Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager

Description

DEPARTMENT: Marketing and Audience Services
POSITION: Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager
REPORTS TO: Director of Marketing and Audience Services
WORK SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday, some evenings and weekends required.
CLASSIFICATION: Annual full-time, exempt
COMPENSATION: 71,000; benefits eligible after 90 days'

LOCATION: On-Site, Berkeley, California

ABOUT BERKELEY REP 

Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Berkeley Rep) has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its ambition, relevance, and excellence, as well as its adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. More than 6 million people have enjoyed over 500 shows at Berkeley Rep, including 85 world premieres. Berkeley Rep shows have gone on to win 8 Tony Awards, 9 Obie Awards, 11 Drama Desk Awards, 1 Grammy Award, 1 Pulitzer Prize, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Through its annual seven-play season, together with up to four special-event presentations, Berkeley Rep invites audiences to enjoy an eclectic range of theatrical experiences featuring diverse artistic voices, themes, and perspectives. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager position is a unique opportunity to act as both a community connector and an audience builder, helping Berkeley Rep deepen its roots in the Bay Area while expanding its reach to new and diverse audiences. The Community Engagement & Partnerships Manager is a vital link between the organization and its neighbors — developing, cultivating, and engaging new audiences while retaining and stewarding current ones through strategic partnerships, engaging events, and thoughtful relationship building. This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Director of Marketing and Audience Services, working closely with the Associate Artistic Director/Director of In Dialogue on partnerships and receiving logistical support from the Marketing and Development Fellow. All essential job duties must be conducted in person on Berkeley Rep's campuses. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR 

We are looking for a natural relationship-builder with a community-first instinct and a passion for connecting people to live theater. You have a deep understanding of the Bay Area's cultural landscape and thrive on building authentic, lasting partnerships that bring new and diverse audiences through our doors. While your core expertise lies in community engagement and event production, you're also disciplined about the details capturing and stewarding audience contacts with care so they can be nurtured into lifelong patrons. You are seeking a hands-on role where your warmth, organizational instincts, and genuine love of community will directly impact audience growth and belonging at one of the nation's leading regional theatres. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Community Engagement and Partnerships 

• Represent Berkeley Rep as a key ambassador at local arts, culture, and nonprofit events. 
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with local businesses, community organizations, and artists, partnering with the Director of Marketing and Audience Services on strategic partnership development. 
• Plan, organize, and produce a variety of community engagement programs and events, including the In Dialogue series, working closely with the Associate Artistic Director/Director of In Dialogue and the marketing team. 
• Manage day-of logistics for all community engagement events, coordinating with partners, performers, staff, vendors, and caterers. 
• Support the Associate Artistic Director/Director of In Dialogue in developing and implementing creative concepts for new community programming. 

Audience Development 

• Collaborate with the Marketing and Audience Services teams to support group sales goals by building and nurturing relationships with community-based groups. 
• Collect contact information from new and existing community audiences with proper opt-in consent and record it accurately in Tessitura so the marketing team can segment and convert it effectively. 
• Assist with processing group reservations and provide community insights to inform patron-journey strategies and new market identification. 
• Create seamless experiences for groups attending performances, working with the front-of-house team. 
• Support the Director of Marketing and Audience Services on new-to-file acquisition and conversion goals. 

Event Management 

• Collaborate with the Marketing and Audience Services teams to design and manage community events that connect directly to the themes of our productions. 
• Supervise and coordinate with Marketing, Artistic, and Development Fellows on event support, including setup and cleanup, in coordination with the facilities, production, front-of-house, and operations teams. 
• Work with the box office and front-of-house teams to create and manage influencer and VIP lists for Opening Nights and special events. 
• Clearly communicate event needs and logistics to Berkeley Rep production and facilities staff. 

Strategic Collaboration & Communication 

• Provide community feedback and insights to support broader audience development strategies. 
• Collaborate across departments — including the box office, front-of-house, and development — to ensure community engagement goals align with organizational values, strategies, and goals. 
• Partner with the marketing team to create promotional materials for community-focused programs. 
• Manage the marketing community engagement budget and assist the Associate Artistic Director and General Management in supporting the In Dialogue budget. 
• Provide mentorship and task delegation to fellows (artistic and marketing) supporting community engagement initiatives. 

Other Responsibilities  

• Demonstrate a high degree of coachability and ability to integrate feedback into daily workflows and processes. 
• Actively participate in workshops and training, including harassment prevention, bystander intervention, and antiracism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access initiatives. 
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required Experience 

• Minimum of two years of experience in community engagement, event management, or nonprofit outreach. 
• Proven success in building and maintaining professional partnerships. 
• Experience producing, hosting, or facilitating public-facing community events, including talkbacks and performances. 

Technical Skills 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams). 
• Experience with Tessitura or a comparable CRM, including accurate data entry and contact management; Tessitura strongly preferred. 
• Familiarity with budget management and financial coordination. 
• Valid driver's license and ability to drive.  

Core Competencies 

• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to multitask and manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively. 
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, especially in multicultural settings. 
• High degree of emotional intelligence and cultural competency. 
• Proactive and creative problem-solving skills. 
• A strong commitment to customer service and relationship building. 
• A strong interest in and commitment to antiracism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access (AEDIA) initiatives. 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment. 
• An appreciation for the performing arts. 
• Familiarity with Bay Area community organizations preferred. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 

This is an in-person role requiring a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate events and performances. The position involves moving throughout Berkeley Rep's campuses and off-site event locations, with standing and walking for extended periods. Active participation in event setup and cleanup is required, including lifting and carrying objects up to 25 pounds and arranging event materials and furniture. Must be able to respond to non-verbal cues to help ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE 

Berkeley Rep is an equal opportunity employer and offers a full range of employee benefits, including 85% employer-paid health and dental insurance, optional vision, FSA, and 403(b) plans, professional development support, paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. 

Online submissions only. Please include a cover letter and résumé with your application. 

Persons from diverse backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. Berkeley Rep will contact candidates of interest. Please, no calls or faxes. Only complete submissions will be considered.