Community Engagement and Events Specialist
Seattle, WA, United States
Job Description Job Description POSITION SUMMARY:
The Western WA Community Engagement and Events Specialist plays a pivotal role in developing and executing events that engage diverse communities to advance Northwest Harvest's mission. The ideal candidate will have experience in partnership and relationship building and event planning to help us reach many audiences including underrepresented communities across Western Washington. We’re looking for someone with the skills to communicate across various audiences, and guide engagement opportunities for volunteers, interns, and volunteer leadership. Responsibilities include overseeing Northwest Harvest's events within the Advocacy, Community Engagement, and Community Philanthropy teams, as well as collaborating with partners on events like KZOK’S Rock the Harvest and Home Team Harvest.
This role also involves creating and managing event resources, coordinating day-of-event logistics, compiling data, managing external partners and contractors, and generating impact reports for event partners.
This position provides comprehensive support across the organization for community engagement events and assists the Community Engagement and Community Philanthropy teams in achieving their objectives.
Schedule: This position may be required to work occasional off-shift hours as necessary for special events or other duties assigned.
Travel: Be responsive and adaptive to opportunities throughout Washington (WA). This can include but is not limited to local travel and occasional travel to Eastern and Western WA.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead and Project Manager Internal Events and Community Partnership Events
Provide strategic direction, event planning, logistics, activities and follow up for Home Team Harvest, KZOK’s Rock The Harvest, donor stewardship events, Town Halls and other and other NWH-driven events for movement building and donor cultivation
Lead on logistics, internal and external relationship management, and story support for media sponsors/partners, Rock the Harvest, and Home Team Harvest
Develop timelines, budgets, pack lists, floor plans, and other logistical materials for all events.
Secure permitting, venue contracts, and manage all event contractors and vendors
Oversee event set-up and strike, managing load-in and loadout processes for all special events.
Collaborate with the volunteer team, Community Engagement, and Community Philanthropy teams to staff events, create collateral materials, support marketing efforts, and secure sponsorship funding for select events
Support community engagement communication efforts
Lead the internal project management for the communications team using project management software
Collaborate and create content for social media
Support management of contractors, scheduling, file organization and access management for visual asset - photography and videos- production
Develop and maintain media contacts database, news story tracking and sharing system
Support external media relations, and reporter outreach around organizational-wide announcements and events
Support staff spokesperson trainings, media interviews and public presentations logistics
Support internal cross-organizational communications
Support newsletter and impact report content creation
Support development of strategic communications plans for each department
General
Speak on behalf of the agency and act as a goodwill ambassador representing the agency in the communities we serve, as it pertains to cultivating corporate partners.
Stay informed and knowledgeable about strategic priorities, programmatic activities, and partnership opportunities.
Participate in cross functional teams and other activities as requested.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Equity and Inclusion
Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact.
Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency.
RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal: Frequent contact with leadership and staff. Communicate daily to ask questions, receive, and provide information.
External: Regular contact with vendors, external partners, contractors, media, professional associates, and donors with timely courteous interactions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.
Successful completion of background check is required.
Knowledge Of:
Proven experience in event planning and coordination with a strong portfolio of successful events
Understanding of audience identification in the context of strategic communications
Proficient knowledge with digital project management tools i.e., asana
Experience with non-profit mission-driven fundraising events and community engagement activities
Intermediate to advanced knowledge with Microsoft Office applications; particularly Word, Excel, PPT and Outlook, Teams, and Zoom and ability to work efficiently and effectively with other organizational platforms such as ADP, SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics NAV system
Ability To
Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity
Demonstrate interest and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQiA+ populations and people living with disabilities
Take initiative and think critically by identifying, analyzing, and solving problems
Project manage and multi-task successfully
Leadership: As an adaptive servant leader, practice collaborative, persuasive, and transformative leadership styles, and lead through influence rather than relying solely on direct-line authority
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and leadership to ensure a high degree of mutual accountability
Navigate and lead through ambiguity while keeping team members engaged and encouraged
Ask questions to understand the merits of different approaches and shift strategies in response to the demands of a situation
Possess integrity, maturity, and ethical awareness
Handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality
Problem-solve in a collaborative, efficient, and effective manner
Analyze issues, synthesize information, make evidence-based decisions, and learn from mistakes
Cultivate and steward professional relationships with diverse constituencies
Equity and Connectedness: Adopt the PACI (purpose driven, anti-racist, connected and interwoven) model and practice the Six Agreements
Support equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations and people living with disabilities
Communication: Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing
Listen and ask questions in order to understand
Ability to maintain diverse tasks with flexibility, navigating tight deadlines and shifting priorities across various projects.
Demonstrated ability to be a team player; prioritize listening skills and collaboration
Establish and maintain effective collaborative working relationships internally and externally with respect and empathy
Provide excellent customer service and experience coordinating many moving pieces
Proven successful track record in rapidly and efficiently taking projects from concept to implementation
Display proven attention to detail and adept project management skills
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
Bachelor’s degree in event management, marketing, communications, certification in event planning or a GED certification, and or an equal combination of education and experience with a personal orientation as a life-long learner.
Experience:
Minimum of (3) + years of demonstrated experience in event logistics and project management setting positions or related roles within a relevant industry or sector.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Non- Profit experience is desired but not required
Ability to speak a second language is desired but not required
Experience with writing content, storytelling and visual asset production for mission-driven organizations is desired but not required
DISCLAIMER:
The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. As an adaptive organization, responsibilities can and will change in alignment with greater efficiencies and mission metrics.
BENEFITS AND OTHER COMPENSATION:
Northwest Harvest offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package this includes but is not limited to; medical/dental/ vision/ insurance, long term disability insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(k) retirement plan, Vacation and Sick leave, 8 paid holidays; New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day, Floating holidays for you to use should you observe a holiday not outlined in Northwest Harvests current observed holidays or at your discretion, and birthday holiday. Employees are eligible to participate in payroll deducted supplemental benefits i.e., Flexible Spending account-HRA and DCE, various AFLAC and New York Life plans.
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