Community Engagement & Events Manager

TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK

Job Description

 

Title: Community Engagement & Events Manager             Reports to: Director of Community Investment

Job Category: Full time – Exempt                                               Date of revision: 05/2025

                                                              

 

What will you do as the Treasure Coast Food Bank’s Community Engagement & Events Manager?

The Community Engagement & Events Manager (CEEM) has a pivotal role in engaging supporters, organizations, and other external community members in our mission. Events management comprises a substantial portion of this position’s duties, spanning from ideation to project management to execution for both small- and large-scale events throughout the year. The role is further responsible for additional key aspects of external engagement, including local cause marketing partnerships, speaking opportunities, and coordination with and participation in third-party events. As engagement and events are crucial to the Food Bank’s efforts across the organization, the CEEM closely partners and collaborates with the Development & Marketing department to develop and drive campaigns that support all aspects of work, including advocacy, volunteer engagement, fundraising, client outreach, and general awareness…to name a few.

 

A candidate who will be successful in this position…

• Is a consummate “project manager” who comes to this work with an existing and proven set of tools and skills to manage highly detailed timelines, task lists, etc.
• Has a proven background in event management, having enthusiastically and successfully created and managed large-scale fundraising and engagement events with multiple moving parts.
• Is a seasoned team leader and people manager with a proven track record of leading and collaborating with high-functioning teams to carry out an organizational mission.
• Is enthusiastic about nonprofits and fundraising and comfortable with all aspects of a nonprofit business model.

 

The ideal candidate is also highly organized and able to manage multiple projects with both near-simultaneous and long-term deadlines. They love being a team leader and comfortably grasp the intricacies of delegation and prioritization. They can balance creativity and out-of-the-box thinking with strategic decision-making to ensure our efforts have maximum impact. Most importantly, they know how to have fun with the work, even while it’s serious.

 

Why Treasure Coast Food Bank?

Treasure Coast Food Bank is the only Food Bank and largest hunger relief organization on Florida’s Treasure Coast, providing the community with millions of meals each year through robust programs and in partnership with over 300 charitable organizations in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. In addition to food distribution, Treasure Coast Food Bank operates a full roster of direct service programs that solve the immediate hunger problem and help individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes, and stronger self-sufficiency. Treasure Coast Food Bank is a Partner Food Bank of Feeding America, the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States.

 

Responsibilities

• Oversee the ideation, development, management, and execution of the annual events calendar to align with the organization’s mission and strategic plan.
• Partners with Development & Marketing and other members of leadership to develop goals, audience targets, and outcomes/success metrics for all events. Clearly communicates these expectations to all stakeholders in a timely and consistent manner.
• Leads project management for all aspects of events with internal and external partners, including but not limited to production timelines; site selection, theme, etc.; vendor management; budget management; and onsite logistics/execution.
• Develops budgets and meticulously tracks revenue and expense budgets for special events.
• Creates event program script and talking points, etc. Leads creation of talking points for and in collaboration with event speakers (including but not limited to President & CEO, Board Chair, and celebrity-level emcees). Ensure speakers are trained and prepared to deliver impactful remarks.
• Partners with the Development Team to develop comprehensive and compelling sponsorship packages for various events—and further deepen engagement with local businesses/corporations.
• Proactively identify research and lead the solicitation of in-kind donations; develop and oversee the execution of silent and live auctions (including solicitation) for relevant events.
• Communicate relevant information about special events, campaigns, food drives, and other activities to staff, board members, and volunteers and effectively engage them in the planning and execution process.
• Conduct and share post-event analysis (including staff and stakeholder debriefs), including financial reports and process improvement. Manage all elements of post-event production, including timely pledge follow-up and acknowledgments to supporters, staff, and volunteers.
• Develop and execute a strategic local cause marketing partnership plan to help the Food Bank expand small business engagement, supporting revenue goals, growing brand visibility, and maximizing giving opportunities.
• Identify, assess the impact and feasibility, steward, and deepen relationships with existing partners and prospects.
• Solicit local cause marketing prospects. Identify potential partners, envision creative co-branding opportunities, and develop proposals for prospective partners that will both enhance visibility and protect the brand.
• Oversee execution of recognition and benefits related to corporate partner commitments, including activation and all collateral materials.
• Research, assess, schedule, and manage opportunities to attend third-party events, including but not limited to tabling opportunities (e.g., community events, corporate giving, sporting events) and speaking engagements.
• Serve as a primary liaison to individuals and/or community groups organizing promotional or fundraising events that benefit the Food Bank and ensure compliance with better Business Bureau requirements.
• Ensure that staff and volunteers are appropriately trained and have coverage for opportunities and events.
• Perform other duties as needed to fulfill our mission, drive our vision, and abide by our values.
• Essential business/first responder: In instances of a federal, state, or locally declared emergency, Treasure Coast Food Bank is an essential business and emergency responder. All employees may be required to perform regular or emergent duties onsite. Employee safety is balanced with the needs of business and the community. Some positions are more likely to require onsite work than others.

