Engagement and Events Coordinator

About Recovery Café and Recovery Café Network

Recovery Café was founded on the understanding that every human being is precious and beloved regardless of past trauma, mental and emotional anguish, or addictive behaviors. We provide a beautiful, safe, warm, drug and alcohol free space and loving community to anchor Members (our most closely-supported participants) in the sustained recovery needed to gain and maintain access to housing, social and health services, healthy relationships, education, and employment. We help people maintain recovery, reduce relapse and fulfill their potential. Recovery Café operates two cafés in Seattle and operates the Recovery Café Network, which provides training and support to over 80 Member Cafés across the US and Canada.

Recovery Café Network (RCN) trains, supports, and connects communities across the U.S. and beyond using the Recovery Café Model. Together, we are a growing movement of belonging and transformation. Through a cohort learning experience, each Member Café is provided mentorship, materials, expertise, and facilitated learning opportunities to create a Recovery Café in their area. The Network is committed to helping Member Cafés be successful in starting their program, building recovery capital in their communities, and offering effective long-term recovery support for years to come. Once a Member Café has finished their training, they can be evaluated to become a Full Member Café of the Network.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Engagement and Events Coordinator is a connector and facilitator who is deeply curious about the gifts within our Network and works to connect Member Cafés with each other for shared learning and engagement. Under the guidance of the Associate Director of Engagement and Communication, this position will stand up both virtual and in-person engagement opportunities to foster a vibrant and connected community. This person will take lead on all event logistics for RCN’s biennial in-person gathering called “Rendezvous,” for up to 500 people. They will coordinate virtual meetings to encourage Member Café collaboration and utilize online platforms to support ongoing engagement and timely responses to Full Member Café inquiries. By supporting the launch of new community initiatives such as forums, peer Member Café mentorship programs, and topic-relevant event series, the Engagement and Events Coordinator cultivates leadership, encourages peer-to-peer connections, and fosters a vibrant and supportive community of shared learning.

The Engagement and Events Coordinator is a hands-on, flexible, and detail-oriented organizer with a commitment to supporting Member Cafés implementing the Recovery Café Model. The ideal candidate is passionate about helping, even if indirectly, individuals struggling with addiction, homelessness, and other mental health challenges. The Engagement and Events Coordinator is excited by opportunities to implement new initiatives while understanding the balance between RCN’s resources and Cafés’ capacities. The ideal candidate is a natural relationship builder with strong people skills, high-level cultural competency, and proven experience facilitating both virtual and in-person events. They excel at event planning, online community engagement and communication, and are adept at fostering inclusive participation and meaningful connections among diverse members through warmth, empathy, and responsiveness.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Building Coordination

• Supports the development of engagement opportunities for collaboration among Member Cafés such as Cafe Mentorship programs, forums for peer-to-peer support, weekly all-Network calls, and topic-specific event series led by various Café leaders or external partners
• Coordinates spaces for shared learning such as affinity and leadership groups to connect Member Cafés with common interests, experiences, or challenges
• Organizes behind the scenes logistics to stand up new programs and support structures
• Practices a deep learning and knowing of the Member Cafés in the Network to pull out themes of common needs and identify areas for deeper engagement
• Collaborates with the Associate Director of Engagement and Communications to create spaces where leaders of Full Member Cafés can uncover their gifts to share with the Network
• Expands on internal Network opportunities by coordinating and publicizing events organized by Member Cafés that may be of interest to other Cafés
• Attends external partner meetings to report back to Member Cafés about various engagement opportunities within the recovery landscape
• Communicates and collaborates with external partners to identify and secure resources, opportunities, and information that will benefit and support Member Cafés across the Network

Biennial “Rendezvous” All-Network Event Lead

• Coordinates and executes on all operations and logistics of RCN’s biennial in-person conference, Rendezvous, for up to 500 guests with guidance from Associate Director of Engagement and Communications and any contracted event planners
• Leads a planning committee to determine venue selection, considering accessibility, location, size, amenities, and the overall attendee experience
• Oversees the development and execution of the conference agenda, working with presenters and stakeholders to ensure engaging, relevant, and well-timed sessions
• Researches and serves as point of contact for external contractors that support Rendezvous operations, including any contracted event planners
• Facilitates connection and networking among Member Cafés through intentional agenda design, structured networking opportunities, and affinity group gatherings during Rendezvous
• Supports the design and implementation of a streamlined registration process, including online forms, payment collection, confirmation communications, and on-site check-in to ensure a positive and efficient attendee experience
• In collaboration with the Marketing and Communications team, oversees timely announcements of event and all follow up communications

Virtual Engagement

• Maintains and nurtures an active online community platform (the “RCN Hub”) for Member Cafés to connect, share, and collaborate by monitoring platform activity to encourage participation and address any issues, ensuring a positive experience
• Leads virtual orientation onboarding sessions for Café leaders learning to navigate the RCN Hub
• Curates a shared calendar of events on the RCN Hub to keep Member Cafés informed about upcoming gatherings, trainings, and Network activities
• Facilitates peer-to-peer interaction through bulletin boards and discussion forums, encouraging resource exchange, questions, and mutual support

Full Member Café Contact

• Serves as the main point of contact between RCN and Full Member Cafés, responding to queries and needs in a timely, thoughtful, and empathetic manner, updating Salesforce records, and redirecting Cafés to appropriate sources of information when needed
• Maintains consistent accessibility and support via phone, email, and Zoom
• Onboards and welcomes Cafés into Full Membership after successful evaluation, providing orientation to the Network’s engagement opportunities, resources, and community platforms
• Monitors points of engagement for Full Member Cafés and proactively reaches out to Cafés that have not engaged recently to strengthen relationships

QUALIFICATIONS & ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• 3+ years of relevant experience
• Community Building & Virtual Engagement: Proven expertise fostering inclusive, supportive connections among individuals across multiple entities/locations/associations with proficiency in using online platforms to engage members, respond empathetically to inquiries, and facilitate ongoing virtual collaboration and information sharing.
• Event Coordination: Experience executing an event plan with strong attention to detail
• Interpersonal and Collaboration Skills: Strong communication skills and ability to connect with people at various organizational levels; comfortable using email, phone, video conferencing, and other methods to collaborate across geographies and time zones
• Organizational and Adaptability Skills: Excellent organizational skills and self-motivation; ability to work and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment; flexibility to adapt to changing needs, priorities, and feedback within a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
• Initiative and Creativity: Proactively seeks opportunities to improve processes, launch new engagement initiatives, and creatively connect members for shared learning.
• Mission-Driven Mindset: Deeply committed to the values and mission of Recovery Café Network, with genuine empathy for individuals facing addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges and willingness to engage deeply and reflectively with a community of coworkers

DESIRED EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

• Experience and Background: Experience in a national network of nonprofits
• Event Planning Logistics: Experience in organizing, managing, and executing complex events—including large conferences—handling all aspects of logistics, agenda development, registration, and collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
• Technical Proficiency & Adaptability: Proficiency using online platforms, including Salesforce and Zoom, and virtual tools, with strategic thinking and flexibility to meet evolving network needs
• Collaborative Spirit: motivated by collaborating to create new structures, initiatives, and responses for a growing organization
• Language Skills: Spanish speaking