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Community Affairs Manager Senior
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, CA, USA
USD 96,300-123k / year
Posted on Apr 8, 2026
At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. We firmly believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices, working together, increases our capacity to serve our visitors and fulfill our mission. We welcome people from all walks of life into our team and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.
Priority deadline for applications is April 28th, 2026. Due to the volume of incoming applications, the role may be closed earlier than April 28th, 2026.
Job Summary:
With limited oversight, strengthen and protect the Aquarium’s local reputation and ensure the institution shows up in our community in a consistent, thoughtful, and trusted way. Execute a focused local community affairs strategy designed to improve sentiment, deepen relationships, and ensure the Aquarium is consistently positioned as a valued economic, educational, and cultural asset within the region. Serve as a visible and accessible representative of the Aquarium, the Senior Manager builds authentic relationships across local organizations, business networks, and neighborhood groups; listen actively to community perspectives; translate insight into clear recommendations for leadership. Perform other duties as required.
In close partnership with the Senior Manager of Local Government & Business Affairs, the Strategic Partnerships team, and the Communications team, this role maintains shared awareness of emerging community dynamics and ensures alignment in external engagement and messaging. The position also helps bring clarity and consistency to how the Aquarium engages locally, supporting measurable impact and responsible use of institutional resources.
Core Activities:
- Develop and implement a focused local community affairs strategy that strengthens community trust, improves local sentiment, and reinforces the Aquarium’s standing as a valued economic, educational, and cultural asset. Establish measurable goals and track progress.
- Build and sustain authentic relationships with local community stakeholders, including nonprofit leaders, neighborhood associations, cultural institutions, educational and community-serving organizations, and business networks. Serve as a visible and accessible representative of the Aquarium at meetings, events, and gatherings.
- Monitor and enhance the Aquarium’s local reputation by identifying emerging issues and risks to community goodwill, addressing community concerns early, reinforcing positive perceptions, and ensuring consistent brand alignment. Translate insights into strategic recommendations for leadership and partner with Communications and the Senior Manager of Local Government & Business Affairs to support appropriate response and mitigation strategies.
- Ensure the Aquarium is consistently positioned as a valued regional asset by partnering with Communications to highlight economic impact, educational contributions, conservation leadership, and access initiatives through proactive storytelling and local engagement.
- Identify and advance strategic local collaborations with businesses, associations, and civic organizations that strengthen goodwill and support institutional priorities, coordinating with Strategic Partnerships when revenue or sponsorship elements are involved.
- Strengthen and align local access, equity, and goodwill initiatives in collaboration with Guest Experience, Education, and other departments. Ensure community-facing programs are thoughtfully coordinated, clearly communicated, reflective of local expectations, and accessible to underserved communities. Identify opportunities to streamline efforts, reduce duplication, and strengthen collective impact across divisions.
- Track and report on stakeholder engagement, community impact, and reputation by maintaining clear indicators of relationships, sentiment trends, participation levels, and engagement outcomes. Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to leadership to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training and experience
- 6-9 years of professional experience in community affairs, community relations, or external engagement within a nonprofit, visitor-serving, or cultural institution
- Demonstrated success building and sustaining authentic, trust-based relationships with local community organizations, business networks, and civic groups
- Strong understanding of local community dynamics, cultural context, and regional stakeholder networks
- Experience monitoring and managing organizational reputation within a community context, including identifying emerging risks and translating insights into strategic recommendations
- Ability to work effectively across departments to promote clarity and alignment in community-facing initiatives without formal authority
- Knowledge of practices that promote equitable access and inclusive community engagement
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with experience representing an organization in public forums, community meetings, and stakeholder discussions
- Ability to address community concerns thoughtfully and proactively while protecting institutional reputation
- Experience managing multiple community-facing initiatives simultaneously with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Familiarity with branding and communications principles and how community engagement supports broader marketing strategy
- Demonstrated commitment to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Core Values and Leadership Competencies
Annual Compensation Range:
$96,300-$123,000 USD annually. Starting rate will vary based on previous experience and relevant skills/knowledge set.