Community Liaison

JOB OVERVIEW:

About Ability KC - For over 75 years, Ability KC’s legacy has been building brighter futures for children and adults with complex illnesses, injuries, and disabilities through its comprehensive medical, educational, and vocational services, making individuals and communities stronger through its person-centric approach. Ability KC supports a high level of acuity and complexity in conditions, from brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, and amputation to rare conditions, helping infants to seniors achieve life-changing and impactful milestones. Serving hundreds of thousands of individuals and families across Missouri and Kansas, Ability KC is a critical bridge between healthcare and quality of life, helping individuals integrate into homes, schools, workplaces, and our communities. Ability KC is a nationally recognized comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation and value-based care organization accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation (CARF), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is designated as a Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Learn more at https://abilitykc.org.

The Community Liaison is responsible for building, managing, and nurturing strong relationships with referral sources and community partners (including, but not limited to, hospitals and health systems, physician clinics, home health agencies, school districts, etc.,) to drive patient referrals and meet program goals. This role educates current and prospective referral partners, industry organizations, patients, and families about Ability KC’s mission, services, programs and key benefits through community events, presentations, meetings, inpatient visits, tours, and targeted marketing communications. The Liaison is responsible for having a robust knowledge of all Ability KC programs and services. The Community Liaison also manages and supports the local and regional annual event plan, including maintaining event documentation, managing the event budget, proposing participation recommendations, supporting or hosting educational in-services, setting up and staffing the table/booth and coordinating exhibit logistics and materials.

Serving as the first touchpoint for newly referred patients, the Liaison introduces individuals and families to Ability KC, provides education on services and processes, facilitates connection with the Admissions team, and helps ensure a positive and supportive experience from the outset. The role partners closely with internal stakeholders—including Discipline Managers, Program Leaders, Admissions, Social Workers, and Case Managers—to support timely and effective admission and scheduling of new and returning patients by ensuring that accurate documentation and required information is obtained. The Liaison also works closely with the Marketing and Development teams to support annual fundraising events and ensure positive brand awareness in the community. Additionally, the Liaison provides feedback and insights from the field to inform organizational decision-making, monitors and responds to general inquiries (including info@ emails and “Build Your Plan” website submissions), and maintains relationships with key community resources by hosting or supporting resource fairs and identifying new partnership opportunities.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in an allied health (e.g., rehabilitation, therapy, social services, etc.) or related health profession required, with a strong working knowledge of medical rehabilitation, therapeutic education models and family services and familiarity of employment programs for individuals with disabilities preferred.

EXPERIENCE: A minimum of four years’ experience in a multi-disciplinary setting for allied health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, therapeutic education, social work or closely related field. Preference for minimum of three years’ experience directly working with hospitals and healthcare systems. Previous experience working in a non-profit organization is desired. Demonstrated professional experience providing support to executives with multiple projects and schedules; managing deadlines; interacting with various types of individuals (business, community leaders and general public). Proven strong communication and customer service skills. Proven ability to work independently, multi-task and solve problems in a fast-paced environment.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION:

· Current appropriate certification/licensure.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to maintain positive relationships with third-party vendors and venues.

· Good interpersonal, organizational and leadership skills and ability to communicate effectively and with empathy.

· Able to gather, evaluate, synthesize and effectively present data/information. Metrics-driven with the ability to report to internal stakeholders and leadership.

· Attend relevant trade shows and events and monitor industry trends and competitor activities.

· Has good interpersonal, organizational and project management skills and ability to work independently and proactively, as well as to lead, facilitate and/or participate in program and project management with internal and external stakeholders.

· Understands Ability KC programs and services, as well as external industry/sector trends and insights within nonprofit and healthcare/education space.

· Is flexible and able to adapt to change in a fast-paced environment.

· Good working knowledge of applicable software and platforms to support responsibilities and is comfortable learning new software programs.

· Is a critical thinker and problem solver; proactively brings recommendations and solutions to leadership and team.

· Experience supporting partnerships, events and community outreach efforts.

· Is a collaborator, connector and team player, willing and able to work cross-functionally with other teams.

· Can prioritize projects and make decisions independently, with guidance from leadership as needed.

· Can effectively manage budget and track expense actuals.

· Ability to perform other duties as needed.

ROUTINE CONTACTS:

Continually engaged with the following contacts: individuals and families served, organization staff, board of directors, contributors and donors, volunteers, community leaders, referral providers and organizations, insurance representatives, civic groups, school district personnel, students, and business partners.

The position should have access only to patient or client protected health information based upon applicable consents following compliance with HIPAA and/or applicable regulations.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

The tools and equipment required to perform the essential functions of this job include computer, digital platforms and routine office equipment.