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:
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Ongoing training and development opportunities, empowering you to enhance your skills
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A supportive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment dedicated to family-centred care
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Organizational commitment to innovation and research; continually evolving our approaches so we may serve with purpose and value
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Initiatives to support your well-being including social events, opportunities to give back to your community and access to Employee and Family Assistance Program
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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
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Develop and manage an annual event and community engagement plan aligned with organizational priorities and departmental workplans
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Provide guidance and oversight for event planning across KidsAbility
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Lead cross-functional planning groups and ensure alignment with broader organizational goals
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Identify opportunities to enhance community visibility, partnerships, and engagement through events
Event Planning, Execution & Oversight
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Lead the planning and execution of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, including internal events such as Town Halls and employee recognition initiatives
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Oversee all event logistics, including venue coordination, registration systems, vendor management, and on-site execution
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Serve as lead for events, ensuring seamless delivery and strong participant experience
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Co-Manage event budgets in collaboration with key stakeholders
Stakeholder & Community Engagement
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Build and maintain strong partnerships with external stakeholders
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Collaborate with the KidsAbility Foundation and School to support events when requested
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Collaborate closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to support volunteer engagement for events
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Act as a key point of contact for internal teams seeking event and engagement support
Marketing & Communications
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Partner with the Marketing and Communications team to develop integrated event promotion strategies
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Oversee the development of event-related materials, including digital, print, and multimedia content
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Ensure brand consistency and strong storytelling across all engagement initiatives
Digital & Virtual Event Delivery
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Lead the planning and delivery of virtual events using platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
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Provide technical oversight, including speaker preparation, audience engagement tools, and live event management
Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement
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Lead post-event evaluations, including stakeholder feedback and data analysis
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Develop and present event performance reports and insights
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Identify opportunities to enhance impact, efficiency, and participant experience
Operations & Intake Management
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Serve as a key operational support for the Marketing and Communications team, ensuring efficient coordination of tickets, timelines, and deliverables
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Lead the administration and continuous improvement of the team’s intake system (Zohodesk), including managing incoming requests, and monitoring workflow progress
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Triage and assess ticket requests to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, strategic objectives, and team capacity
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Collaborate with internal stakeholders to clarify requests, define scope of task, and timely and accurate execution
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Maintain clear visibility of pipelines, providing regular updates to the Director of Marketing and Communications on workload, priorities, and potential risks
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Support the development and implementation of standardized processes, tools, and templates to enhance team efficiency and consistency
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Monitor and track task timelines and deliverables, maintained adhering to deadlines and quality standards
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Act as a central point of coordination between Marketing and Communications and internal departments to support seamless task delivery
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Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve intake management processes
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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:
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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
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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
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Demonstrated ability to consistently meet strict deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality, accuracy, and attention to detail
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A results-oriented, self-motivated approach, with the initiative and confidence to work independently while collaborating effectively across cross-functional teams
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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
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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
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Public Speaking and presentation skills
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with web content management systems to support digital communications and content updates
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Experience delivering virtual and hybrid events using platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, with an understanding of audience engagement, facilitation, and technical execution
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Ability to travel locally and work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support event delivery and organizational priorities
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Travel is required: you must have a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle with public liability/property damage coverage
Assets:
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Experience working within a not-for-profit or community-based organization, with an understanding of mission-driven environments and stakeholder dynamics
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Familiarity with web content management systems and the specialized requirements of maintaining and optimizing digital content
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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.
