Sr Mgr, Community Connections, KXXV

The E.W. Scripps Company•Waco, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

KXXV, The Scripps station in Waco, Texas, is seeking a Senior Manager of Community Connections to serve as the station’s primary connector to the community. The role builds trusted relationships that strengthen local engagement, inform journalism, and create meaningful partnerships. Through community intelligence, strategic relationships, and engagement, the position helps keep the station an essential and trusted part of community life. The role leads day-to-day newsroom community engagement priorities and helps ensure the station responds quickly and thoughtfully to audience questions, story tips, community concerns, and public-facing engagement opportunities. It also develops and executes a market-wide community engagement strategy aligned with station and regional priorities, advises leadership on community needs and emerging issues, and coordinates cross-functional engagement efforts.

Requirements

Generally, 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, journalism, nonprofit leadership, communications, public affairs, partnership development, government relations, or related fields.
Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.
Strong community listening skills and ability to recognize emerging issues and opportunities.
Strategic thinking and judgment; ability to translate insight into action.
Strong facilitation, public speaking, writing, and presentation skills.
Ability to influence across News, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and community organizations.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Empathy, cultural awareness, diplomacy, discretion, and integrity.
Ability to work independently and adapt to change.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM/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

BS/BA in a related discipline or equivalent years of experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain relationships with community stakeholders to understand emerging issues, priorities, and opportunities.
Gather, analyze, and communicate community insights to station leadership, newsroom teams, and partners to inform decision-making and coverage.
Partner with News to identify story opportunities, connect journalists with trusted sources, and support audience engagement across community channels.
Serve as the station’s primary community liaison, developing trusted relationships with civic, nonprofit, business, educational, and government organizations.
Represent the station throughout the community and foster partnerships that create long-term value and impact.
Ensure responsive, professional communication with community members, partners, and stakeholders, and make sure audience inquiries are acknowledged, routed, and resolved in a timely and professional manner.
Lead the planning and execution of forums, town halls, public-service initiatives, educational programs, and other community engagement activities.
Partner with News, Sales, Marketing, and station leadership to create meaningful opportunities that strengthen audience relationships and community impact.
Oversee event logistics, stakeholder coordination, and effectiveness measurement to ensure engagement activities are inclusive, relevant, and impactful.
Develop and execute a market-wide community engagement strategy aligned with station and regional priorities.
Advise station 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 develop team capabilities.