Early Childhood Community Engagement Manager

Early Childhood Community Engagement Manager

Our client - Port Discovery Children's Museum - is seeking an Early Childhood Community Engagement Manager.

Position Summary:

Port Discovery is seeking passionate members of the early childhood workforce with extensive experience working with children from birth through six years old. We are looking for professionals who value playful learning and bring diverse perspectives and approaches to early childhood education. Experience with child-centered learning practices is highly valued. We believe children thrive in environments that honor curiosity, creativity, independence, connection, and hands-on exploration, and we are excited to collaborate with professionals who share this vision.

The Early Childhood Community Engagement Manager is responsible for the planning, coordination, facilitation, and continuous improvement of community engagement programs that support playful learning experiences for young children from birth through age six. This role provides direction to our internal community engagement team and partners closely with families, caregivers, educators, and community organizations to strengthen connections between play, learning, and child development.

By fostering a culture of collaboration, equity, belonging, and continuous improvement, the Early Childhood Community Engagement Manager builds and maintains strong relationships with families, educators, community partners, and internal staff. This position ensures high-quality program implementation through effective scheduling, communication, facilitation, documentation, data tracking, and ongoing relationship management.

The Early Childhood Community Engagement Manager plays a critical role in supporting the quality, impact, and operational excellence of the following Port Discovery programs:

• Communities At Play is a six-session, community-centered learning experience that supports families, caregivers, and community partners in understanding and applying the science of play to strengthen playful learning experiences for children from birth through age six.
• Professionals At Play is a professional learning initiative that empowers the early childhood workforce with play-based learning strategies that can be integrated into professional practice to support young children from birth through age six.

Details:

• Position Type:
  Full-Time
• Reports To:
  
  Community Engagement Director
• Location:
  
  Port Discovery Children's Museum & partner community sites
• Salary: $55k to $60k, based on relevant experience

Schedule:

• Typical
  
  Shifts:
  
  8 hours, Monday-Friday
  • Occasional weekends and evenings, based on program scheduling

Primary Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Facilitation

• Participate in professional learning opportunities to build their capacity to facilitate Communities At Play and co-facilitate Professionals At Play sessions;
  • Model play-based, interactive, relationship-centered facilitation
  • Adapt facilitation strategies to meet the needs of diverse groups
• Support museum staff coaching and development;
• Ensure program quality and fidelity across cohorts;
• Collaborate with Community Engagement Director and Strategic Advisor to assist in the development of Professionals At Play and museum staff training content.

Program Coordination & Logistics

• Coordinate scheduling and logistics for Communities At Play and Professionals At Play;
• Manage participant registration, attendance tracking, and program documentation;
• Maintain program calendars and timelines;
• Prepare and organize learning materials and supplies;
• Transport materials to/from off-site locations (reliable transportation required);
• Support program evaluation through data collection and feedback.

Relationship Building & Communication

• Serve as a logistical point of contact for participants and community partners
• Build and maintain strong relationships with families, educators, and partners
• Send confirmations, reminders, and follow-up communication
• Support the director in fostering a collaborative team culture

Qualifications:

Port Discovery is seeking individuals who are:

• Passionate about playful learning and its impact on families and communities;
• Adept at engaging children between the ages of birth to six and their families in diverse settings, including community programs, childcare settings, schools, museums, and libraries;
• Skilled in facilitating group activities and communicating effectively with diverse audiences;

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in education, early childhood, or related field;
• 3–5 years of experience working with families and communities in both formal and informal education settings;
• Previous experience as a team leader, supervisor or manager;
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines;
• Access to consistent personal transportation and ability to travel within state to different locations;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Asana, Canva, and/or similar tools;
• Must be 18 years of age and…