Position type: Full-time position. Hybrid role - primarily virtual with in-person meetings and events. Evening and weekend work for fundraising and member events (on average 2x/month, often flexible to your schedule)
Salary: $50,000 - $55,000, based on experience and Spanish proficiency
Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance. Paid time off, sick days, and holidays.
To apply, send your resume, cover letter, and 3 references directly to admin@dsact.org.
Submissions only on LinkedIn will not be considered.
Position Summary:
The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT) is a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to improving the lives of people with Down syndrome. We offer programs, resources, and support for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, as well as training for educators, medical professionals, and community groups. We also support medical research and postsecondary educational opportunities and are committed to advocating for the disability community at the local, state, and national levels.
The Programs & Events Manager is a full-time, salaried position reporting to the Executive Director (ED). This role oversees all recreational and social programs, plans and executes community events, coordinates volunteers, and supports fundraising initiatives and communications efforts. The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter who thrives in a small, dynamic team, demonstrates creativity and flexibility, and excels at managing multiple projects independently while collaborating effectively with the ED and other stakeholders.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Recreational & Social Programs (~45%)
- Develop, plan, organize, and coordinate comprehensive recreational programs and camps for individuals with Down syndrome of all ages.
- Coordinate monthly social outings for five age-based groups and Comité Latino.
- Plan and manage special events like Supper Club, semi-formal dances, and the Service and Social Club.
- Oversee all administrative logistics, including scheduling sessions, monitoring online registration, maintaining contact lists for facilities and instructors, and managing communications and payments.
- Maintain detailed records of all programs, vendors, and budgets.
- Network in the Central Texas community and grow partnerships with existing programs and facilities serving the disability community.
- Regularly attend events to ensure quality, foster connections with members, and gather feedback.
- Evaluate programs and report findings to the ED to enhance current offerings, develop new initiatives, and expand geographic reach and attendance while maintaining quality.
Annual Events: (~20%)
- Oversee logistics for community events, including venue selection, vendor management, registration, communications, marketing, run of show, volunteer coordination, etc.
- Take the lead on the World Down Syndrome Day Recital and the annual Holiday Party in collaboration with the ED.
- Support event logistics for DSACT's two major annual fundraisers: the Cocktail Bash and the Buddy Walk.
- Evaluate current offerings and implement new events utilizing member feedback.
Volunteer Coordination (~15%)
- Recruit, manage, and coordinate volunteers for DSACT programs and events.
- Onboard all volunteers, providing training materials for working with individuals with Down syndrome and DSACT programs.
- Work with ED to create a more robust volunteer program with increased screening, training, and opportunities.
- Build relationships with community groups and service organizations, providing group volunteer opportunities at our recreational programs, camps, and events.
Communications (~10%)
- Create newsletter email content for all programs and events.
- Maintain regular social media presence in coordination with the Programs & Communications Intern for all programs and events.
Other Duties: (~10%)
- Manage community partner events with groups like Ballet Austin and Austin FC and explore new partnerships.
- Work with DSACT Administrative Assistant to ensure the programs and events website pages are up to date.
- Supervise and guide the Programs & Communications Intern.
- Seek out professional development opportunities to stay up to date on nonprofit event best practices.
- Embrace small team collaborative efforts and help out with extra projects as needed.
Qualifications & Demonstrated Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in nonprofit programs, event management, or a related field.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is highly preferred.
- At least 2-3 years of relevant experience in program coordination, event planning, or volunteer management, which can include professional, academic, or extracurricular involvement.
- Experience with nonprofit programs, event logistics, and/or working with individuals with disabilities is a plus.
- Reliable transportation is required.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across diverse audiences.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and keep projects on track.
- Passionate about serving and advocating with individuals with Down syndrome.
- The ideal candidate would be open to sharing and trying new ideas, a team player, a self-starter, compassionate, relationship-focused, and personable.
Application Process:
- To apply, please send the following to admin@dsact.org:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- 3 professional references (with relevant knowledge of professional experience in the past 3-5 years)
DSACT is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. DSACT is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to provide employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or terminate, will be based on merit, individual qualifications, job requirements, competence, performance, and organizational needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.
