Posting Date: May 21, 2026

Closing Date: June 10, 2026

Status: Vacancy

Events and Community Engagement Specialist

Full-time, Permanent | Start Date: ASAP | Location: Waterloo

Salary: $61,510 to $76,620

About KidsAbility:

We are a not-for-profit, equal opportunity employer supporting over 17,000 children and youth to reach their social, physical, communication and behavioural goals each year. Providing early and exceptional family-centred services in the Waterloo and Guelph-Wellington regions, we believe that by living our values, our impact can be profound, and together, we can build brighter futures. We’re looking for the right people to join our team; supporting children, youth, and families.

At KidsAbility, we offer:

Ongoing training and development opportunities, empowering you to enhance your skills
A supportive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment dedicated to family-centred care
Organizational commitment to innovation and research; continually evolving our approaches so we may serve with purpose and value
Initiatives to support your well-being including social events, opportunities to give back to your community and access to Employee and Family Assistance Program
Comprehensive benefits and optional group RRSP program, short- and long-term disability income protection benefits, and generous vacation package and paid personal leave days

About the Opportunity

The Event & Community Engagement Specialist leads the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of KidsAbility’s internal and external (non-fundraising) events and community engagement initiatives.

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, this role provides leadership to execute event strategy, cross-organizational collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and performance evaluation. The Specialist collaborates closely with internal teams, the KidsAbility Foundation, and School teams to ensure events and engagement activities align with organizational priorities and strengthen KidsAbility’s community presence.

Key Responsibilities

Event Leadership

Develop and manage an annual event and community engagement plan aligned with organizational priorities and departmental workplans
Provide guidance and oversight for event planning across KidsAbility
Lead cross-functional planning groups and ensure alignment with broader organizational goals
Identify opportunities to enhance community visibility, partnerships, and engagement through events

Event Planning, Execution & Oversight

Lead the planning and execution of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, including internal events such as Town Halls and employee recognition initiatives
Oversee all event logistics, including venue coordination, registration systems, vendor management, and on-site execution
Serve as lead for events, ensuring seamless delivery and strong participant experience
Co-Manage event budgets in collaboration with key stakeholders

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

Build and maintain strong partnerships with external stakeholders
Collaborate with the KidsAbility Foundation and School to support events when requested
Collaborate closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to support volunteer engagement for events
Act as a key point of contact for internal teams seeking event and engagement support

Marketing & Communications

Partner with the Marketing and Communications team to develop integrated event promotion strategies
Oversee the development of event-related materials, including digital, print, and multimedia content
Ensure brand consistency and strong storytelling across all engagement initiatives

Digital & Virtual Event Delivery

Lead the planning and delivery of virtual events using platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Provide technical oversight, including speaker preparation, audience engagement tools, and live event management

Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement

Lead post-event evaluations, including stakeholder feedback and data analysis
Develop and present event performance reports and insights
Identify opportunities to enhance impact, efficiency, and participant experience

Operations & Intake Management

Serve as a key operational support for the Marketing and Communications team, ensuring efficient coordination of tickets, timelines, and deliverables
Lead the administration and continuous improvement of the team’s intake system (Zohodesk), including managing incoming requests, and monitoring workflow progress
Triage and assess ticket requests to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, strategic objectives, and team capacity
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to clarify requests, define scope of task, and timely and accurate execution
Maintain clear visibility of pipelines, providing regular updates to the Director of Marketing and Communications on workload, priorities, and potential risks
Support the development and implementation of standardized processes, tools, and templates to enhance team efficiency and consistency
Monitor and track task timelines and deliverables, maintained adhering to deadlines and quality standards
Act as a central point of coordination between Marketing and Communications and internal departments to support seamless task delivery
Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve intake management processes
Perform other administrative duties as required

More About You

To succeed as an Event & Community Engagement Specialist, you bring a balance of event insight, operational excellence, and strong relationship management. You are comfortable leading initiatives from concept through execution, advising stakeholders, and influencing outcomes across teams - ensuring alignment with organizational priorities while delivering high-quality, impactful results.

Applicants must have post-secondary education in marketing, communications, event management, or an equivalent combination of education, along with 2+ years of progressive experience in event management, or community engagement, in addition to:

Excellent events management skills, with working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and a demonstrated ability to independently lead initiatives from planning through execution and evaluation
Exceptional planning and organizational abilities, problem solving with the capacity to manage a high volume of events and tasks, balance competing priorities, and adapt to evolving organizational needs
Demonstrated ability to consistently meet strict deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality, accuracy, and attention to detail
A results-oriented, self-motivated approach, with the initiative and confidence to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams
Experience using Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite, with an ability to contribute to the development of creative assets that support engagement and communication strategies
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, compelling messaging and adapt content for a variety of audiences, platforms, and purposes
Public Speaking and presentation skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with web content management systems to support digital communications and content updates
Experience delivering virtual and hybrid events using platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, with an understanding of audience engagement, facilitation, and technical execution
Ability to travel locally and work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support event delivery and organizational priorities
Travel is required: you must have a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle with public liability/property damage coverage

Assets:

Experience working within a not-for-profit or community-based organization, with an understanding of mission-driven environments and stakeholder dynamics
Familiarity with web content management systems and the specialized requirements of maintaining and optimizing digital content
Experience managing or updating digital screens or similar platforms to enhance event promotion and audience engagement

We invite applications from those interested in this position to apply through the KidsAbility Empower ERP Career Centre.

KidsAbility strives to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the selection process. Should any applicant require accommodation please contact Human Resources in advance for assistance.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are the core values of KidsAbility. We are a diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas that benefit our clients and the community. It is the policy of KidsAbility to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment. We welcome applications from visible minority groups, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information or any other ground protected by applicable law.

Please note that all prospective KidsAbility employees are subject to mandatory immunization requirements, including the full and ongoing COVID-19 vaccination, as a condition of obtaining and maintaining employment. We will make accommodations as directed by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Event and Community Engagement Specialist

About KidsAbility Centre for Child Development