About the San Jose Earthquakes:

The San Jose Earthquakes have a mission to establish our home as the epicenter of American soccer by uniting Northern California with big dreams, big hustle, and big impact.

About the Position:

The San Jose Earthquakes are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Community Relations to lead and scale our mission-driven initiatives. This role will run the day-to-day operations of the Community Relations department including spearheading programs focused on our core pillars of promoting youth health, wellness, and combating food insecurity. In addition, this person will oversee high-profile events and strategic fundraising activities. As a key leader within the organization, the Director will help build and strengthen relationships with community partners, donors, and sponsors to elevate the Earthquakes Foundation’s impact and visibility. This person will report to the Vice President of Community Relations.

Who You Are:

We are looking for people that want to hustle big.

Hustle: Having the desire to authentically connect people, willing to always show up for our fans, and having an innate pride in their work.
Big: Devoted to quality in all aspects of the job, not afraid to swing big, and own the result.

Successful Candidates:

A successful candidate for the Director of Community Relations will be a dynamic, mission-driven leader with a proven ability to develop and expand community programs, forge strategic partnerships, and help drive fundraising efforts. They will demonstrate strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills, while being highly proactive and passionate about advancing youth health, wellness, and food security initiatives in the Bay Area.

Job Competencies include:

· Leadership

· Collaboration

· Communication

· Planning & Organization

· Relationship Building

· Project Management

· Passion

· Accountability

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Expansion

Lead the development, execution, and expansion of core programs aligned with the Foundation’s mission, such as Get EQ Fit, Gear Up!, and Kicks for Kids, and others that help us promote youth health and wellness.
Develop and implement programs to further the Foundation’s goals and increase its community reach.
Strengthen existing partnerships with Pledge74 meal distribution networks and identify new opportunities to diversify food distribution across the greater Bay Area.
Create long-term sustainability and growth plans for current and future initiatives.

Event Management

Help oversee the planning and execution of various community engagement events, including BAASST, Pride Night + Community Night, and Quakes Unified matches.
Ensure all event logistics, sponsorships, and donor relationships are managed efficiently and effectively to drive maximum impact.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

Build and maintain strategic relationships with donors, sponsors, local businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to support the Foundation’s objectives.
Develop and implement strategies to increase community involvement and participation in Foundation programs.

Fundraising & Donor Relations

Collaborate with the VP of Community Relations to advance fundraising efforts, including securing sponsorships and donations for programs and signature events, such as the annual Quakes Foundation Wine and Dine.
Develop, launch and manage a successful 50/50 raffle program for matchdays.
Assist in the development of compelling sponsorship proposals, including the creation of presentation decks and storytelling materials to enhance pitch efforts.

Grant Program Development & Management

Design and manage an annual grant program that allow community organizations to seek funding from the Foundation. This includes creating the application process, setting clear criteria aligned with the Foundation’s core pillars (Youth Health and Fitness, Food Insecurity), and managing the review and fund allocation processes.
Ensure the grant program diversifies the Foundation’s partnerships and deepens its impact in underserved communities.

Evaluation & Reporting

Develop and implement metrics to measure and report the impact of the Foundation’s programs, with a focus on participation, health outcomes, and community engagement.
Provide regular performance and financial sustainability reports to the VP, Community Relations.

Volunteer Recruitment & Management

Create and implement a robust volunteer program to help the Foundation engage both internal staff and external volunteers in order to support community events.
Ensure volunteers are recruited, trained, managed and updated effectively to help support Include opportunities including youth coaching, event support, and food distribution and various other initiatives.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, or a related field.
7+ years of experience in community relations, nonprofit leadership, or program management.
Proven success managing high-impact community programs and events, ideally within a sports organization.
Experience in executing 50/50 raffles and other fundraising initiatives, with a track record of driving engagement and revenue.
Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Excel for tracking and presenting key data, as well as PowerPoint for creating compelling presentations.

Salary: $90,000 - $100,000

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

Community Relations Director