Community Relations Strategist - Corporate Services (Kansas City)Burns & McDonnell

Description

About the Role

The Burns & McDonnell Foundation invests in the communities where our team members live and work, with a focus on inspiring young people to think big about their futures. The Community Relations Strategist helps shape and deliver that work, managing our grant-giving and volunteer programs, evaluating philanthropic requests, and building partnerships that turn Burns & McDonnell know-how into community impact.

This role suits someone who is equally comfortable stewarding a program end to end and stepping back to ask how it could work better.

What You'll Do

• Manage the day-to-day administration of the Foundation's grant-giving and volunteer programs, including intake, tracking, reporting, and team member communications.

• Review and evaluate internal and external requests for philanthropic support against the Foundation's strategic priorities and corporate guidelines.

• Identify and develop partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations that align with Foundation priorities, prioritizing opportunities for shared, measurable impact.

• Design and coordinate team member engagement opportunities that draw on employees' skills and interests, and track participation to inform future programming.

• Serve as an internal ambassador for Foundation programs: answer questions, present to teams and leadership, and drive awareness of giving and volunteer offerings.

• Track program data and prepare regular reporting on grants awarded, volunteer hours, participation rates, and partnership outcomes.

• Continuously improve program processes, systems, and tools, recommending changes that make giving and volunteering easier for team members.

• Partner with HR, Corporate Marketing, Corporate Communications, and regional offices to align messaging and amplify Foundation initiatives.

• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all company policies and standards.

Qualifications

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field, and 4 years of relevant experience.

• Experience in corporate philanthropy, community relations, nonprofit programs, grant-making, or volunteer program management.

• Demonstrated project management skills: ability to run multiple programs and deadlines at once with attention to detail.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting to groups and leadership.

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and comfort learning new systems.

Preferred

• Experience with grant or volunteer management platforms.

• Experience with data tracking and reporting on program outcomes.

• Familiarity with youth education, STEM outreach, or workforce development programs.

• Event planning experience.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job Marketing/Communications

Primary Location US-MO-Kansas City

Schedule: Full-time

Travel: No

Req ID: 265035

Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-MJ #COR N/A