Community Relations & Special Events Manager

Community Relations & Special Events Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, and highly motivated Community Relations & Special Events Manager to lead the planning, development, execution, and growth of community engagement initiatives, fundraising efforts, sponsorship programs, and special events for a local community focuses, media company. The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder who excels at connecting organizations with community leaders, businesses, sponsors, donors, vendors, and stakeholders while creating exceptional events that drive visibility, revenue, and community impact.

This position requires a strategic thinker with strong communication, marketing, fundraising, public relations, and public speaking skills who can effectively represent the organization in the community and cultivate lasting partnerships.

Essential Responsibilities

Event Management & Production

• Plan, coordinate, and execute small, mid-sized, and large-scale events from concept through completion.
• Manage event timelines, budgets, logistics, vendor contracts, permits, sponsorship activations, staffing, volunteers, and post-event evaluations.
• Oversee event setup, operations, troubleshooting, and event-day management.
• Develop innovative event concepts that increase attendance, engagement, and revenue.

Sponsorship Development & Fundraising

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate sponsors and community partners.
• Develop sponsorship packages, proposals, presentations, and benefit structures.
• Secure new sponsorship revenue while maintaining and growing existing sponsor relationships.
• Ensure fulfillment of all sponsorship benefits and contractual obligations.
• Assist with fundraising campaigns, donor cultivation, and revenue-generating opportunities.

Community Relations & Development

• Serve as a primary ambassador and spokesperson for the organization.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with community leaders, businesses, elected officials, civic organizations, media representatives, and stakeholders.
• Represent the organization at networking events, community meetings, and public functions.
• Develop strategic partnerships that enhance organizational visibility and impact.

Marketing, Communications & Public Relations

• Create and implement marketing and promotional campaigns for events and organizational initiatives.
• Produce compelling written content for press releases, newsletters, sponsorship proposals, presentations, social media, websites, and promotional materials.
• Manage social media engagement and digital communications strategies.
• Coordinate media outreach and public relations opportunities.
• Assist with branding and community awareness initiatives.

Vendor & Client Relations

• Develop and maintain positive relationships with vendors, contractors, sponsors, donors, and clients.
• Negotiate contracts and pricing when appropriate.
• Ensure exceptional customer service and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Resolve issues professionally and effectively while maintaining strong working relationships.

Public Speaking & Leadership

• Deliver presentations to sponsors, community organizations, businesses, donors, and stakeholders.
• Serve as an effective public representative of the organization.
• Facilitate meetings, sponsorship presentations, community forums, and event announcements.
• Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers and event support teams as needed.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, Event Management, Nonprofit Management, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in community relations, event management, fundraising, sponsorship development, marketing, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success managing small to large-scale events.
• Proven experience securing and managing sponsorships and corporate partnerships.
• Experience with fundraising and donor relations.
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills.
• Experience managing vendors, clients, sponsors, and stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with nonprofits, chambers of commerce, festivals, tourism organizations, civic groups, or community-based organizations. Lives in or near (has working knowledge of) Williamson County.
• Knowledge of event management software, CRM systems, and digital marketing platforms.
• Experience with volunteer management.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Sponsorship Sales & Development
• Fundraising & Donor Relations
• Event Planning & Production
• Community Engagement
• Public Relations
• Public Speaking & Presentation
• Marketing & Communications
• Social Media Management
• Relationship Building
• Strategic Partnership Development
• Vendor & Contract Management
• Project Management
• Budget Oversight
• Leadership & Team Coordination
• Negotiation & Problem Solving

Compensation

Salaried, full-time opportunity with bonus and commission structure

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to shelly@yourcommunity.media