Community Experience Manager
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Compensation: This position starts at $49,500 - $54,500
Benefits:
Our full-time employees receive 24 PTO days annually (29+ following Year 1 of employment) plus 7 paid organizational holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance with above-average employer premium contributions, a 3% match on our 403(b) retirement plan, program registration and facility rental discounts, plus a strong commitment to work/life balance and great organizational culture. Additional benefits will be outlined in the hiring process.
Location: Washington Park
Position Summary
As a Community Experience Manager at the UEC, you will provide on-site leadership for the community experience at our Washington Park branch. Guided by our niche in urban foundational nature-based educational experiences and ecological revitalization, you will oversee the planning and delivery of the on-site visitor experience. This includes ensuring that all visitors are welcomed warmly, passive and facilitated opportunities are available, and spaces and messaging are designed to connect to our target audience to support repeat visitation. You will be responsible for the planning and execution of curated public spaces, overseeing partner and public intake processes, and providing the communication bridge between the on-site public and UEC program teams to develop well-attended, community-responsive programs. This is a highly collaborative role that supports annual program planning and implementation, volunteer engagement, and marketing and messaging. This is a NEW position at the Urban Ecology Center and an exciting opportunity to build on the great work of our team!
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Onsite Community Experience
- Intake
- Lead the visitor and partner intake process development and delivery
- Align intake practices with other branches to ensure continuity
- Communicate, connect, and orient visitors with experiences and opportunities in the branch and park
- Lead the implementation of community safety procedures and protocols
- Communication & Messaging
- Lead the design of targeted messaging in the branch on a quarterly, monthly, and weekly basis
- Create systems and procedures that efficiently connect UEC program information to the public experience
- Support Community Experience staff in the execution of all messaging priorities by creating pathways to information and resources
- Collaborates internally to tailor passive engagement activities and in-branch marketing materials for the promotion of UEC programming and events
- Public Space Curation
- Lead the planning and execution of public space layout and resources based on the needs and interests of target audiences, which could include shared public spaces, the Ecology Rooms, and community gardens
- Create monthly plans to engage target audiences through passive engagements in alignment with organizational priorities and programs
- Ensure signage, wayfinding, and resources support the goals and outcomes of the department
- Collaborate and support the creation of an atmosphere at the branch that is welcoming, inclusive, and safe
- Community Connections
- Represent the UEC at assigned neighborhood associations, groups, or organizations, and share information with internal teams about the current community interests, needs, and priorities
- Design onsite opportunities for community members to share feedback with the UEC, connected to the outcomes and goals of the department
- Internal Collaboration
- Support the Community Programs team to plan and execute branch events
- Collaborate with the Volunteer team to connect the public with opportunities
- Work closely with other Community Experience Managers to align all priorities
- Communicate and partner with the Marketing, FRE, and Development teams to integrate team priorities in the onsite experience
- Communicate non-public needs and feedback to appropriate teams
- Coordinate regular (at least monthly) branch-level communication & collaboration to share current priorities of UEC and community, utilizing UEC-wide tools and processes
Branch Team Leadership
- Assist the Director in the creation of the annual budget and ongoing budget reporting and oversight specific to your branch
- Ensure that ongoing projects and tasks are assigned to team members. Coordinate and lead the delegation of tasks within the team
- Request volunteer support for projects, specialized tasks, and other needs.
- Train and coach team members on an ongoing basis, and support the hiring and onboarding process
TEAM AND SUPERVISION
- As a member of the Community Experience team, you will be managed by the Community Experience Director and manage the Community Experience Coordinator and Community Experience Assistant(s).
- Though all of our teams work together in some capacity, you will most frequently collaborate with Community Programs, Facilities, and Marketing.
- In this role, you may be asked to support many organizational circles and committees, including Employee Engagement, Equity, Dignity and Justice, Safety, or other related initiatives.
- All UEC team members should expect interaction with volunteers, members, and youth participants.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Skills and Abilities
- Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments
- Drives Engagement: Creating a culture where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its outcomes
- Instills Trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through integrity, consistency, and authenticity
- Decision Quality: Makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information
- Situational Adaptability: Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations
- Resourcefulness: Securing and deploying resources effectively and efficiently
- Operational Excellence: You are committed to continuous improvement. You develop, follow, and lead standardized processes to ensure quality and consistency across the organization.
- Community focus: Builds strong community relationships; identifies and executes opportunities to increase community benefit. Possesses a genuine interest in our surrounding neighborhoods.
- Interdepartmental Collaboration: Builds and sustains productive working relationships across departments to advance shared organizational goals. Proactively identifies opportunities to align efforts, shares information and resources generously, and navigates competing priorities with transparency and good faith.
- You can demonstrate strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
- You have an affinity for the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.
Experience, Education, and Certifications
- You have a minimum of 5 years of professional work experience; nonprofit or community development experience is recommended.
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent education experience is highly preferred; relevant work experience is a great alternative.
- At least one year of experience managing staff (year-round or seasonal) or volunteers is required.
- Experience utilizing the Google platform, fundraising/CRM software, and graphic design/communication platforms such as Canva or S'more is recommended.
- First Aid/CPR Certification is required (UEC will provide training as needed).
WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- Schedule: This is a full-time, exempt role working a standard 40-hour week from Tuesday to Saturday, with occasional alternating Saturdays/Mondays. The schedule will reflect the center's open hours, which may fluctuate seasonally.
- Condition & Location: Open office workspace with an active team atmosphere; you will have a dedicated workspace at your assigned branch.
- Physical Requirements: Sitting for prolonged periods, typing on a computer keyboard, lifting objects of 25 pounds or less
- Equipment Used: Computer equipment, CRM/fundraising software, Google software.
The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.
