Community Engagement Manager

Reports to: Director of Community Projects & Partnerships

Status: Full Time, Exempt

Location: Office-based with extensive fieldwork throughout Eastern & Southeastern San Diego

Salary: $68,000 - $75,000, commensurate with experience

Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, holidays

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek works with residents to build climate-safe neighborhoods in the Chollas Creek Watershed. We re a dynamic team working at the intersection of environmental and social justice, turning community visions into reality through youth programs, advocacy, and blue-green infrastructure projects. We re tackling big challenges where your voice matters and your work makes a tangible impact.

This position is the operational backbone of our community engagement, managing outreach across 10+ active projects while maintaining the systems that enable long-term participation. You ll co-lead focus groups, conduct door-to-door outreach, staff weekend events, manage our contact database, and provide technology support to community partners. This role combines hands-on community work with database management and tech support—ideal for someone who thrives on variety, loves connecting with people, and is detail-oriented with data.

Community Outreach (60%)

• Co-lead engagement for major projects: e.g., Chollas Creek Greenway (focus groups, door-to-door outreach, community meetings), Green Schoolyards (institutional meetings, parent/teacher engagement), and others
• Staff weekend events: monthly Earth Lab Saturdays, tree plantings (6/year), volunteer days, Exploring the Watershed gatherings
• Attend/present at evening meetings: neighborhood councils, community planning groups, churches, schools
• Table at community events
• Conduct one-on-one meetings to build relationships and identify leaders
• Support and guide part-time interns

Database Management (15%)

• Manage data from all community engagement; maintain clean contact data, conduct monthly reviews, track engagement funnel progression
• Apply tags/fields to track interests, activities, demographics; build forms with auto-tagging
• Generate reports for targeted outreach; ensure data privacy compliance
• Work with community planning groups and neighborhood councils to build/maintain simple websites (Word Press, Squarespace, Google Sites, etc.)
• Train rising leaders to update their sites; troubleshoot tech issues with partners; support hybrid meetings; manage digital tools (QR codes, forms)
• Maintain outreach technology stack

Event Coordination (15%)

• Coordinate logistics for 30+ meetings/events per year: venues, materials, food, volunteers, RSVPs
• Develop facilitation guides and agendas; document attendance; prepare engagement reports

• 3+ years community organizing/engagement experience, preferably in environmental justice or urban planning
• Strong relationship-building skills with diverse communities, especially historically marginalized populations
• Project management ability across multiple concurrent deadlines
• CRM/database experience (Action Network, Every Action, Salesforce, or similar)
• Website building/maintenance skills (Word Press, Wix, Squarespace, or similar)
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Commitment to racial equity and environmental justice
• Valid CA driver s license and reliable transportation
• Flexibility for regular evening and weekend work

• Experience in Southeastern/Eastern San Diego communities
• Knowledge of San Diego community planning group/neighborhood council systems
• Survey design and qualitative data collection experience
• Marketing & basic graphic design skills (e.g., Canva)
• Training in popular education or community organizing methodologies

Self-motivated, detail-oriented, organized, collaborative team player, adaptable, passionate about justice, easy to work with, sense of humor.

Office-based with regular field work. Must be comfortable standing/walking for events (2-4 hours), working outdoors, lifting 25 lbs, and extended computer work. Regular travel throughout Eastern/Southeastern San Diego (mileage reimbursed). We work in person with flexibility for occasional remote work.

Submit through Linked In or send to (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).:

• Cover letter (1-2 pages) describing your interest and fit

Questions:

Equal Opportunity

Employer:

Groundwork San Diego is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.