Sr. Events and Communications Manager

Application Instructions

Click “Apply” to submit your online application. Please attach a resume and thoughtful cover letter on the “My Experience” page in the “Resume/CV” field.

Active City Year Staff members must log in to Workday to apply internally.

Number of Positions: 1
Work Location: 100% On-Site

Position Overview

City Year Detroit’s Events and Communications Manager is responsible for the strategy, operations, and execution of critical engagements throughout the year. Reporting directly to the Managing Director of Development and as an integral part of the Development team, this position will lead all aspects of event production and communication strategies for internal and external audiences with the goal of increasing funding for City Year’s programs.

Job Description

Event Design and Execution

• Develops and manages a comprehensive events calendar commensurate with City Year Detroit’s benchmarks and milestones throughout the year, including national and local events and external partnerships.
• Creates all fundraising event materials including sponsorship packets, solicitation language, and historical sponsor list with contact information.
• Manages the entire process for event sponsorship solicitations, including tracking which staff member or committee member is contacting a prospect, the stage of the ask, and the outcome.
• Manages all volunteer committee meeting logistics.
• Designs and scripts all event programs including fundraising, non-fundraising, service, and site-specific recruitment events.
• Creates all event collateral including invitations, event signage, talking points, thank-you notes, etc.
• Secures necessary vendors, obtains quotes, secures contracts, and monitors vendor performance to ensure City Year receives exceptional service and value.
• Develops staffing plans and trains AmeriCorps members, staff, and volunteers on roles as necessary.
• Creates event budgets and tracks expenses.
• Creates and maintains all pertinent event documents, including sponsorship solicitation lists, RSVP lists, run of show, host committee agendas, speaker briefings, etc.
• Ensures all sponsor and donor deliverables for recognition are met.
• Manages e-mail and direct mail communication around the event.
• Collects feedback from site leadership, staff, volunteer committees, vendors, and others to evaluate the effectiveness of events.

Storytelling and Marketing Communications

• Leads and helps ensure site-wide implementation of City Year messaging with a focus on asset-framed storytelling and systemic inequities.
• Identifies and collects content that demonstrates the work of City Year AmeriCorps members with students, their impact on school climate, the successes they help students achieve in partnership with teachers, and their plans after City Year.
• Creates and manages a site database of story leads along with necessary permissions to capture and distribute stories.
• Manages the content calendar.
• Collaborates with the Managing Director of Development in the creation of donor engagement activities for high-level individual donors ($10k+).
• Writes, edits, and designs website content, donor impact reports, newsletter content, site collateral, social media posts, blogs, and any other unique communication initiatives, and collaborates with the Development Coordinator in the publishing/distribution of materials.
• Partners with national Marketing/Communications staff to produce a suite of marketing materials and tools to support current and prospective local needs.
• Identifies PR opportunities to share City Year’s message and increase awareness of our brand in the Detroit community.
• Successfully manages the City Year Detroit brand by way of consistency in voice and tone, quality, and timeliness of content.

Qualifications

Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized folks tend to only apply when they check every box. So if you think you have what it takes, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still apply. We’d love to see if you could be a great addition to our team.

• 3+ years of experience in communications, events, marketing, and/or public relations field
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; concentration in public relations, communications, marketing, or related field ideal
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling ability
• Must have excellent time management skills, ability to thrive in a deadline-driven position, and prioritize multiple projects with high attention to detail
• Social media execution experience (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, blog writing)
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign and Photoshop) preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with diverse audiences
• Ability to think and operate both strategically and creatively
• Demonstrate a willingness to work independently and be a strong and collaborative team member
• Passion for education and youth development
• Ability to thrive in a diverse, youthful, high-energy, entrepreneurial, fast-changing environment
• Applicants with current or recent City Year Detroit staff/corps experience are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation and sick days and organization holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that City Year establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, City Year offers medical, dental, and vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other benefits including 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 401(k) plan document.

Employment at City Year is at-will.

City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.