Community Engagement Manager

Description

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina (hybrid/office as applicable)

Schedule: Monday and Friday remote, Tuesday-Thursday in office (based on business needs)

About EDPNC

At EDPNC, our mission is to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for all North Carolinians. In partnership with state, regional, local, and private sector leaders, we support North Carolina’s growth through business recruitment, existing industry support, international trade and export assistance, small business counseling, and tourism promotion. As a public-private partnership serving on behalf of the State of North Carolina, EDPNC operates at the intersection of public service and economic strategy. Our work helps attract investment, support employers, strengthen communities, and position North Carolina as one of the best places in the country to live, work, and do business. We are a collaborative, mission-driven organization that values professionalism, initiative, responsiveness, and strong relationships. The work is fast-paced, meaningful, and highly collaborative, offering employees the opportunity to engage with leaders across business, government, and communities throughout the state. At EDPNC, team members are motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible impact while working alongside smart, dedicated people who care deeply about North Carolina’s future.

About the Role

The Community Engagement Manager is responsible for raising awareness of the impact of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina among key stakeholders, civic and business leaders, state and local government officials and legislators. The role is focused on developing and implementing communications strategies that demonstrate the positive outcomes of the organization’s work at the grassroots level. A proactive advocate for the EDPNC brand, the Community Engagement Manager will collaborate cross-functionally within the organization to identify compelling and relevant narratives that illustrate how the EDPNC creates tangible economic opportunities for all North Carolinians and disseminate through a wide variety of communications platforms.

What You’ll Do

• Storytelling & Content Creation: Develop and execute a comprehensive communication strategy to highlight organizational impact via regular newsletters and bulletins, social media, video and website content, articles, case studies, fact sheets, etc. Establish and maintain a centralized content calendar and production timelines to ensure consistency, currency, and relevance.
• Reputation Management: Monitor public perception by nurturing and optimizing engagement from key stakeholders, civic and community leaders, the business community, and elected officials. Build newsletter subscriptions and social media following among targeted in-state audiences. Support external public affairs/lobbying partners with briefing documents, fact sheets, and case studies to educate stakeholders and legislative funders on the value and impact of the organization’s work.
• Earned Media & Public Relations: In collaboration with the Senior Communications Manager and Visit NC PR team, produce press releases and story pitches for local and statewide media outlets to secure earned media placements highlighting the organization's newsworthy success stories at the state and community level.
• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Lead and align internal teams across the organization including tourism, film, business recruitment and expansion, international trade, and small business advisory. Promote local EDPNC events and activities taking place across the state (e.g., NC 100, Go Global Road Show, Board and Investor events, tourism FAMS and Destination Immersion events, film shoots, etc.). Support Investor Relations efforts to secure private funding with relevant case studies, narrative, and data points.
• Speaking Opportunities and Strategic Sponsorships: Identify strategic speaking opportunities with community organizations across the state for EDPNC leadership to communicate the organization’s value proposition and business results at a grassroots level. Similarly, identify marquee events hosted by organizations with complimentary missions where EDPNC can sponsor, attend with investors and partners, and/or benefit from recognition among key audiences.
• Research, Tracking and Reporting: Using insights gleaned from the baseline market research study among key audiences (July 2026), developing data-driven strategies and messaging for each target group. Measure the impact of awareness, engagement and reputation-building efforts using metrics, and engagement feedback.

Requirements

What We Are Looking For

• 5+ years of professional experience spanning public relations, corporate communications, marketing, or public affairs, ideally within North Carolina.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Policy, Marketing, or a closely related field.
• Strong existing familiarity with the North Carolina political and economic landscape is a plus.

Key Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, presentations, and copyediting.
• Proven experience managing multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns (newsletters, content creation, social media platforms, earned and paid media).
• Ability to translate business and economic data points into creative, human-centric, accessible stories.
• Commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality work with keen diligence and accuracy.
• Customer service focus and behaviors; an initiative-taking, responsive and accountable collaborator; self-directed and comfortable operating independently.
• Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to balance multiple competing priorities, manage tight timelines, and keep stakeholders informed without dropping details.
• A problem solver: someone who thinks creatively, brings solutions, is adaptable and able to respond to tough questions and issues with aplomb.
• High degree of professionalism; tactful; demonstrates mature judgment, discretion, and decisiveness.
• Collaborative: attuned to the needs of a variety of stakeholders and audiences; proactively develop working relationships across the organization and with external partners, agencies, and vendors.

Travel and Work Conditions

• Location: Raleigh, North Carolina (hybrid/office as applicable).
• Schedule: Monday and Friday remote, Tuesday-Thursday in office (based on business needs).
• This position is typically performed in an office environment.
• Domestic and international travel outside the office may occur in such settings as airports, hotels, conference and tradeshow facilities, and client/partner offices.
• The position may entail occasional on-site visits to a client’s facility, which could be manufacturing, distribution, or similar industrial environment.
• Driver’s license and/or passport required (as applicable).

We Invest in Our People-Professionally and Personally.

At EDPNC, our benefits are designed to support your career, well-being, and life outside of work.

• Competitive compensation and performance incentives that reward impact and results
• Hybrid work schedule that supports flexibility and balance
• Generous time off, including 4 weeks of PTO, 9 paid holidays, 3 sick and wellness days, and 3 flex holidays
• 401(k) with a 5% employer match after six months to help you build long-term financial security
• Paid parental leave, including 8 weeks of maternity leave and 4 weeks of paternal leave, because family matters
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with HSA and FSA options
• Company paid short- and long-term disability coverage as well as 50K life insurance for added peace of mind
• Employee Assistance Program that covers your entire household’s wellbeing
• Voluntary benefit options such as critical illness, accident, hospital indemnity, life insurance, pet insurance, legal and identity protection and long-term care
• Corporate amenities such as paid parking, gym access and complimentary snacks
• Family Forward Certified, reflecting our commitment to family-friendly workplace practices

Apply Now

Join us in shaping North Carolina’s economic future!