Job Opportunity: Community Engagement Program Manager

Develop partnerships and programs and cultivate support of the Arboretum and Public Garden team. Apply to join UC Davis, where every career employee receives extremely competitive health and retirement benefits including:

• Three weeks vacation at start, holidays and paid sick leave
• One of our state's best pension benefits and a retirement savings program
• An impressive selection of medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• EXPLORE UC Davis' Competitive HEALTH and RETIREMENT Benefits

LEARN MORE and APPLY by August 3, 2026

Job Summary

The Community Engagement Program Manager for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden (APG) will develop and implement specialized programs, events, and communications designed to inform and engage key constituencies. Key APG constituencies include the general public, community volunteers, pipeline donors, students, and other campus and community partners and representatives. This position will work closely with the Arboretum and Public Garden Director and Assistant Director of Development in implementing partnerships and programs to help grow support of the Arboretum and Public Garden. 

Department Purpose

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden holds responsibility for managing the entire campus landscape. The goals of the Arboretum and Public Garden are to create a more visitor-friendly campus, transition to a more sustainable and resilient campus landscape that is adapted to our future climate, make the academic programs of UC Davis visible to campus visitors, build environmental leadership in students and community partners, engage the public in lifelong learning opportunities, and leverage campus financial and human resources. 

Key programs of the Arboretum and Public Garden include the UC Davis GATEways Project, the Learning by Leading™ Program, and the Living Landscape Adaptation Plan. The GATEways Project transforms the campus into physical and programmatic portals for the public to engage in the riches of UC Davis. The Learning by Leading Program builds environmental leadership skills with students through hands-on, real-world projects and programs involving mentorship by staff, faculty and community members. The Living Landscape Adaptation Plan charts a course for sustaining a thriving campus landscape in the face of significant climate change disruptions. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to upload license and/or certification if required of the position

• Bachelors Degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Experience planning and implementing community engagement programs and events. Ability to support and enhance community relations.
• Experience creating positive working relationships with adult volunteers including recruiting, training, identifying engaging roles and projects, and recognizing accomplishments.
• Thorough written, verbal and interpersonal communications, tact and political acumen to effectively represent the Arboretum and Public Garden and UC Davis, including in highly sensitive situations.
• Thorough research, analytical and critical thinking skills, including sound judgment and decision-making skills. Problem-solving skills to correctly identify real and potential issues, advising management as required, and proposing effective strategic solutions.
• Organizational and project management skills, including program/event planning and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead by example, fostering teamwork and an open culture focused on service, innovation, and collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting fundraising activities including relationship building, donor stewardship, events, and communications. 
• Experience with supporting earned-income activities such as membership programs, dedication programs and/or merchandise sales. 
• Experience working with and fostering leadership in young people (e.g., college students). 
• Experience working with a volunteer board or other group of leadership volunteers. 
• Knowledge of the university environment and ability to work effectively with other campus units. Knowledge of museums and informal learning environments.
• Knowledge of Arboretum and Public Garden mission, horticultural programs, plant collections, volunteer opportunities and practices.
• Ability to initiate new strategies, partnerships, and approaches.

Job Expectations

Key Responsibilities

75% - Community Engagement, Membership, and Volunteer Program Management

• Lead and coordinate the APG’s community engagement, membership, volunteer, and constituent relations programs, providing day-to-day leadership for a community engagement and administrative support team consisting of two career staff members, student employees, and volunteers. 
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of programs, events, services, and engagement strategies that strengthen relationships between the UC Davis APG, its members, donors, volunteers, campus partners, and the broader community. 
• Develop and implement program goals, work plans, and operational priorities, ensuring effective coordination of staff, volunteers, resources, and stakeholder activities in support of organizational objectives. 
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden Board, coordinating the work of staff and volunteers to support board activities, governance functions, communications, and community engagement initiatives. 
• Collaborate with Friends leadership, Development and Alumni Relations partners, and APG leadership to sustain and grow membership and community support programs, assigning and directing staff responsibilities related to membership administration, donor stewardship, annual giving activities, tribute programs, sponsorships, and other constituency engagement efforts. 
• Lead the planning and execution of major community engagement events, including Arboretum plant sales, donor and volunteer recognition activities, and stakeholder celebrations. 
• Coordinate and assign responsibilities among staff, students, and volunteers; recruit and train volunteer leaders; and oversee event operations to ensure successful program delivery and positive participant experiences. 
• Analyze stakeholder interests, participation trends, operational needs, and program outcomes to identify opportunities for growth, revenue generation, and enhanced visitor and stakeholder engagement. 
• Direct staff efforts related to merchandise sales, engagement programming, visitor services, and business partnership initiatives, ensuring alignment of day-to-day activities with strategic goals and the long-term sustainability of the Arboretum and Public Garden.

25% - Community Engagement Communication

• Develop and coordinate communication strategies that strengthen engagement with members, volunteers, donors, alumni, students, and community stakeholders while advancing the mission and visibility of the Arboretum and Public Garden. 
• Collaborate with APG leadership, , and campus communications partners to plan, develop, and implement targeted communications that support constituent engagement, stewardship, membership growth, volunteer participation, and community outreach. in partnership with FOA and FM Communications teams, coordinate the development of print and digital communication materials for diverse stakeholder audiences, including membership updates, annual reports, stewardship communications, volunteer newsletters, donor recognition materials, educational resources, signage, and promotional content. 
• Provide content direction, messaging recommendations, and audience engagement strategies to ensure communications are informative, effective, and aligned with organizational goals and brand standards. 
• Serve as a key liaison between community engagement programs and APG communication platforms, coordinating content and outreach efforts for the APG digital newsletter, website, social media, and other communication channels. 
• Support communication and engagement strategies for the Learning by Leading student alumni network and other constituency groups to foster ongoing participation and connection with the Arboretum and Public Garden. 
• Represent community engagement and membership interests in web and digital communication planning efforts, providing constituent insights, evaluating communication effectiveness, and recommending improvements to enhance outreach, engagement, and stakeholder experiences.

Mental Demands

• Frequent (3 to 6 hours daily) sustained attention and concentration, ability to organize and prioritize, communication skills, constant interaction, customer contact, and multiple concurrent tasks
• Occasional (up to 3 hours) complex problem solving/reasoning, and numerical skills

Physical Demands

• Frequent (3 to 6 Hours) sitting and keyboard use/repetitive motion
• Occasional (up to 3 hours) standing, walking, lifting/carrying 0-25 lbs, pushing/pulling 0-25 lbs, bending/stooping, squatting/kneeling, and twisting, reaching overhead

Special requirements

• The duties or functions of this position include the handling of cash (or cash equivalents)
• UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any UC Davis owned or leased property, indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space. 
• This is a critical position, as defined by UC Policy and local procedures, and as such, employment is contingent upon clearing a criminal background check(s) and may include drug screening, medical evaluation clearance and functional capacity assessment 
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

LEARN MORE and APPLY by August 3, 2026

EXPLORE UC Davis' Competitive HEALTH and RETIREMENT Benefits