Community Engagement Manager - Lawrence

Harvesters—The Community Food Network; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvesters—The Community Food Network is seeking a Manager of Community Engagement to plan, set goals, develop strategy, implement, and evaluate engagement opportunities across the service region. You will leverage volunteers to expand capacity and enhance nourishment for neighbors through organized food drives and partnerships.

You will lead a team educating and influencing stakeholders, collaborating with departments to mobilize the community, and ensuring compliance with food safety policies.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit relationship management, community engagement, volunteer coordination, or event planning.
• Proven ability to build, foster, and grow lasting relationships with donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and community organizations to advance the mission.
• Experience designing and implementing impactful events that engage the community, assist fundraising goals, and elevate visibility.
• Demonstrated success in expanding engagement opportunities—such as converting volunteers into donors, securing event sponsorships, or increasing participation in campaigns.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate mission-driven impact and inspire affinity across diverse audiences.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, goal-oriented nonprofit environment with experience meeting targets related to participation, fundraising, and community influence.
• Familiar with CRM systems or volunteer management databases.

Responsibilities

• Lead Harvesters strategic volunteer engagement efforts strengthening organizational & network capacity.
• Support departmental strategic food drive engagements
• Lead & manage a team responsible for educating, engaging, and influencing stakeholders to take positive action.
• Occasional evenings, weekends and travel in support of community engagement events and organizational initiatives.
• Maintain a thorough comprehension of Harvesters' food safety policies and consistently follow all procedures to ensure full compliance.

Skills

Donor relations

Volunteer coordination

Event planning

Strategic planning

Communication

Storytelling

Team leadership

CRM systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, or related field

Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA)

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

OneDrive

Job description

Are you an experienced community builder with a passion for creating equitable access to nutritious food? Do you want to use your skills to help address the root causes and impact of hunger in the Lawrence area? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

About Us:

Harvesters staff are mission-driven: we want to improve how our neighbors access nutritious food. We're a friendly, dedicated, and passionate bunch of folks. We offer a robust benefits package, including employee paid medical, dental, life and disability insurance and a 403b plan. Our paid time off is generous and includes paid holidays. We're building a hardworking and diverse team that works hard toward shared goals. We also support our employees' growth and desire to live well-rounded lives.

The Role:

This manager is responsible for leading the planning, goal setting, strategy development, implementation, and evaluation of community engagement opportunities across the service region. This role leverages the power of volunteers to enhance organizational and network capacity in service to our neighbors. Additionally, the position assists departmental efforts to mobilize the community through food drives, helping to strengthen our network's ability to nourish neighbors.

PRIMARY DUTIES

• Lead Harvesters strategic volunteer engagement efforts strengthening organizational & network capacity.
• Support departmental strategic food drive engagements
• Lead & manage a team responsible for educating, engaging, and influencing stakeholders to take positive action.

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE JOB

• Occasional evenings, weekends and travel in support of community engagement events and organizational initiatives.
• Maintain a thorough comprehension of Harvesters' food safety policies and consistently follow all procedures to ensure full compliance.

REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit relationship management, community engagement, volunteer coordination, or event planning.
• Proven ability to build, foster, and grow lasting relationships with donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and community organizations to advance the mission.
• Experience designing, planning, and implementing impactful events that engage the community, assist fundraising goals, and elevate the organization's visibility.
• Demonstrated success in expanding engagement opportunities-such as converting volunteers into donors, securing event sponsorships, or increasing participation in campaigns and programs.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate mission-driven impact and inspire affinity across diverse audiences.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, goal-oriented nonprofit environment with experience meeting targets related to participation, fundraising, and community influence.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel); experience with SharePoint and OneDrive is a plus.
• Familiar with CRM systems or volunteer management databases.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, or related field.
• Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA) or advanced training in professional standards for nonprofit volunteer engagement.
• Knowledge of the Northeast Kansas philanthropic landscape, with experience in nonprofit volunteer engagement, food banking, or hunger-relief initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and staying informed on industry trends and best practices.
• Fostering a welcoming and respectful approach to volunteer and community engagement that makes others feel connected and supported.

Harvesters is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources.