Manager of Events & Community Experience

Schedule Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Salary $55,000 to $75,000 What is the opportunity? 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. This is an opportunity to play a central role in how people experience Foundation Academies, driving engagement, retention, and long-term investment in our community. What is in it for you? 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 Regular strategic professional development and coaching 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 A rewarding career that positively impacts the lives of our amazing students What will you be doing? 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 Coordinate onboarding 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 What do we require from you? 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 ev