Community Design Manager

About the role

The Community Design Manager leads the planning, coordination, and implementation of creative community development projects that support EBALDC’s place-based initiatives throughout the East Bay. This role partners closely with residents, artists, community organizations, development teams, and neighborhood stakeholders to co-create spaces, programs, and experiences that reflect and celebrate community identity.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support multiple creative community development projects simultaneously across a variety of settings
• Career management and organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and timelines
• Support physical placemaking and design-related projects from concept through execution
• Collaborate across departments to align community design efforts with broader organizational goals
• Design and facilitate inclusive community engagement strategies rooted in arts, culture, and relationship-building
• Partner with residents and local groups to co-design placemaking elements connected to affordable housing and neighborhood initiatives
• Create opportunities for resident leadership, creativity, and participation
• Build and sustain strong relationships with artists, community organizations, schools, small businesses, fabricators, faith communities, and neighborhood leaders
• Represent EBALDC at community meetings, events, and neighborhood gatherings
• Foster collaborative partnerships that strengthen local impact and cultural connection
• Help tell the story of projects and communities through creative and digital media
• Support communications efforts that engage residents, partners, and stakeholders
• Contribute to visual storytelling, presentations, and community-facing materials

Requirements

• 4+ years of relevant professional experience, including community design, placemaking, project coordination, or community development work
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and timelines
• Experience managing projects end-to-end, including scopes, timelines, contracts, and coordination of diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and elevating issues appropriately
• Experience facilitating public engagement activities, meetings, or community-centered design processes
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills
• Commitment to equity, cultural humility, and working alongside low-income and BIPOC communities
• Familiarity with design-related fields connected to the built environment such as architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, civil engineering, or construction management
• Comfort communicating with a wide range of audiences, from grassroots community members to institutional and public-sector partners
• Flexibility to attend occasional evening and weekend meetings or events
• Reliable transportation throughout Oakland and the Bay Area

Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant professional experience, including community design, placemaking, project coordination, or community development work
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities and timelines
• Experience managing projects end-to-end, including scopes, timelines, contracts, and coordination of diverse stakeholders
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and elevating issues appropriately
• Experience facilitating public engagement activities, meetings, or community-centered design processes
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, and communication skills
• Commitment to equity, cultural humility, and working alongside low-income and BIPOC communities
• Familiarity with design-related fields connected to the built environment such as architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, civil engineering, or construction management
• Comfort communicating with a wide range of audiences, from grassroots community members to institutional and public-sector partners
• Flexibility to attend occasional evening and weekend meetings or events
• Reliable transportation throughout Oakland and the Bay Area

Pay

$70,000 - $85,000 DOE

Additional Information

EBALDC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds, including those from the communities we serve, to apply.