Manager, Community Engagement & Community Life

Join the Black Cultural Zone CDC as a
Manager, Community Engagement & Community Life!

The Black Cultural Zone CDC is seeking a dynamic and mission-driven Manager, Community Engagement & Community Life to provide strategic leadership across two core portfolios: Community Life and Community Engagement (stewarded through the Community Development Team) and the Community Engagement Approach Outreach Methodology (stewarded through the Experience Team). This role is responsible for developing and implementing strategies that foster a vibrant, engaged, and empowered community across all BCZ initiatives — ensuring that all community-facing programs and activities are aligned with BCZ's Mission and Vision. If you are a relationship-builder, strategic thinker, and community steward who is deeply committed to the restoration, preservation, and placekeeping of East Oakland's current and legacy residents and business owners, we want to hear from you.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Steward Community Engagement & Community Life portfolios: Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of community-facing programs, events, and activations across BCZ hubs and corridors, ensuring strategic alignment with BCZ's Mission, Vision, and the Life to Legacy Framework.
• Build and sustain community partnerships: Develop authentic, long-term relationships with community members, partners, and stakeholders — including local organizations, businesses, and civic leaders — to advance BCZ's community development goals.
• Lead community engagement strategy: Develop and implement strategies that build vibrant, engaged, and empowered community connections across all BCZ initiatives, ensuring programs are responsive to community needs.
• Collaborate across teams: Partner with the Experience Team to design and deliver brand-aligned community experiences that reflect BCZ's values and cultural identity, and support the Community Development Team in stewarding Community Life programming.
• Track and report on outcomes: Monitor program outcomes, community engagement metrics, and initiative success using the Nexus data framework; contribute to grant reporting and fund development efforts with program data, narratives, and impact documentation.
• Facilitate team meetings and hold open office hours: Design agendas, facilitate regular internal team and working group meetings, and hold regular office hours to provide guidance, support, and coordination with core and non-core team members.
• Steward implementation plans and documentation: Create clear implementation plans for each initiative, translate organizational policies into actionable processes, and steward the creation of scripts, talking points, and presentation materials to communicate team efforts effectively.
• Model BCZ's C.R.E.A.T.E. values: Bring Collaboration, Respect, Execution Speed & Excellence, Accountability, Tenacity, and Equity & Fairness into every interaction — both inside the organization and with the community.

• A Bachelor's degree in Community Development, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent lived and professional experience.
• 3–5 years of experience in a community engagement, program management, or leadership role.
• Proven experience in community organizing, engagement, or a related field, with strong leadership and team stewardship skills.
• Deep understanding of the cultural, social, and economic dynamics of East Oakland and similar communities.
• Proficiency in project management, event planning, and program coordination; ability to analyze program data and translate insights into actionable improvements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent BCZ in public-facing and partner settings; bilingual or multilingual skills are a plus.

OUR CULTURE AND BENEFITS

At BCZ, we are guided by the Sankofa principle — looking back to move forward — and our C.R.E.A.T.E. values: Collaboration, Respect, Execution Speed & Excellence, Accountability, Tenacity, and Equity & Fairness. We are a growing, mission-driven organization committed to the restoration, preservation, and placekeeping of East Oakland's current and legacy residents and business owners through Black culture, arts, and economic empowerment.

Status: Full-Time, 40 hours per week

Schedule: Monday–Friday; weekends and evenings as necessary

Location: Hybrid 6-day per month at Black Cultural Zone hubs, offices, and community locations

Salary: -$75,00-$82,500 per year

FLSA: Exempt

Are you ready to lead community engagement and steward the life and culture of East Oakland? Join us in building a thriving, empowered community rooted in Black culture, arts, and economic empowerment.

VIEW THE FULL ROLE DESCRIPTION HERE

Salary : $75,000 - $825,000