Community Relations Manager

SECU Family House provides a safe, nurturing, affordable home for patients and their loved ones who travel great distances to UNC Hospitals for life-saving procedures and serious illnesses. We provide guests lodging, meals, supportive programs, transportation, and a caring support network. We serve families from all 100 North Carolina counties and beyond, helping them rest, heal, and gather strength when they need it most. 

Position Summary - Community Relations Manager

An integral part of our Development team, the Community Relations Manager plans, leads, and executes a variety of community events, raising 15% or more of Family House’s annual operating revenue. In this role, you’ll work closely with SECU Family House donors, volunteers, event committees, sponsors, and community partners to build awareness and grow philanthropic support for our mission.

Success in this role requires an inclusive and strategic mindset, strong initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Our ideal candidate has a track record of growing nonprofit event revenue year over year and creating experiences that inspire ongoing support for the organization.  

Operating under the general supervision of the Executive Director, the Community Relations Manager collaborates frequently with the Senior Development Manager and Family House’s Communications and Operations teams. This full-time position requires some flexibility with work hours and location to accommodate meetings, events, and community engagement priorities.

Essential Functions:

Event Management -- 60%

• Plans, coordinates, and executes Family House’s three signature annual fund-raising events (Family House Golf Classic, Family House Gala, Chapel Hill Biscuit Festival), including:
  • Recruiting, leading, delegating to, and collaborating with a diverse and active volunteer planning committee
  • Preparing and operating within event budgets
  • Soliciting, securing, and coordinating vendors, sponsors, and in-kind donations  
  • Creating and maintaining event registration and information pages in Qgiv
  • Day-of coordination, including directing the overall flow and timing of the event and serving as the point of contact for venue, vendors, and volunteers
  • Ensuring completion of all event follow up, including vendor payments, donor invoicing, thank-you notes, and other post-event communications
• Assists with the planning and execution of other community and fundraising events at the direction of the Executive Director
• Coordinates with the Executive Director and the Development team to ensure that events align with organizational goals and donor expectations
• Coordinates with the Communications Manager to create and implement event marketing and communication strategies

Community Engagement – 25%

• Identifies and pursues community outreach opportunities that align with strategic goals
• Develops and maintains relationships with current and potential event sponsors and volunteers
• Maintains consistent, ongoing communication with the Executive Director and the Development team, sharing information and collaborating to enhance Family House’s relationships with donors, volunteers, and community partners

Administration—15%

• Maintains records, including committee meeting minutes, reports for internal and external audiences, and post event evaluations
• Ensures the timely and accurate recording of donation and sponsorship information in Bloomerang (our internal CRM)
• Creates and maintains SOPs for event planning and records management

Work Conditions

The Community Relations Manager performs approximately 80% of their work in an office environment during regular business hours. The other 20% involves local travel to area businesses and community events in a variety of settings. Infrequent but critical parts of the Community Relations Manager’s responsibilities are performed at indoor venues during events which may be loud, active, and crowded. Occasional weekends and evenings are required.

Physical & Mental Requirements

To fulfill the essential duties described above, the Community Relations Manager must be able to do all of the following (with or without reasonable accommodations):

• Work as an integral part of a team, consider alternative and diverse perspectives, and engage with others in a positive manner that engenders confidence and trust
• Complete assigned tasks without direct supervision
• Reason logically and make decisions
• Interact effectively with several people each day in person, on the phone, and through email and written communication
• Inspect and assess venue locations, event preparations, and promotional materials
• Record and navigate information in online databases

Required Qualifications and Experience  

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• A minimum of 3-5 years of full-time work experience, preferably in a nonprofit fundraising setting