Community Program and Engagement Manager

Kids for the Future; Springdale (AR); On-site; USD 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Jones Center in Northwest Arkansas seeks a Community Program & Engagement Manager to develop and grow programs, events, and partnerships connecting the Center with the community.

The role combines community engagement, relationship building, program development, and event execution, collaborating with multiple departments to deliver welcoming and impactful experiences for all.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, nonprofit management, community development, event management, hospitality, education, business, or a related field.
• Experience in community programming, recreation, nonprofit work, or event management.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and set expectations for two Programmers with clear goals and deadlines.
• Build and maintain relationships with Center Affiliates, schools, nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, and community orgs.
• Identify and develop partnerships to expand reach and participation.
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee community-focused programs and events.
• Manage programs from concept through completion: planning, scheduling, staffing, logistics, and evaluation.
• Coordinate cross-departmental planning meetings and document decisions.
• Establish measurable goals for programs and events and use data to improve performance.
• Ensure welcoming, accessible participant experiences.
• Manage program budgets and participation goals within established expectations.

Skills

Relationship-building

Project management

Communication

Cross-department collaboration

Flexibility

Supervisory experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in recreation, nonprofit management, community development, event management, hospitality, education, business, or related field

Job description

• Base Pay $52,000.00 - $55,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type FT Exempt

About JONES CENTER

For 30 years, Jones Center (the Center) has been a trusted community anchor for Northwest Arkansas—a place where everyone can learn, play, and thrive together. With 600,000 annual visitors and a mission to fuel community connections and cultivate spaces and experiences for all, we serve as a dynamic hub for education, recreation, arts, and nonprofit sustainability. Through our Jones Community for Nonprofits campuses, we empower more than 100 mission-driven organizations, strengthening the social fabric of our region.

Job Summary

The Community Program & Engagement Manager develops, coordinates, and grows programs, events, and partnerships that connect the Center with the community we serve. This position focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for individuals and families to engage with the Jones Center while building strong relationships with Jones Center Affiliates, community organizations, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and other partners.

This role combines community engagement, relationship building, program development, and event execution. This role will actively seek opportunities to bring people and organizations together, identify community needs, develop collaborative programs and events, and ensure that each initiative reflects the Center's commitment to providing welcoming, accessible, and impactful experiences for all.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and hold accountable two Programmers by establishing clear expectations, priorities, deadlines, and performance goals; providing timely feedback; and ensuring consistent follow-through.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Center Affiliates, schools, nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, and other community organizations.
• Identify and develop partnerships that expand the Center’s reach, increase community participation, and create opportunities for collaboration.
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee community-focused programs and special events that respond to community interests and needs.
• Manage programs and events from concept through completion, including planning, scheduling, staffing, logistics, communication, registration, execution, and evaluation.
• Proactively maintain clear, timely, and consistent communication and collaboration with Events, Operations, Safety & Security, Guest Services, Membership, Marketing, Development, Facilities, and other departments to ensure effective coordination and successful program execution.
• Develop and maintain an annual program and event calendar, project plans, and communication timelines, ensuring affected departments receive information and updates well in advance.
• Provide regular progress updates to the Senior Director of Operations and relevant departments, and promptly communicate risks, delays, resource needs, or changes that may affect program or event execution.
• Facilitate cross-departmental planning meetings, gather input from key stakeholders, document decisions and responsibilities, and follow up on assigned action items.
• Establish measurable goals for programs and events, monitor results, and use participation data, financial information, and stakeholder feedback to improve performance.
• Identify opportunities to expand programming, reach new audiences, and engage populations not currently participating in Jones Center programs.
• Evaluate existing programs and events and identify opportunities for growth, improvement, or change.
• Coordinate with Marketing and Development on community outreach, promotion, partnerships, and sponsorship opportunities.
• Ensure programs and events are welcoming, accessible, organized, and provide an exceptional participant experience.
• Manage program budgets, participation goals, and other performance measures within established expectations.
• Gather participant and partner feedback and use results to strengthen programs and community engagement.
• Maintain organized schedules, partner information, documentation, agreements, and other necessary records.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ability to interact with people of diverse socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Coach and counsel employees to reflect company service standards and procedures.
• Able to perform other general duties and special projects assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with a wide variety of people and organizations.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs and events simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Creative, resourceful, and comfortable developing new ideas and turning them into successful programs.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
• Comfortable representing the organization in community and professional settings.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends based on programs and events.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including setting expectations, providing feedback, managing performance, and holding team members accountable.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate proactively, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
• Sound judgment and the ability to identify concerns, resolve problems, and elevate significant issues in a timely manner.

Education, Training, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in recreation, nonprofit management, community development, event management, hospitality, education, business, or a related field.
• Experience in community programming, recreation, nonprofit work, event management, community engagement, or a related field.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain stationary, standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs. regularly.