Manager, Communities

THE ORGANIZATION

The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is a high-quality support network of 19,000 business founders and owners in 220 chapters and 80 countries worldwide. EO’s purpose is to move the world forward by unlocking the full potential of entrepreneurs. Since 1987, EO has helped entrepreneurs achieve transformational growth through the power of life-enhancing connections, shared experiences, and collaborative learning. Guided by EO’s core values: trust and respect, thirst for learning, think big, be bold, and together we grow, EO’s international staff collaborates successfully across diverse cultures. As an EO employee, you will gain access to the world’s top experts in entrepreneurship, grow beyond your perceived limits, and make breakthroughs as you refine and realize your personal goals. EO’s competitive total rewards package, flexible work environment, and generous professional development resources are frequently cited as among the most popular benefits of working at EO.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Communities Manager is part of the team that helps to plan, co-design, and execute global programs within the products department, principally communities and the GSEA program. They will provide support for select member communities and GSEA competitions, their leadership teams, the products portfolio, and other key stakeholders.

EO communities are both curated and member-led groups that drive value by helping members find their people and interests faster. The most successful candidates understand that learning is more than education; it’s about bringing a story to life, and they have insight into how to do just that. Successful team members are in tune with global, cutting-edge thought leaders, speakers, and content providers and help to bring those voices to Communities. This team member should understand the art and science of designing great conferences, programs, and training as well as how virtual learning is best utilized.

Additionally, the Communities Manager is responsible for maintaining the good health of GSEA competitions within specific regions as well as the global finals by providing support and resources to chairs, experts, multifunctional directors and chapter staff as they deliver these competitions.

This team member adds value by overseeing the member value of EO communities and the GSEA as well as leadership development of member volunteers. In doing this, they might design events and connection activities, acquire and oversee vendors, advocate and negotiate new partnerships, and prepare speakers for our unique audience. They will design and see curated learning programs through execution and scour the international landscape for fresh voices. They also help to design product training, signature events, and virtual programming.

Staying cool under stress and pressure, delivering deadlines, demonstrating agility, creative thinking, a can- do attitude, global mindset, and a thirst for continual learning are all musts. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Management:

• Develops community goals in line with portfolio and department objectives that drive member engagement. Responsible for ensuring high-quality execution for assigned community goals, activities, learning opportunities, and member connection experiences.
• Serves as staff design expert for member engagement opportunities (live and virtual). Brings relevant expertise in program design, event planning and logistics, communications and engagement experience to community initiatives. Support and assign staff support as needed.
• Works with member leads and their leadership teams on strategic and tactical planning of engagement opportunities with the goal of engaging every member beyond their local chapter in meaningful ways. Serves as the staff liaison and operational partner for community leaders, providing ideas, guidance, and ensuring that planned engagement adheres to EO standards.
• Serves as a project manager for signature events and core product deliverables within communities to ensure that engagement opportunities meet member needs.
• Regularly updates and develops relevant SOPs, member engagement data, community budget, and training resources for metrics.
• Provides recommendations for continuity of member leadership by participating in the selection process for community leadership and ensuring each community is diverse, active, and healthy.
• Supports monthly meetings of member leaders and coordinates leadership development and workstream meetings as needed.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders (Products, technology, marcomm, marketing and partnerships portfolio) to deliver a collaborative and unified community experience. Ensures that UX of the community platforms is positive, and platforms are simple and easy to access.
• Produces and communicates monthly calendars of upcoming Community events and builds rapport among community members to participate.
• Cross-trains within the product design team, products portfolio, products team, and other community managers and supports projects as needed.
• Serve as staff support for assigned products portfolio workstreams and member directors as needed including regular calls, member leader support, training, and in-person meetings

GSEA Program Management

• Lead end-to-end execution of selected in-person regional GSEA competitions
• Support GSEA colleagues in the successful execution of the global GSEA finals including providing on the ground support during the production of the global finals including managing the students and ensuring they are suitably briefed.
• Initiate regional committees of internal stakeholders to assist in regional competition planning (subject to Communities Manager home location)

• Identify and target chapters and communities to adopt and support GSEA by reviewing tenured member data.
• Manage and own specific regional GSEA competition expenses from planning to reporting
• Support path of leadership process and updates to the Product Portfolio

• Host bi-monthly calls GSEA calls to chairs and champions to provide ongoing training
• Provide resources and tools for GSEA Chairs worldwide to help them plan and execute successful GSEA competitions

• Support EO’s marketing team in the collection of content about student competitors for marketing materials, program books and student videos, and content for promoting GSEA generally, including the bi-weekly newsletter.
• Meet agreed yearly metrics for total chapter competitions and country count
• Travel to EO and partner conferences to represent and promote GSEA, as needed

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in any field.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience of working in community management or event planning. Preferably with larger-scale communities or events of 500+ participants.
• Two or more years with direct association, event planning or coordination-related work.
• Proven experience of successful collaboration with entrepreneurs on variety of projects.
• Experience in coaching, preferred.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, presentation tools, and some graphic design capabilities.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to work in teams with high accountability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with staff and members worldwide.
• Exceptional organization and time management skills.
• Experience working in an international environment.

POSTING DISCLOSURES

Compensation:  540,000-622,000 ZAR

Candidate Data Privacy Notice: HR Candidate Privacy Notice 2026.pdf

Accessibility / Accommodations: EO will provide accommodations during the recruitment process and employment as required by applicable law. Applicants needing assistance should contact [email protected].

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• This role is primarily sedentary/light work and requires regular use of a computer, telephone, and video-conference platforms.
• The role requires the ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally and to participate in virtual and in-person meetings.
• The role requires travel up to 15%
• The role requires occasional early morning/evening meetings across time zones
• The role requires lifting/moving up to 30 pounds, as applicable.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / FAIR RECRUITMENT

EO is committed to equal opportunity and fair treatment in recruitment and employment.