Consumer Education & Protection Outreach Coordinator

Position Overview

The Department of Insurance is seeking to hire an Executive I to serve as a Consumer Education and Protection Outreach Coordinator. The Outreach Coordinator will engage with community groups, legislators, and consumer advocates to source and attend outreach events and gatherings to inform the public about the Department of Insurance’s mission, consumer resources, and relevant insurance topics.  This position helps to develop consumer educational materials. The position travels to events to represent the Department, utilizing Spanish speaking, reading, and writing skills in interacting with and assisting Spanish speaking consumers, consumer advocates, community groups, and educational and stakeholder organizations. We invite all qualified applicants to apply.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Essential Functions

• As Consumer Education and Protection Outreach Coordinator, represents the Department of Insurance (DOI) at local outreach events throughout northern Illinois:
    • Cultivates relationships with local community groups, consumer advocates, other state agencies, and legislative staff to source opportunities for outreach participation,
    • Makes presentations and delivers information to consumer, community, educational, and stakeholder organizations, 
    • Develops partnerships with educational institutions to expand the reach of consumer education, travels to meetings and events.
2. Works with the Deputy Director of Consumer Education and Protection and DOI leadership to implement the consumer outreach and protection activities of DOI and contribute to the development of important written communications, webinar content, policy updates, and development of training modules: 
    • Creates events and educational presentations. 
    • Responds to questions from consumers, consumer advocates, industry stakeholders, legislators, and state agency staff as applied to the education and protection outreach and grants for consumer assistance activities. 
    • Keeps the Deputy Director of Consumer Education and Protection and DOI leadership apprised of consumer issues that arise during engagements.
3. Implements consumer education and protection activities incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles: 
    • Ensures education materials and communications are inclusive. 
    • Identifies and targets consumer education and outreach opportunities in underserved, rural, and historically marginalized communities. 
    • Stays up to date on department and statewide equity initiatives that impact consumer education and outreach.
4. Utilizes Spanish speaking, reading, and writing skills in interacting with and assisting Spanish speaking consumers, consumer advocates, community groups, and educational and stakeholder organizations at local outreach events and events educating consumers:
    • Translates and interprets for staff of other areas of the Department in interactions with Spanish speaking individuals.
5. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in business administration, public administration, education, or communications.
• Requires one (1) year of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization.
• Requires the ability to speak, read, and write Spanish at a colloquial skill level.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers one (1) year experience performing consumer assistance, outreach, or public education activities including public presentations, tabling activities, and public speaking.
• Prefers one (1) year experience evaluating information presented and to prepare effective and comprehensive, consumer friendly written or oral reports.
• Prefers one (1) year experience in applying diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.
• Prefers at least one (1) year of experience gaining extensive knowledge of consumer assistance programs and consumer issues.
• Prefers at least one (1) year of experience gaining extensive knowledge of insurance or financial literacy.
• Prefers proven ability to act on behalf of supervisor on various occasions and to coordinate activities within a functional unit.
• Prefers proven ability to establish and maintain satisfactory working relationships with community groups, educational institutions, legislative representatives, and consumers.
• Prefers proven ability to speak and engage with consumers in a simple and understandable manner.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires the ability to pass a background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency

The Department of Insurance (DOI) regulates the insurance market in the State of Illinois including, but not limited to, licensing and educating insurance agents, investigating Workers Compensation fraud, and examining the operations and finances of insurance companies domiciled in the state. We are committed to protecting consumers and regulating the insurance industry with innovation and efficiency. DOI has approximately 220 employees who are split between our Chicago and Springfield offices.

State of Illinois employees enjoy a robust benefit package, including:

• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
• 10-25 days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually (sick days carry over from year to year)
• 12 Weeks Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• 3 Paid Personal Days annually
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
• Flexible work schedules may be available, dependent upon position
• Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility

Visit https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx for more information about our benefits.