The main role of the Community Engagement Manager is to support our virtual community platform, Our Outdoors, which empowers parents and caregivers to create nature play opportunities for their young kids.

Job Title: Community Engagement Manager
Posted Date: March 23 2021    Closing Date: April 6 2021
Pay Rate: $25
Job Type: Part Time (10hrs/wk with the potential to expand as budget grows)
Job Function: Programs & Communications
Location: Remote / Work from Home
Org. Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Who We Are

Free Forest School offers a flexible, self-motivated work environment with collaboration and a mission-driven purpose at its core. We work hard, plan ahead, and use our time wisely. We have a unique workplace; each of us in different states and time zones, in bedrooms, on couches, or in home offices, all working together for a common cause. Join us to be heard and respected while having a job that challenges you and makes you feel proud. Free Forest School offers competitive wages, paid time off, and the potential for gear & apparel discounts.

Free Forest School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion—We believe young people of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities deserve and benefit from unstructured play in nature. We believe diversity brings invaluable richness and depth to our local groups and our organization. We welcome participants and leaders of all walks of life, and seek to foster an environment where all people are included, valued, heard, respected, and empowered. Black, Indigenous and People of Color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to apply.

Goals of this Role

The main role of the Community Engagement Manager is to support our virtual community platform, Our Outdoors, which empowers parents and caregivers to create nature play opportunities for their young kids. Strong candidates have an established background in online community engagement and management strategies, communications, and member support; enthusiasm for our mission and an understanding of the barriers families face to accessing nature play; and a willingness to take on new challenges and adapt as the platform grows and new needs become clear. Key to this position is your ability to hold space for exchange among a diverse group of people, to build positive relationships with community members, and to maintain clear expectations for member conduct. You must have comfort engaging in challenging conversations and asserting yourself as a moderator.

As Community Engagement Manager, you will foster an inclusive online community, support volunteer group moderators and event hosts, assist members with technical challenges, and create engaging content to encourage communication and grow our community membership. You will collaborate with a team of staff and volunteers to oversee the platform. Additional duties may be assigned as needed, and you will work collaboratively to provide overflow and backup support. 

Specific Tasks Will Include:

• Monitor member activity and recommend / pursue community improvements
• Moderate all platform activity and enforce community guidelines
• Manage the creation of new virtual groups on the platform and support volunteer group moderators and event hosts 
• Work with the Communications Manager to moderate and manage the Everyday Outside Facebook group and FFS Facebook page
• Monitor FFS email accounts (programs@, info@), answering directly or directing inquiries to appropriate contacts 
• Provide platform-related technical support to members and volunteers as needed
• Manage all platform member account creation; integrate member data with other databases as needed
• Prepare monthly Membership Dashboard for Board meetings
• Research and develop new content for the platform 
• Work in conjunction with the staff team to develop, and oversee implementation of, overarching communications & development approaches in alignment with overall strategic plan

Your Skills and Abilities:

• 3+ years of nonprofit community engagement or member management experience
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills
• Proven track record moderating online conversation among a diverse population
• Time management, organization, and flexibility with job duties
• Software proficiencies: MailChimp, Gmail, Google Drive
• Comfort with asynchronous collaborative work via Google Drive
• Creative self-starter who likes to learn