Manager of Events & Community Experience

About the role

The Manager of Events & Community Experience is a unique, network-facing role that sits at the intersection of Talent and Advancement at Foundation Academies. In this role, you will design and execute high-impact, mission-aligned experiences that bring our community to life, from candidate and staff engagement to donor and volunteer events. You will own a balanced portfolio of work across recruitment, onboarding, employee experience, and donor engagement, ensuring that every interaction reflects the excellence of our schools and strengthens connection to our mission.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute high-impact, mission-aligned experiences that strengthen both Talent and Advancement outcomes
• Plan and lead a portfolio of donor- and scholar-facing events that deepen engagement and re-engage at-risk donors
• Partner with Advancement and school teams to align events to key academic milestones and integrate storytelling, scholar voice, and impact
• Track event participation and outcomes to inform strategy and improve future experiences
• Lead execution of the “While You Wait” candidate onboarding experience, ensuring consistency and quality
• Plan and execute candidate experience events, including community engagement opportunities, school-based tours, and pre-boarding touchpoints
• Design and implement employee engagement initiatives such as community days, staff celebrations, and recognition events
• Cook upboarding experiences that increase candidate conversion and early employee satisfaction
• Develop and manage the Talent Team newsletter to drive communication and engagement
• Track onboarding and engagement metrics to ensure continuous improvement
• Build strong relationships across Talent, Advancement, and school-based teams
• Serve as a connector across teams to ensure alignment between people, mission, and community engagement efforts
• Influence participation and engagement through clear communication, collaboration, and responsiveness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required (or equivalent experience)
• 3–5+ years of experience in event planning, talent experience, advancement, or community engagement
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational and execution skills with high attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships across diverse groups
• Data-driven mindset with experience tracking engagement and outcomes to inform decision-making
• Ability to influence without authority and collaborate effectively across teams
• Comfort balancing both strategic planning and hands-on execution
• Passion for educational equity and alignment with the mission of Foundation Academies
• Knowledge of Trenton and/or experience in urban education settings preferred
• Experience in K–12 education, charter schools, or nonprofit organizations preferred
• Experience supporting both talent/recruitment and fundraising/advancement functions preferred
• Familiarity with CRM or event management platforms preferred

Benefits

• Merit-based pay increases annually
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefit plans
• Tax-deferred 403b retirement account with 25% matching up to a certain amount
• Free financial wellness advising through our Financial Advisor Service
• Optional short or long-term disability benefits through Aflac
• Career advancement opportunities
• Smartphone and fully paid wireless plan through T-Mobile
• Windows-based laptop
• Regular team-building activities and outings
• 10 sick days and 3 personal days that roll over annually
• 30 paid holiday observances