Community Engagement Manager

Organization Overview

Mission: To inspire and welcome all to our music and arts community to learn, create, celebrate, and heal.

Vision: To unlock the potential in everyone.

Summary: Since 1912, The Music Settlement (TMS) has been open to everyone wanting to learn, create, celebrate, and heal with music. Through our three centers—Center for Music, Center for Early Childhood, and Center for Music Therapy—and Bop Stop performance venue, we provide accessible, life-enhancing music and arts experiences to people of all ages and abilities. We deliver music and arts programming that reflects the diverse needs of Greater Cleveland and serve more than 9,000 members of our community each year.

Position Title: Community Engagement Manager

Classification: Full Time, Salaried, Exempt

Reports To: Chair, Center for Music

Location: TMS University Circle and Ohio City Campuses

Position Summary: The Community Engagement Manager serves as an essential link between The Music Settlement and the diverse neighborhoods of University Circle and Greater Cleveland, fostering meaningful connections that support inclusive access to music education and programming. This role is responsible for cultivating authentic, long-term relationships with community members, organizations, schools, and cultural leaders, with the goal of increasing overall participation in the Center for Music’s programs and events, with special emphasis on building connections in the University Circle and Ohio City neighborhoods. The Manager represents The Music Settlement at community meetings, festivals, and events; convenes and coordinates community advisory focus groups; and facilitates off-campus visibility through collaborative activities and partnerships with local organizations. The Manager will help plan and promote on-campus accessible events at a new educational and performance venue scheduled to open in 2027, including concerts, workshops, guided tours, and meet-the-instructor sessions that reflect the interests of the surrounding community. By actively listening to feedback and incorporating community voices into program planning, the Manager ensures that the Center for Music remains welcoming, relevant, and inclusive.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Community Engagement & Relationship Building

• Cultivate authentic relationships with local residents, cultural and community leaders, neighborhood groups, schools, and community organizations.
• Represent The Music Settlement at local arts and cultural events—both on our campuses and in the community—such as performances, programs, celebrations, and public gatherings.
• Coordinate off-campus visibility efforts including instrument discovery sessions, pop-up events, and interactive demonstrations in community venues.
• Manage quarterly community advisory focus groups and incorporate feedback into programming recommendations.

Event Coordination & On-Campus Engagement

• Collaborate with Center for Music Chair, faculty, and staff to organize and implement free or low-cost community events, including concerts, workshops, meet-the-instructor sessions, and guided tours.
• Provide recommendations to the Chair of the Center for Music for new interactive and accessible programming for all ages and skill levels.
• Assist in the creation and revision of policies and schedule for community access to an on-campus technology lab.
• Ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all campus visitors and event attendees.

School & Partner Collaboration

• Initiate and maintain engagement with local schools, working with principals and educators to design music programs tailored to students’ interests and needs.
• Observe instructors in off-campus school programs and provide recommendations to the Chair of the Center for Music for continual improvement.
• Foster ongoing partnerships with organizations such as Assembly for the Arts, MidTown Inc., University Circle Inc., MyCom, ThirdSpace Action Lab, and other relevant organizations.
• Coordinate events with arts organizations, including Les Délices, the Cleveland Cello Society, the Greater Cleveland Flute Society, Piano Cleveland, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and others.
• Support cross-promotional campaigns and co-created programming with community partners.

Marketing & Communications Support

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing on the creation of promotional materials, direct mailers, flyers, and event invitations.
• Distribute marketing materials in neighborhood locations, such as libraries, churches, retail businesses, and schools.
• Document community impact through individual stories and testimonials to support marketing efforts and donor relationships.

Data Collection & Evaluation

• Track participation, attendance, and feedback at community engagement events and off-campus Center for Music programs.
• Maintain accurate records to support evaluation of community engagement goals and strategic plan benchmarks.
• Prepare regular internal reports and summaries for leadership and the Board of Directors.

Other duties, as assigned

Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in music, arts administration, education, nonprofit management, social work, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in community engagement, preferably in a non-profit arts organization.
• Demonstrated experience in executing programming which upheld a commitment to equity, access to arts programming, and was inclusive of diverse participants.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed to attend external and internal community events. This role requires regular on-site presence and is not eligible for remote or hybrid work arrangements.
• Must have reliable transportation for travel between multiple work sites.
• Passion for the arts and belief in the transformative power of music education.
• Familiarity with Cleveland’s neighborhoods and cultural landscape is preferred.

Other Core Competencies

• Consistently meets deadlines and manages time effectively.
• Demonstrates professional accountability, integrity, and discretion in all matters.
• Proactively develops and implements plans, strategies, and tactics with minimal supervision.
• Effectively plans, organizes, and manages multiple priorities.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $55,000–$60,000 per year
• Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance; employer-provided life, AD&D, and LTD insurance; paid time off; retirement plan (eligibility requirements); tuition discounts; and professional development opportunities.

Application Procedure

Please submit a cover letter and resume on our website at https://www.themusicsettlement.org/careers. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is January 2026. Questions regarding the position may be directed to Jeff Brown, Chair of the Center for Music, at jbrown@themusicsettlement.org.

The Music Settlement is an equal opportunity employer and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, and genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable law.

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