Community Impact Manager

Job Summary

**Hybrid work - Incumbent must work three days each week in either the Fargo, ND or Omaha, NE office**

We are seeking a Community Impact Manager who will oversee Association’s Community Involvement (CI), to impact community needs and enrich stakeholder trust. Implement a multi-faceted program: identify and coordinate funding and support for signature program initiatives, strengthen the Associations position as a socially responsible company, provide counsel and technical support for state, region and standing teams, and provide guidance to employees, and create storytelling opportunities to build the organization's reputation externally. Seek out and develop new opportunities that align with Association goals and defined strategic initiatives. Develop strong working relationships with company decisionmakers, community and engagement leaders, and non-profit organizations to collaborate, plan, communicate and create collective impact. Responsible for tracking, monitoring, and communicating success measures. Work to develop long-term goals and continue to evolve program.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Build and evolve the Association’s CI program, serving as a CI ambassador for the Association and as an advocate for the primary community involvement defined areas of focus. Strengthen relationships with key community and state organizations to identify and develop support for aligned programs. Work to learn, develop and implement continuous program enhancements. Coordinate program strategy and policy, budget and initiative reviews, and overall performance assessments of the program. Coordinate joint funding of projects with other entities and stakeholders as needed. Leads execution of CI efforts across Associations.

• Serve as trusted advisor for responsible efforts and stakeholder expectations.
• Set and drive short-and long-term goals for the program as it relates to the industry, stakeholders, System, communities and the public.
• Periodically represent Associations at relevant conferences, professional groups, and forums.
• Integrate the role of CI throughout the Associations’ defined goals and initiatives.
• Create regular communication with champions and associations both informative and educational to distribute throughout the year (this may fit better under another section).

Grant program responsibility:

• Review, communicate, distribute/process funds, external communication (press releases).
• Maintain historical data.
• Ensure donations are within the program guidelines.

Employee Match:

• Maintain employee match program guidelines.
• Process and promote the program.
• Communicate the program.
• Strategic planning for special events (2:1) throughout the year.

State, Region and Standing Team Activities Provide guidance to state and regional leaders regarding activities that are funded at the local level, aligned with the program. Ensure programs fall within the stated areas of focus without duplicating other Association initiatives. Counsel local leaders on constructive ways to respond to out-of-scope requests. Track and report on state and marketplace activities as part of Association-wide reporting.

• Partner with regional teams on corporate giving and signature program guidance.
• Communicate program goals, coordinate accountability, and mobilize resources across the Association to deliver on the program vision.
• Ability to lead effectively through change and work to eliminate barriers to change.
• Make recommendations on new programs based on specific community needs, best practices, research, DEI programs, and engagement goals.
• Work with teams in overseeing development of CSR report, website, auditable processes and systems related to data collection.
• Ensure corporate giving program reflects the Associations’ purpose and values, create a process to manage decisioning and out of budget requests.
• Employee CI Programs and Activities Identify and promote awareness of activities for consideration, show employees where and how they can make a difference. Develop and communicate the criteria used to determine eligibility. Create a hub for communicating, tracking, promoting and building awareness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Cont.

CI Program Education/ Communication:

• Promote/educate teammates o CI program offerings, guidelines, processes.
• Provide regular updates on CI support in local communities (examples- volunteer hours, employee matches, grants, etc.).
• Impact Report- Serve as project manager for the impact report. Produce highlights, stories, recaps/ measurable data, direction and involvement throughout the entire creative process.
• Create regular communication with champions and associations both informative and educational to distribute throughout the year.
• Implement annual impact events in Omaha and Retail locations.
• Manage and evolve employee volunteer program, matching donations gifts and employee portal.
• Elevate Board engagement opportunities.
• Build efficient and impactful volunteer program including skills-based volunteering, employee engagement, and donation matching for time.
• Coordinate funding of Omaha area programs and causes including disaster relief or essential services.
• Provide measurement for employee program success, continual improvement, share reporting with stakeholders.
• Lead the cross-functional Champion work group to evolve the program for all stakeholders.
• Evolve employee and board community involvement as a function of CI and integrate within Association initiatives (recruiting, employee engagement, DEI, ODL, and volunteering).

Measurement and Reporting Work with internal teams to implement systems to monitor, track and report on community relations activities. Use data to provide an annual report, collateral, detailers, presentations, etc. to leaders and the Board of Directors on overall impact and outcomes.

• Maximize giving and tracking (Your Cause/Blackbaud) for efficiency.
• Use software to build new programs and adapt to Association and stakeholder needs.
• Define metrics, create and communicate outcomes.
• Utilize benchmarks, successes, and measurements against peers, industry, etc., to adapt to new programs.
• Report outcomes and opportunities for tracking software.
• Work with Talent Acquisition manager to provide proof points in communicating success measures.

External Promotion. Develop communications materials, reports and publications that build awareness for the Association’s contributions and community relations programs. Work with Public Relations to generate positive news coverage that enhances the Association’s reputation and image. Counsel state and marketplace leaders on ways to generate similar positive, earned news coverage in their local media.

• Create and distribute annual impact report.
• Work with PR branding and communications colleagues to develop appropriate corporate messaging on relevant social responsibility issues and initiatives.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition Manager to communicate CI initiatives; define and work toward shared goals.
• Manage and communicate the company’s social responsibility and community indicatives.
• Drive and maintain content for relevant stakeholder communications channels.
• Work to ensure consistent messaging and reputation of the program.
• Develop internal communication and/or training on how to use program processes and tools. Coordinate and promote communication across the Association regarding program results.
• Using storytelling, convey Associations commitment to CI to the public, community, industry.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's Degree Preferred

Years of Experience

4 + years experience in Corporate communications or community relations

Certification and Technical Requirements

• Experience with CSR tracking tool
• Proficient in Windows environment using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint