ABOUT THE WILLOWS: The Willows Community School, located in Culver City, is a Developmental Kindergarten through 8th grade non-profit, co-educational independent school enrolling 475 students annually. Recognized as a balanced, progressive educational leader, The Willows’ strong academic program incorporates experiential learning and thematic instruction into cutting-edge curriculum and integrates technology and the arts into the classroom. The Willows is strongly committed to financial assistance and seeks a broad-based student body with a diversity of race, ethnicity, economics and learning styles. We believe each child brings our community an extraordinary gift: a curious mind, ready to explore and eager to learn.
Position Description: The Manager of Community Engagement & Events is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of a year-round portfolio of all school events intended to cultivate and steward all constituents. Working closely with the Director of Development, Director of Advancement, the development and facilities teams, and the Willows Parent Association (WPA), the Manager of Community Engagement & Events helps bring The Willows’ mission to life through thoughtful, creative, and well-executed events that reflect the heart and spirit of our school. This role is designed as a highly collaborative, hands-on position combining project coordination and successful execution with hospitality and constituent relations components.
Reports to: Director of Development
It is expected that an ideal candidate would possess:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across departments and build positive working relationships with diverse constituencies including families, colleagues, trustees, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, community members and vendors
- Effective time-management skills and ability to handle a fast-paced work environment
- The ability to remain calm, flexible, and solutions-oriented under pressure; uses creative, strategic thinking and sound judgement to identify challenges, develop solutions, and resolve issues in a timely manner
- Energy and enthusiasm for creating successful, smooth, well-coordinated event experiences for the community
- Proactive and adaptable with attention to detail, and comfort with handling both behind-the-scenes logistics as well as front-facing hospitality and constituent services
- Participate and initiate opportunities that demonstrate one's growth, knowledge, and skills
- A strong commitment to supporting a warm and vibrant independent school community
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:
Events Management:
- Collaborate with administration, staff and volunteer leadership, conceptualize events, including the purpose of the event, targeted audience, key themes, budget, messaging, location, and vendors
- Build and maintain relationships with vendors
- Partner with key staff or departments on all event logistics including calendaring, coordinating RSVP’s, event set-ups, catering, audio/visual, day of event details, post event acknowledgements and more
- Liaisons between the development office and the facilities team
- Assists with writing, designing, and producing publications and materials associated with the events
- Attends events and is a point person to ensure that all runs smoothly; manages and participates alongside the facilities team during event set-up to ensure successful event layouts and troubleshoot as needed
- Facilitates and manages offsite school events as necessary
- Coordinates weekly meetings with facilities reviewing upcoming events and set-ups; create detailed event timelines, production schedules, checklists, etc.
- Works with Directors of Advancement and Development on community communications for upcoming events
- Participates in regular Calendar Committee meetings to review all-school calendars
- Oversees catering for various committee meetings and events
Fundraising and Community Events:
- Work closely with the development team and WPA volunteers to execute fundraising and community building events
- Actively contribute to the development team’s goals and initiatives
Constituent Relations:
- Collaborates with development team members to develop events and activities designed to cultivate relationships with all constituents both internally and externally (new parents, current parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, trustees, Board of Governors, faculty and staff)
- Assists with neighborhood relations (ex: coordinating with Culver City for event permit)
- Responsible for coordinating all details related to internal campus events (ex: coordinating grade level exhibitions with faculty and staff)
- Represent the School professionally and warmly in interactions with parents, trustees, faculty, students, alumni and grandparent communities, community partners, and vendors
Skills/Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in related field; experience in an independent school, nonprofit, hospitality, or similarly high-touch environment is preferred
- Great communication skills and experience working with volunteers is preferred
- Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects effectively
- Creative and strategic thinker
- Able to work both collaboratively and independently in fast-paced work environments
- Proficient in Office and Apple software/products; knowledge of Raisers Edge, Finalsite, Veracross and Jotform a plus
- Availability to work evenings and weekends as required by the School’s event calendar
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
This full-time, exempt position offers a salary range of $75,000 - $90,000, commensurate with experience.
Employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance covered at 100% for employees
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Generous retirement plan with an employer discretionary contribution
- Flexible spending account (FSA)
- Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays
About THE WILLOWS COMMUNITY SCHOOL
The Willows Community School, where great minds grow, is a DK-8 co-ed, independent school, enrolling 473 students from 51 zip codes. Recognized as a balanced, progressive educational leader, the academic program incorporates experiential learning, thematic instruction, and social emotional learning into cutting-edge curriculum. Design thinking, maker and the arts are integrated into the classroom. The broad-based student body has a diversity of race, ethnicity, socioeconomics and learning styles; 43% of our student body identify as students of color. The Willows believes each child brings our community an extraordinary gift: a curious mind, ready to explore and eager to learn. Our mission is to grow that gift by challenging our students to uncover meaning and significance in the world around them and to become capable, confident individuals who demonstrate character, engagement, and a joyful passion for creative inquiry across a lifetime. Our students are encouraged to live our credo: All things are possible. For more information about The Willows, please visit our website: www.thewillows.org.
