Sr. Manager, Community Connections - Central Coast & Southern Central Valley

The E.W. Scripps Company•Santa Barbara, KS

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Manager, Community Connections serves as the primary connection between KSBY and the Central Coast community, as well as KERO and the Southern Central Valley. The role builds trusted relationships that deepen local engagement, inform journalism, and develop meaningful partnerships. It brings community voices and insights into the newsroom and helps ensure questions, concerns, and story ideas are heard and addressed thoughtfully. This position is based on-site at KSBY in San Luis Obispo, California. Working across News, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and station leadership, the manager develops community intelligence into opportunities for greater impact. The role leads a market-wide community engagement strategy and organizes events and initiatives that strengthen trust, audience relationships, and the station’s connection to the communities it serves.

Requirements

Generally, 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or a related field.
Valid driver's license, good driving record, and ability to provide proof of insurance meeting the company's required insurance limits.
Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills, including the ability to establish credibility across diverse communities and organizations.
Strong community listening skills and ability to recognize emerging issues, needs, and opportunities.
Strategic thinking and sound judgment, including the ability to translate community insights into meaningful action.
Strong facilitation, public speaking, writing, and presentation skills.
Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across internal teams and external community organizations.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Empathy, cultural awareness, diplomacy, discretion, and integrity when working with diverse communities and sensitive topics.
Ability to work independently, take initiative, and adapt to changing community and business needs.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM or community relationship platforms, and collaboration tools.
Strong customer-service mindset, conflict-resolution skills, and sound judgment when responding to audience questions, concerns, and sensitive community issues.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline or equivalent years of relevant experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain trusted relationships with civic, nonprofit, business, educational, government, and other community stakeholders to understand emerging issues, priorities, and opportunities.
Gather, analyze, and share community insights with station leadership, newsroom teams, and partners to inform decision-making, journalism, and local engagement.
Partner with News to identify story opportunities, connect journalists with trusted sources, and strengthen audience engagement across community channels.
Represent the station throughout the community and develop partnerships that create long-term value, trust, and local impact.
Respond to community members, partners, and stakeholders with timely, professional communication; ensure audience questions, concerns, and story tips are acknowledged, routed, and resolved appropriately.
Lead the planning and execution of forums, town halls, public-service initiatives, educational programs, and other community engagement activities.
Collaborate with News, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and station leadership to develop opportunities that strengthen audience relationships and community impact.
Oversee event logistics and stakeholder coordination, and measure effectiveness to help ensure engagement activities are inclusive, relevant, and impactful.
Develop and execute a market-wide community engagement strategy aligned with station and regional priorities.
Advise leadership on community needs, emerging issues, and opportunities to strengthen trust and local impact.
Lead and coordinate cross-functional community engagement efforts, share best practices, track outcomes, and help build engagement capabilities across teams.

Benefits

Full medical, dental, and vision benefits, as well as certain other health and wellness benefits.
Retirement savings plan with company match.
Disability accident insurance.
Hospital indemnity insurance.
Critical illness insurance.
Life insurance.
AD&D coverage.
ID protection.
Pet discount program.
Employee assistance program.
Career path to grow professional experiences.