Community Engagement Researcher

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About the Role

CalTekNet seeks a Community Engagement Researcher to address the digital divide through strategic community technology development. This position focuses on designing economic efficiency and collaborative capabilities within non-profit organizations across California. You'll research, aggregate resources, and develop customized open source solutions that enhance organizational capacity while improving community technology access and digital literacy.

About CalTekNet

Founded in 1997 as a founding member of CTCNet (Community Technology Centers' Network), CalTekNet has been dedicated to addressing the digital divide in California for over 25 years. Through our affiliations with the commons movement and later Community Partners fiscal sponsorship, we've maintained our commitment to digital equity and community empowerment through open source solutions.

CalTekNet identifies, manages, and deploys toolkits targeting the California digital divide through open source software communities. We partner with non-profit organizations to develop community-centered technology solutions based on Odoo Community Edition applications for enterprise resource planning (ERP), helping organizations transition toward social enterprise models while improving community technology access and digital literacy.

Core Values and Associated Odoo Applications

• Community Literacy and Information Access (Odoo CRM): We promote access to relevant information and resources that empower communities to make informed decisions
• Resource Aggregation and Distribution (Odoo Contacts & Communication): We collect, organize, and share technology resources through integrated networks
• Collaborative Capacity Building (Odoo Project Management): We enhance organizational capabilities through methodical implementation of appropriate technologies
• Self-Sustaining Knowledge Transfer (Odoo Forums & Events): We develop train-the-trainer models and peer learning communities that create lasting technology expertise

Responsibilities

• Use Odoo CRM to conduct community mapping in California regions to identify non-profit organizations needing technology support and digital literacy enhancement
• Develop comprehensive assessment methodologies to evaluate technology needs and organizational capacity for improvement
• Design and implement train-the-trainer programs using Odoo Events to create sustainable technology knowledge within organizations
• Facilitate community discussions through Odoo Forums to promote peer learning and resource sharing among similar organizations
• Conduct organizational analysis to determine appropriate open source alternatives to costly proprietary software
• Develop economic efficiency models using Odoo Project Management that incorporate appropriate open source solutions
• Document successful case studies and implementation strategies for knowledge sharing across the network
• Create strategic recruiting plans with Odoo Recruitment to help organizations find technology-skilled volunteers and staff
• Follow and modernize processes from the CTCNet start-up manual for program development within agencies
• Identify opportunities for social enterprise development within non-profit organizations using Odoo Website for online presence and Odoo eCommerce for potential revenue streams
• Develop customized utilization strategies for open source applications based on organization-specific needs and capacities

Must Have

• Experience in community technology program design and implementation
• Strong analytical skills for assessing organizational technology needs and capabilities
• Experience developing resource libraries and knowledge bases for community use
• Excellent project management and documentation abilities
• Understanding of non-profit operations and the unique challenges they face with technology adoption
• Experience creating train-the-trainer programs for technology skills transfer
• Knowledge of digital literacy challenges facing diverse communities
• Self-directed worker capable of managing complex multi-stakeholder projects
• Cultural sensitivity and commitment to equity-centered approaches

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with Odoo Community Edition or other open source ERP systems
• Experience with business plan development for non-profits or social enterprises
• In-depth knowledge of digital divide issues in California communities
• Background in program evaluation for technology implementation
• Multilingual skills relevant to California communities
• Previous work with community technology centers or similar organizations
• Understanding of open source software alternatives to common proprietary applications