Manager of Events & Community Experience

Foundation Academies•Trenton, NJ

8h•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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 event management platforms preferred

Responsibilities

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