREM IPSUM