Youth Program Engagement Specialist

New York Road Runners•New York, NY

1d•$76,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Youth Program Engagement Specialist leads the planning, coordination, and execution of Rising New York Road Runners in-person and virtual youth events from initial planning through post-event evaluation. This role manages event registration, communications, logistics, transportation, customer support, and on-site event operations while serving as the primary liaison between internal teams and participating schools, community organizations, and families. The position also oversees the development and implementation of virtual engagement initiatives and supports continuous improvements to youth event operations and participant experience.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in event management, program coordination, operations, or a related field.
Experience working with youth, schools, community organizations, and/or families.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); experience with Salesforce, FormAssembly, or similar systems preferred.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and event timelines.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
Creative problem-solver with the ability to identify opportunities for improvement and develop solutions that enhance program and participant experiences.
Ability to build strong relationships and effectively engage with diverse populations, including youth, educators, families, community partners, and internal teams
Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Operate on a hybrid schedule, with two days per week in the NYRR office in NYC
All staff are required to work the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon, and the TCS NYC Marathon.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support youth events and organizational priorities.
Ability to travel locally to support events and community engagement activities as needed.

Nice To Haves

experience with Salesforce, FormAssembly, or similar systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning and execution of youth program event registration, transportation, communications, logistics, material preparation, and event-day operations for enrolled sites, schools, and clubs.
Manage and communicate all event-related information to ensure participating sites, schools, and clubs comply with registration and transportation requirements, meet established deadlines, and understand race-day expectations.
Create and maintain an internal event calendar with key milestones and deadlines, collaborating with the program team on the development and scheduling of event announcements, reminders, pop-ups, pre-event instructions, and post-event communications.
Coordinate event logistics and operational plans with the Youth Events Team, SPOO, Race Scoring, and other internal stakeholders to ensure successful event execution.
Attend events and lead the check-in process for participating sites, schools, and clubs by supervising event-day registration staff, resolving customer service issues, and ensuring event procedures are executed efficiently and consistently.
Conduct post-event evaluations, compile participation and operational metrics, document lessons learned and recommend improvements for future events.
Plan, develop, and administer virtual youth events—including races and challenges—to engage schools, community organizations, clubs, and families with Rising New York Road Runners resources.
Develop project briefs and project plans outlining deliverables, timelines, and cross-functional responsibilities.
Develop marketing creative briefs for all virtual event assets.
Collaborate with Marketing and Digital to develop web pages, digital resources, and promotional materials that maximize engagement and participation.
Create and manage registration forms, participant reports, and event tracking using Form Assembly and Salesforce.
Manage event systems, reporting, and participant data.
Oversee event setup and maintenance within the organization's registration and participant management systems.
Develop reporting tools and dashboards to measure and report on the success of in-person and virtual event participation, maintaining accurate attendance and participation data.
Support testing and implementation of new systems and technology that improve program delivery and event operations.
Maintain accurate event records and data to support reporting, planning, and operational decision-making.
Lead operational planning, capacity management, and event readiness.
Lead the planning and execution of operational initiatives and event-related projects that support the successful delivery of Rising New York Road Runners programming.
Monitor registration trends and partner with the SPOO team and internal stakeholders to manage event capacities, participant movement, registration availability, and waitlists across the youth event portfolio.
Maintain and update standard operating procedures, event timelines, templates, and operational documentation to support consistent, efficient, and scalable event execution.
Identify operational needs and develop tools, workflows, and resources that improve event readiness, operational efficiency, and the participant experience.
Monitor operational capacity and anticipate resource needs to support future event planning and evolving program priorities.