Community Engagement Specialist

OUR MISSION REMARKABLE IMPACT

Remarkable impact is the heart of Foundation For The Carolinas mission and the driving force behind our mission is the collective impact of thousands of nonprofits families companies and organizations who partner with us to amplify the power of giving.

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) a supporting organization of Foundation for the Carolinas nurtures Charlotte-Mecklenburgs cultural ecosystem by supporting local creatives and nonprofits. Its mission is to foster community retention drive economic growth and enhance residents quality of life.

As both a funder and fundraiser ASC offers grants manages public art supports community-led programs like Culture Blocks and provides educational programming for PreK12 students. ASCs work aims to remove barriers ensure cultural access for all and promote upward mobility.

HOW YOULL ADVANCE OUR MISSION POSITION OVERVIEW

Under the supervision of the VP Advancement the Community Engagement Specialist provides professional coordination project leadership and operational management for ASCs community engagement programs learning experiences volunteer program donor/stakeholder events government partner events civic engagement initiatives and cross-department projects.

This role serves as an operational hub that translates Advancement donor engagement civic engagement and learning-program priorities into clear project plans timelines partner coordination systems event readiness tools and follow-up processes.

YOUR UNIQUE IMPACT ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Engagement Program Operations

• Own operational planning and execution for assigned community engagement programs and initiatives.
• Translate priorities from the VP Advancement Individual Giving Officer and Government Relations Officer into project plans timelines readiness checklists and project trackers.
• Maintain clear schedules deadlines dependencies assignments and status updates for assigned programs.
• Coordinate across departments to ensure internal partners understand their roles deadlines and follow-up responsibilities.
• Escalate risks unresolved decisions delayed inputs or competing priorities to the appropriate strategy owner.

Learning Programs Coordination

• Coordinate operational delivery of the Cultural Leadership Training Program including session logistics participant communications materials calendars room setup speaker/facilitator coordination attendance tracking and post-session follow-up.
• Support operational planning and execution for other workshops or trainings.
• Coordinate with facilitators vendors speakers and internal staff to ensure learning programs are professionally delivered.
• Maintain program timelines contact lists session checklists registration records and participant communications.
• Support basic reporting on participation logistical effectiveness and follow-up needs.

Volunteer Program Operations

• Coordinate ASCs volunteer engagement program including volunteer information sessions volunteer communications sign-up processes tracking systems and volunteer placement support.
• Work with internal departments to identify volunteer needs and translate those needs into clear opportunities assignments and follow-up processes.
• Maintain volunteer rosters sign-up tools attendance or participation records and stewardship touchpoints.
• Support volunteer recognition and appreciation efforts.
• Ensure volunteer engagement supports ASCs broader Advancement community engagement donor engagement government relations Public Art and Community & Artist Support priorities.

Stakeholder Engagement Event Support

• Partner with the Individual Giving Officer to support donor and stakeholder engagement events and initiatives.
• Provide operational support for Creative Breaks donor engagement gatherings stewardship events and other donor-facing or stakeholder-facing activities as assigned.
• Maintain project plans invitation timelines guest experience plans venue/vendor coordination staffing plans run-of-show documents and follow-up systems.
• Ensure donor engagement events are executed in a way that supports the goals set by the Individual Giving Officer and VP Advancement.
• Coordinate with the Content & Communications Specialist and Marketing & Communications Officer on event promotion invitations digital assets and follow-up communications.

Civic Engagement Event Operations

• Support the operational planning and delivery of major government partner and civic engagement events including the Mecklenburg Arts & Culture Impact
• Summit and a future Datathon designed to support advocacy engagement with civic leaders.
• Collaborate with the Government Relations Officer to translate advocacy and civic engagement priorities into executable event plans.
• Maintain project timelines venue and vendor trackers event schedules speaker/support material checklists internal staffing plans run-of-show documents guest experience plans and post-event follow-up documentation.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to ensure event readiness.
• Support registration guest communications day-of logistics and follow-up documentation.
• Ensure civic and government partner events are executed in a way that supports the strategy set by the Government Relations Officer and VP Advancement.

Cross-Department Project Coordination

• Coordinate projects that require input from Marketing & Communications Individual Giving Government Relations Public Art Community & Artist Support and other ASC teams.
• Maintain project trackers action-item lists dependency maps and follow-up documentation.
• Help ensure project owners and internal partners understand what is needed by when and from whom.
• Coordinate project handoffs between strategy owners and execution partners.
• Identify potential bottlenecks and escalate them before they become urgent.
• Support the VP Advancement in reducing operational burden by maintaining visibility into active projects and upcoming deadlines.

Event Readiness and Documentation

• Develop and maintain event readiness systems including planning timelines production checklists run-of-show documents staffing plans materials lists guest experience plans and post-event debrief templates.
• Ensure assigned events have clear owners deadlines roles and handoff points.
• Coordinate day-of execution plans and ensure internal staff understand roles and responsibilities.
• Capture post-event notes next steps and lessons learned to support continuous improvement.

WHAT YOULL NEED FOR SUCCESS QUALIFICATION

• A minimum of 35 years of relevant experience in program coordination event operations community engagement nonprofit project management volunteer coordination stakeholder engagement or related work.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders timelines and dependencies.
• Strong project management and organizational skills including experience maintaining timelines trackers checklists and follow-up systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to coordinate across departments and work effectively with multiple strategy owners.
• Sound judgment and ability to identify when decisions should be escalated.
• Experience supporting events trainings workshops donor/stakeholder convenings or civic engagement programs.
• Commitment to equity inclusion accessibility and community-centered approaches.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Charlotte-Mecklenburgs cultural civic nonprofit or philanthropic landscape.
• Experience supporting donor engagement government partner events advocacy convenings or community-facing programs.
• Experience coordinating volunteer programs.
• Experience with project management platforms such as or similar tools.
• Experience supporting registration systems event communication tools or CRM-related event workflows.