Manager, Community Impact and Relations

Description

Position Purpose

The Manager of Community Impact and Relations advances the Garden's mission as a socially responsible, community-rooted institution. This role serves as a strategic connector between the Garden and the broader community including nonprofit organizations, foundations, civic leaders, business partners, community influences and legislators while also championing internal employee engagement and social responsibility initiatives.

This leadership position is responsible for building and sustaining high-impact relationships, developing community outreach strategies, overseeing public-facing programs and events, supporting government relations, and fostering an internal culture of equity, inclusion and engagement. This position plays a key role in ensuring the Garden remains visible, connected and accountable to both the communities it serves and the people who work within it.

Essential Duties

Strategic Leadership and Community Engagement:

Lead the design and implementation of an annual strategics community impact plan aligned with the Garden's mission and values.

Cultivate and manager partnerships with non-profit organizations, businesses, advocacy groups and public agencies.

Attend civic and community events (i.e. Chamber of Commerce, legislative briefings) and report insights and opportunities to leadership.

Represent the Garden in coalitions, conferences and strategic partner meetings.

Community Programs, Events and Government Relations:

Plan and oversee mission-aligned public events, community activations and culturally relevant celebrations.

Coordinate garden-hosted meetings with government officials, civic groups and funders.

Monitor policy issues and civic developments relevant to the Garden's priorities.

Ensure events and programs are accessible, inclusive and representative of Arizona's diverse communities.

Internal Social Responsibility and Employee Engagement:

Lead internal staff engagement efforts around social responsibility, service and cultural awareness.

Support and facilitate employee resources groups (ERGs) or affinity groups.

Collaborate with Human Resources and department leaders to embed equity and inclusion into workplace culture and daily practices.

Team Leadership and Operations:

Supervise the Outreach Coordinator and interns or assistants supporting engagement and events.

Coach and mentor staff, providing regular performance feedback and growth opportunities.

Manage the outreach and engagement budget, including tracking expenditures and vendor payments

Oversee maintenance of community partner and contact databases in partnership with staff.

Impact Tracking and Reporting:

Monitor progress toward community engagement goals and strategic KPIs

Deliver mid-year and annual reports summarizing partnerships, public impact and internal engagement.

Contribute to grant reporting, proposals and storytelling that reflects community outcomes.

Salary: $80,000 to $95,000 (annual)

Requirements

Competencies

* Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Political Science, Community Development, Non-profit Management, Environmental Studies, or a related field required or related work experience. Master's degree preferred.

* Minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, social impact, public affairs or government relations.

* At least two (2) years of experience in a supervisor or strategic leadership capacity.

* Demonstrated success developing partnerships, leading outreach programs and building relationships across non-profit, civic and business sectors.

* Experience working with multicultural and diverse communities using inclusive, community-centered approaches.

* Familiarity with philanthropy, advocacy or public policy a plus.

* Strong leadership and project management skills.

* Exceptional communication, relationship-building and networking abilities.

* Skilled in planning, promoting and executing mission-aligned community events and programs.

* High emotional intelligence, cultural competency and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion.

* Demonstrated ability to translate community needs into institutional action.

* Experience in supporting internal culture-building, ERGs or staff-led initiatives.

* Proficient in Microsoft Office; CRM or event software preferred.

* Willingness to work evenings, weekend and holidays as needed.

* Valid AZ driver's license and active vehicle insurance

* Bilingual (i.e. English/Spanish) preferred but not required.

Equipment Used

Typical Office Equipment

Internal Communication

Frequent collaboration with Garden staff, volunteers, interns, leadership teams and cross-functional project groups.

External Communication

Regular interaction with community partners, advocacy organizations, elected officials, public agencies and event participants.

Working Conditions

Office environment with moderate noise levels. Occasional off-site meetings, site visits, and community events requiring reliable transportation. Ability to walk, sit, stand, stop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read and type. Manual dexterity and ability to lift up to 10 pounds required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made, when necessary and feasible, to allow a qualified individual to perform essential job functions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Desert Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law.

The Garden fosters and supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.

All employees will help add to the Garden's diversity and fully embrace it.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.