Strategy Manager Jobs in Indiana

Purpose:

The Events & Strategic Initiatives Manager is responsible for planning and coordinating Youth First’s signature events and other assigned organizational projects. The position develops project plans, manages timelines and deliverables, coordinates cross-functional teams and external partners, administers volunteer systems and processes, and provides consistent progress reporting. While events are the position’s primary portfolio, the role may support additional strategic and operational initiatives based on organizational priorities.

Reports To:

Chief Operating Officer

Roles & Responsibilities:

1. Event Project Management:

• Lead the full project lifecycle for all fundraising events, including project scope, work plans, budgets, milestones, dependencies, staffing plans, communications, and closeout.
• Create and maintain integrated event timelines and task plans; assign owners, clarify deliverables, monitor progress, and follow up on overdue or at-risk action items.
• Identify project risks, resource constraints, and decision points early; develop contingency plans and escalate issues with clear options and recommendations.
• Manage event SOPs, vendor RFPs, bid comparisons, contract coordination and negotiation, venue logistics, permits, insurance requirements, and day-of execution.
• Lead regular project status meetings and provide concise updates on schedule, budget, revenue, risks, decisions, and next steps.
• Conduct post-event debriefs and document lessons learned, financial results, stakeholder feedback, and process improvements for the next event cycle.

2. Volunteer Program and System Management

• Own and administer Youth First’s volunteer management system as the central source of truth for volunteer profiles, interests, skills, availability, screening status, training, assignments, service hours, communications, and engagement history.
• Manage the complete volunteer lifecycle: outreach and recruitment, application and screening, role matching, onboarding, orientation and training, scheduling, supervision support, recognition, feedback, retention, and offboarding.
• Partner with department leaders to forecast volunteer needs and maintain an organization-wide calendar of recurring and one-time service opportunities across events, programs, social work, administrative functions, and regional operations.
• Create clear volunteer role descriptions, service standards, policies, SOPs, communication templates, and escalation procedures that support a safe, consistent, and positive volunteer experience.
• Build segmented volunteer communications and engagement plans that keep volunteers informed, connected to Youth First’s mission, and active throughout the year.
• Measure and report volunteer recruitment, placement, fill rates, service hours, retention, satisfaction, and program impact; use findings to improve the program and system.

3. Committee Leadership:

• Lead coordination for the Youth First Benefit Auction, Breakfast of Champions, and other special event committees in partnership with committee chairs.
• Prepare agendas and project materials, facilitate productive meetings, document decisions and minutes, assign action items, and ensure timely follow-through.
• Recruit, orient, equip, and support committee members and event volunteers; clarify roles, decision rights, expectations, and deadlines.
• Coordinate closely with Development, Marketing & Communications, Finance, Programs, regional staff, and external partners to align event and volunteer work with organizational priorities.

4. Coordination, Stewardship Support, and Community Engagement:

• Coordinate with the Development team to support donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners engagement related to events and volunteer activities.
• Maintain event and volunteer cultivation and stewardship tracking tools based on strategies, assignments, and updates provided by the Development team.
• Track progress, deadlines, follow-up activities, and outcomes for assigned events and volunteer portfolios, and provide regular status reports to the Development team and Chief Operating Officer.
• Represent Youth First at community events and help maintain positive relationships with corporate, civic, nonprofit, and volunteer partners.
• Coordinate the timely completion of sponsor recognition, committee updates, database entries, proposal follow-up, stewardship reports, and pre- and post-event communications in partnership with the Development team.

Other Assignments:

This position collaborates with the Development and Marketing & Communications teams and supports other teams and duties as assigned. The role is responsible for significant event revenue generation and for building a scalable, well-managed volunteer program across Youth First’s regional service footprint. Travel is required as needed, particularly for events, volunteer activities, committee meetings, and regional collaboration. Some evening and weekend work is required based on the event calendar

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Two to three years of fundraising or relevant experience including event planning, sales, hospitality, marketing/communications, or relationship management with demonstrated success in designing and implementing strategic plans that achieve goals.
• Solid experience in event or project management, especially engaging, motivating, and successfully utilizing staff or volunteers to achieve goals.
• Demonstrates persuasive, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated, results-driven strategic thinker, innovator, and team player.
• Knowledgeable about the community and connected to donor prospects.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, meet challenging deadlines, and maintain confidentiality.
• Experience with online platforms and databases such as Salesforce, OneCause, etc. and other fundraising tools is a plus.
• Fundraising training/certifications and planned giving experience are a plus.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

Youth First will not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, assignment, evaluation, promotion, discipline, termination, or any other employment action based on any characteristic or class, which is now or may in the future become protected by law. Employment with Youth First is based solely on qualifications and competence for the particular position to be filled. Since such qualifications and competencies are not peculiar to any type or class of individuals, and since Youth First recognizes the value of a diverse workforce, there will be no discrimination in employment decisions and actions on the basis of age, race, gender, color, national origin, disability, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation.