Community Nights Manager

If you enjoy working in a strong team environment, building relationships with a variety of people and partners, and have excellent project management skills, then United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) is where you want to be. The Community Nights Manager is part of the Community Schools team and works closely with the Community Engagement team, school and community partners to support the vision and goals of Community Nights.  The Community Nights Manager should enjoy project management, balancing relationship-building with managing details, and collaborating internally and externally while holding true to UWABC’s long-term strategic vision.

Position is responsible for overall leadership of Community Nights events that take place within Community Schools. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Nights coordination, implementation and full utilization as engagement strategy

• With input from Community School Coordinators, recruit and organize community partners to table at ongoing Community Nights as well as feature nights such as STEAM nights, summer camp fairs, college and career nights
• With input from Community School Coordinators, identify supply needs and purchase items
• Onboard and conduct orientation for Logistics Coordinators, Meal Coordinators and Teacher Tutors
• Collaborate with the Logistics Coordinators, who are responsible for organizing and overseeing on-site logistics regarding volunteers, community partners, student/family registrations, and ensuring facility use of the event space meets school requirements
• With input from Community School Coordinators, recruit, train and hold accountable relevant contracted positions for each schools’ Community Nights
• Support internal communication among all stakeholders
• Provide ongoing support to Community School Coordinators including troubleshooting issues, developing recruitment strategies, monitoring participation and other areas as they arise
• Work with schools to pursue transportation options for families

Lead vendor recruitment/relationships

• Recruit and support catering companies to provide meals in accordance with NC Department of Health and Human Services guidelines
• Onboard and hold accountable vendors and contractors that support various events
• Collaborate with Finance and Operations team to ensure a smooth process is in place for vendor selection, onboarding, payment, and any other Finance/Human Resources/Insurance compliance needs 

Manage data collection for program improvement

• Develop and manage program evaluations, data collection for program improvement, grant reporting and partnerships on an ongoing and annual basis
• Collaborate with UWABC data staff regarding data analysis and visuals 

Manage volunteers across the Community Nights system, including data entry/tracking

• Manage Community Nights individual and team volunteers that are recruited by Volunteer Engagement staff 
• Lead communication with volunteers regarding various onsite roles, placement at each community school, registration on Hands On website, importance of showing up for volunteer shift, and any last minute changes occurring at the school
• Ensure Logistics Coordinators/Community School Coordinators are aware of volunteer requests regarding onsite roles, any accommodations they may need, and any last minute changes to the volunteer roster
• Ensure volunteer time is being tracked at each school site and on the Hands On website accurately
• In collaboration with Volunteer Engagement staff, ensure Logistics Coordinators/Community School Coordinators have received volunteer management training specific to Community Nights protocols, including safety considerations

Manage budget and tracking

• Establish and follow shared tracking system of contracted invoices and expenses with UWABC Finance and Operations team
• Manage the Community Nights budget

Promote Community Nights in conjunction with other departments 

• Work with UWABC Marketing and Communications Department and Community School Coordinators to prepare and implement marketing strategies and outreach materials, and circulate materials including print and social media toolkits
• Support family and community outreach/engagement

Support UWABC major summer projects/events as time allows

• The Community Schools team receives priority regarding project support

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are associated with the position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Event Management, Nonprofit Management, Social Services or similar fields with 2 years of experience successfully organizing events/programming, project management and budget management or comparable related experience and training
• 1 year or more of experience in supervising staff, contractors or volunteers
• Demonstrated ability to work in a complex and collaborative environment with cross-sector teams and community partners
• Effective interpersonal and communications skills in English (verbal and written)
• Works effectively with people from different backgrounds and with different levels of technical skill (and comfort serving as a bridge between stakeholders with more-technical and less-technical roles and perspectives)
• Regular weekday evening hours are required 
• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License with a driving record that meets insurance requirements
• Commitment to the mission and guiding principles of UWABC and ability to model those principles

Technical Skills, Abilities and other Requirements

• Proficient with software, including Google Suite (or similar programs) and strong ability to learn and use a variety of other platforms (e.g.Airtable, Asana)
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and use a variety of software platforms and new skills
• Ability to review and analyze multiple organizational sets of data, both qualitative and quantitative
• Ability to balance priorities to accomplish assigned tasks within the required time frame and be able to shift quickly between several tasks without loss of continuity
• Prior experience coordinating tasks and projects
• Ability to manage sensitive situations with tact, professionalism, and diplomacy
• Ability to productively manage internal and external stakeholders, even in the absence of formal authority
• Experience leading diverse, interagency teams and/or workgroups working toward a common goal
•  Ability to work in a complex and collaborative environment with schools and community organizations
• Effective problem-solver with strong initiative 
• Holds self and other team members accountable for achieving results

Nice to Have

• Bilingual - English/Spanish
• Prior experience with project management software
• Prior volunteer management experience 

Work Environment

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals who are differently abled to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:   

• Sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear
• Use finger and hand motion
• Must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 30 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• Moderate level of stress caused from tight deadlines
• Moderate level of mental and/or visual fatigue and/or eyestrain may result from looking at a computer screen for extended periods of time
• Regular work in the community at events
• Regular work outside of normal business hours
• Occasional travel is required
• Moderate office noise level

This position is exempt from overtime regulations. Hybrid work environment: a mix of office, remote, and community settings.  As part of our hybrid work policy, new employees are required to work from the UWABC office a minimum of 3 days per week for the first 90 days and then, the schedule can be modified based upon conversation with the supervisor.

Reports To: Senior Director Community Schools

Supervises: 0

Hours: 40/week 

Salary and Benefits: $45,000 to $48,800  annually plus full benefits, including: paid vacation, sick and personal leave; employer contributions to 401(k), contributions to health, dental and vision insurance benefits and self-care fund, life and disability insurance, and coaching and support.

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.