Creative Design Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Community Design Manager 

Help Shape Creative, Resident-Centered Communities in the East Bay 

At EBALDC, we believe affordable housing is more than housing — it is the foundation for healthy, vibrant, and connected communities. We are seeking a mission-driven, collaborative, and creative Community Design Manager to help bring that vision to life through community-centered design, arts and culture initiatives, placemaking, and resident engagement across the Bay Area. 

This is an opportunity for someone who thrives at the intersection of community development, creativity, relationship-building, and project management. You will help lead projects that uplift local culture, amplify resident voice, and strengthen neighborhood identity in and around affordable housing communities. 

We are looking for someone who believes deeply in equity, cultural humility, and the power of creative practice to build belonging and community resilience. 

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. 

Projects may include: 

• Community art installations 

• Public space activations 

• Resident engagement and outreach efforts 

• Community visioning and planning processes 

• Creative placemaking initiatives connected to real estate development projects 

• Storytelling, cultural programming, and neighborhood activation efforts 

This role is ideal for someone who is equally comfortable coordinating logistics, facilitating community conversations, managing consultants, and thinking creatively about how spaces can foster connection and belonging. 

What You’ll Do 

Project Management 

• Lead and support multiple creative community development projects simultaneously across a variety of settings 

• Coordinate project timelines, scopes, budgets, consultants, volunteers, and implementation logistics 

• Support physical placemaking and design-related projects from concept through execution 

• Collaborate across departments to align community design efforts with broader organizational goals 

Community Engagement & Outreach 

• 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 

Partnership Development 

• 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 

Communications & Storytelling 

• 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 

WhatWe'reLooking For

Required 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

• Experiencefacilitatingpublic 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

Preferred Qualifications

We especially encourage candidates to apply who bring:

• Written or spoken Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, or Vietnamese language skills

• Deep familiarity with East Bay neighborhoods, especially Oakland Chinatown

• Passion for community-centered creative practice such as public art, graphic design, filmmaking, storytelling, activations, zine-making, data visualization, or digital media

• Experience supporting working artists, small businesses, or community entrepreneurs

• Experience collaborating with real estate development teams, artists, fabricators, or design consultants

• Demonstrated leadership in grassroots, school-based, or neighborhood organizations

Why Join EBALDC?

At EBALDC, you will join a mission-driven organization committed to building healthy, vibrant, and safe neighborhoods in the East Bay.You'llwork alongside passionate colleagues who care deeply about community impact, resident leadership, equity, and creativity.

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Shape meaningful, community-centered projects

• Collaborate across disciplines including housing, design, resident services, and community development

• Build authentic relationships with residents and neighborhood stakeholders

• Help create spaces and experiences that reflect the culture, identity, and strengths of East Bay communities
  

If you are energized by creative collaboration, community engagement, andequitabledevelopment, we encourage you to apply.
Salary - $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.

In accordance with the City of Oakland's Fair Chance Hiring Ordinance, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment. A background check may be conducted after a conditional offer, consistent with applicable law.

EBALDC participates in the federal E Verify program to confirm work authorization for all new employees. At this time, we are not able to sponsor employment visas.