Title:     GARE Network Community Manager                                                                                                        

Reports to:  GARE Director of Online Community                                                                                                             

FLSA Status: Exempt                                                                                          

Salary Range:  $80,728 - $90,819                                                                                               

Location:  Remote                                                                                                              

Tentative Start Date:   As soon as possible                                                                               

About Race Forward

Race Forward's mission is to catalyze movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial democratic society free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.

Since 1981, Race Forward has brought a systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity.  In 2017 Race Forward united with the Center for Social Inclusion to become the new Race Forward. 

Employment at Race Forward is contingent upon a new employee submitting on their start date: (1) proof they are up-to-date on their vaccinations; or (2) an application for an approved exemption as an accommodation due to:  (i) a medical reason; (ii)  a sincerely held religious belief; or (iii) other exemption recognized by applicable state law. Up-to-date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines. Employees may request an accommodation in good faith without fear of retaliation.  Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause Race Forward an undue hardship, pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, or prevent an employee from performing the essential functions of the employee’s job. Exemption application forms are available from Human Resources at [email protected].

Position Summary

The GARE Network Community Manager is a network weaver, cultivating practitioner engagement and fostering relationship-building, with an emphasis on leveraging the GARE Online Community, an interactive online community site that currently hosts over 14,000 (and growing) racial equity practitioners working in government. 

The Network Community Manager supports the Higher Logic Thrive Online Community in tandem with GARE’s online and in-person programs, convenings, and initiatives to connect racial equity practitioners and build durable relationships. Network building is a core responsibility of the Community Manager. They engage deeply with practitioners, support facilitation and tech needs of network exchange and group leaders, and contribute ideas and practices in support of a broad range of topics related to racial equity in government.  

 The Network Community Manager maintains a dynamic relationship with GARE and Race Forward staff and partners, providing support with launching online groups, promoting active participation, organizing and disseminating content through a variety of approaches, and making networked connections. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Works under the direction of the GARE Director of Online Community to: 

• Collaboratively develop and apply engagement strategies that foster network exchange, identifying opportunities for network-led collaboration and connection guided by the questions, discussions, and contributions of those participating in the online community, GARE events, and innovation communities / communities of practice.  
• Scan the Online Community and identify key influencers, community members, relevant partners and stakeholders and organize and manage events online and in-person where appropriate to connect and grow the community.  
• Design and deploy campaigns to foster participation within the online community, creating automation and personalization rules to encourage users to engage (e.g., join new groups or complete their user profiles). 
• Develop and oversee practitioner-led Network Exchanges and Network Groups, engaging in thought partnership with practitioners, supporting facilitation and tech needs of exchange and group leads, and contributing ideas and practices in support of a broad range of topics related to racial equity in government.  
• Build mechanisms to elevate topics, discussions and patterns of accomplishments that serve as examples for advancing racial equity work in government. 
• Develop curation strategies and tools to identify member-created content that can be aggregated into resource guides and libraries or may be translated into network engagement at convenings (e.g., identifying and hosting a “Hot Topics” session alongside practitioners). 
• Cultivating conversation online, and surface ideas that are resonant for GARE’s broader communications strategy. 
• Participate in design and implementation of platform moderation strategies that uphold community values. 
• Provide research assistance and resources to members while encouraging peer support and community engagement.  
• Participate in the management of all aspects of the GARE Online Community on the Higher Logic Online Community Thrive Platform, including building and maintaining discussion forums, social features, events, and resource libraries.  
• Use data to refine and improve community management strategies. 
• Support the use of the GARE Online Community in coordinating and standardizing workflows related to onboarding and engagement. 
• Establish strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including participating in or leading cross-departmental projects, developing protocols for onboarding users and group admins to the GARE Online Community and making presentations, facilitating sessions at both online and in-person events.  
• Connect with broader GARE communications strategies and assets, collaborating to plan, ideate, and ensure engagement and outreach strategies are aligned and intentional. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

To perform successfully in this role, incumbent should possess skills identified below: 

Required 

• Relational approach to building community – an understanding that there are multiple levels of engagement and a commitment to cultivating critical connections online and in-person 
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and social justice work 
• Strong organizational skills and ability to synthesize information, with a high attention to detail 
• Ability to analyze social and behavioral data to identify opportunities and insights 
• Commitment to user or experience-centered design approaches 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with other staff and online community users. Must also be able to work independently. 
• Ability to multi-task and juggle priorities and multiple communications platforms 
• Ability to work well under pressure, to meet deadlines while making sound decisions, and to accommodate shifting priorities 
• Strong communication skills, written and oral 
• Ability to generate and curate content, ideas and practices related to racial equity in government 
• Strong research, information retrieval and data analysis skills 
• Fluency with MS Office systems, including Word and Excel 
• Familiarity with Salesforce or equivalent CRM preferred 
• Enthusiasm to work as part of a fully remote team
• Strong relationship-building skills and able to authentically convey a sociable, caring, engaging, and approachable affect in order to build meaningful relationships with members on behalf of the organization

Qualifications and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience  
• 3+ years of project management, information management, and/or digital/online engagement experience 
• Experience organizing or managing communities of practice or network groups 
• Experience related to racial justice 
• Experience related to government, awareness of organizational culture change, and a vision of how local government can contribute to advancing racial equity and fulfilling multiracial democracy 
• Experience managing online communities within a dedicated platform, like Higher Logic, preferably for social impact networks, non-profits, or associations is preferred 
• Travel up to 15% 

Additional Information

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

How to Apply

External Applicants: To apply for this position, please click the link below. To ensure full consideration, please be sure to include both a cover letter and resume with your application.

https://raceforward.isolvedhire.com/jobs/ 

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Race Forward is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.  In keeping with our commitment, Race Forward will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.  Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

EEO Statement

Race Forward provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.