 

    Department Management & Collaboration

• Strategize and partner with leadership teams (Executives and Directors) on engagement opportunities—including high-level opportunities that demand confidentiality and discretion.
• Closely collaborates regularly with other department managers to ideate, develop, and oversee the execution of ongoing Community Engagement initiatives. May serve as the central project manager for broader campaigns and efforts involving all CE&M components (volunteering, MarComm, etc.).
• Collaborates with fellow managers and department directors on internal and personnel-related issues, including confidential and sensitive issues (department and team management).
• During times of high volume or coworker absences, you may be required to occasionally backfill other Community Engagement functions, including, but not limited to, volunteer engagement support and facility tours.

 

 

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Minimum 5-7 years experience ideating, planning, project managing, and executing multi-component, in-person special events. Experience with fundraising-focused events is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 3-4 years experience as a direct supervisor to full-time staff members. Additional experience leading cross-departmental staff on projects is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience in closely collaborating and engaging with executives, board members, high-level committee volunteers, colleagues, and community stakeholders.
• Highly skilled project manager with demonstrable expertise using and leading from foundational tools for project management (e.g., detailed pre- and production timelines, venue order sheets, etc.). Able to create and manage large-scale (six-figure) budgets.
• Exceptional attention to detail. Ability to plan for long-term success, prioritize assignments, and focus on multiple large-scale projects in a deadline-driven environment. Simultaneously manage near- and long-term deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively delegate to and motivate team members and others to achieve ambitious engagement and events calendar. Ability to train and coordinate event staff and volunteers.
• Highly collaborative. Enthusiastic fundraiser and passionate about engaging the community in all aspects of our work. Relishes asking for support of any kind.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), project management tools, and customer relationship databases.
• Highly proficient in vendor selection management, including assessment, contract review, and negotiation. Knowledgeable and experienced with permitting (ABC; fire codes, etc.), as relevant. An ideal candidate will already have a comprehensive list of contacts and potential partners for key event-related vendors.
• Creativity and resourcefulness to problem-solve and maximize available resources.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Models grace under pressure.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative and professional relationships.
• Skilled public speaker; able to draft creative and compelling talking points; comfortable setting expectations and training executive staff, board members, and other event participants on speaking roles.
• Ability to think strategically, communicate expectations, and establish priorities for colleagues, external stakeholders, and volunteers.
• Ability to regularly attend work functions outside of regular work hours, on weekends and evenings.
• Insurable driving record and access to reliable transportation.

 

Physical Requirements & Acknowledgement

This work is in an office environment. Must have the ability to sit at a computer workstation for up to eight hours. Ability to move, bend, lift, and carry up to 30 lbs. on occasion throughout the Food Bank facilities. Ability to communicate in a clear speaking voice in person and over the phone. Ability to interpret instructions and questions when asked. After business hours, work and frequent travel between the organization’s service areas using a personal vehicle is a requirement of this position.

 

I have read the job description and fully understand the requirements set forth therein. I understand that this job description does not list all the duties of the position, and I will be evaluated in part based on the tasks listed in this description. Treasure Coast Food Bank has the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not an employment contract.