Project Manager/Community Playspace Build Manager(Hybrid, must reside in the Washington, DC area)
KABOOM
Contract
On-site
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Position Title: Project Manager/Community Playspace Build Manager
Department: Innovation
Reports To: Director of Project Management
Classification: Salary
About KABOOM!
At KABOOM!, we unite with communities to build kid-designed play spaces that spark joy and belonging for every child. We’re evolving how we work scaling innovation, fostering collaboration, and aligning resources to drive equity in access to play.
About the Project Management Team:
At the heart of our mission is the Project Management team, a dynamic group responsible for guiding multiple partners and managing numerous concurrent projects across diverse communities. This team excels in building strong relationships, coordinating with stakeholders, and ensuring that community perspectives are woven into every stage of the process. By centering the voices, needs, and priorities of each community, the team ensures that every playspace reflects the unique vision of those it serves. Each project culminates in a transformative volunteer playspace installation event. These build days become powerful community celebrations, moments of collective empowerment, collaboration, and joy where community, local organizations, and sponsors come together not only to construct a playspace, but to strengthen bonds and foster a sense of shared purpose and pride.
Position Summary:
The Programs Team seeks a collaborative, detail-oriented leader with a passion for community engagement to serve as Project Manager for KABOOM! community-build projects. This individual is dedicated to amplifying community voices and fostering a sense of belonging and ownership throughout every project phase. The Project Manager acts as a champion for partners, ensuring diverse perspectives are woven into the process and that every playspace is a reflection of local aspirations.
In this dynamic role, the Project Manager will oversee multiple projects located in various communities nationwide, managing each at different stages of completion. The Project Manager works with vendors, contractors, and professional installation teams, overseeing all aspects of construction to deliver vibrant, safe, and inspiring playspace on time and within budget.
As a visible ambassador for KABOOM!, the Project Manager coordinates with corporate sponsors, community organizations, and volunteers, nurturing strong relationships and ensuring effective communication among all stakeholders. Attentive planning and agile problem-solving are essential as the Project Manager ensures that construction logistics are seamlessly executed. A central responsibility is the careful and transparent management of project budgets, balancing financial stewardship with the needs and vision of the community. Ultimately, these efforts culminate in build events that are not just moments of installation, but celebrations of collaboration, empowerment, and lasting impact.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:
Community Engagement & Amplification
- Champion and center community voices throughout every phase of the project, ensuring playspaces reflect the unique aspirations and identities of each community served.
- Facilitate inclusive, participatory design sessions with children and adults, gathering input and transforming ideas into actionable plans for inspiring playspaces.
- Build and nurture strong relationships with community partners, stakeholders, municipal entities, and sponsors to foster collective ownership and trust.
Collaborative Project Planning
- Lead collaborative planning committees, integrating feedback from diverse stakeholders to co-create project goals and drive shared outcomes.
- Conduct site assessments and facilitate a transparent design revision process, balancing community priorities with practical and budgetary considerations.
- Facilitate planning calls, ensuring effective coordination, communication, and alignment among all project partners, often with partners joining from different locations.
Multi-Project Management & Nationwide Execution
- Oversee multiple concurrent projects across various communities, managing each through different phases of completion.
- Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and manufacturing partners to deliver vibrant, safe, and inspiring playspaces on time and within budget.
- Manage construction logistics, including schedules, material orders, deliveries, and site preparation to ensure effective project facilitation.
- Track and steward project budgets ranging from $100K to $1M, maintaining financial transparency and accountability.
Volunteer Experience & Event Leadership
- Plan and lead transformative 3-5 day playspace build events, engaging 100-200 + volunteers in collaborative, celebratory experiences that strengthen community bonds.
- Provide dynamic on-site leadership, including volunteer training, safety oversight, and the creation of a positive, inclusive atmosphere.
- Serve as a visible ambassador for KABOOM!, confidently communicating the mission and project details to large groups and public media.
- Leverage volunteers and staff to manage event logistics such as registration, meals, and entertainment, ensuring a well-organized and fun build day.
Administrative Management & Long-Term Impact
- Deliver timely communications and updates to internal teams and external partners, maintaining clear documentation and shared project materials.
- Coordinate travel arrangements and related expenses for project team members.
- Document expense projections, reconcile budgets with Finance, and complete project close out reporting in a timely manner.
- Support the development of long-term site maintenance plans in partnership with community members and Outreach Manager.
- Assist in refining internal policies, developing team resources, and providing support across the Project Management Team as need
Experience and Essential Skills
- Two or more years of experience in project or event management, ideally within construction or recreation (preferred but not required)
- Ability to lead participatory design sessions and planning, listening to and empowering community voices to reimagine spaces that reflect local needs
- Creative problem-solving and a proactive approach to achieving outcomes
- Confidence in guiding teams through uncertainty and adapting to shifting timelines or situations
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Background in volunteer or event management
- Willingness and flexibility to travel extensively—up to 60% of the year—primarily within the United States, with occasional trips to Canada
- Outstanding verbal communication skills, including public speaking in front of large groups and conducting media interviews onsite
- Clear and concise written communication with excellent attention to detail
- Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate proficiency in Spanish, in addition to English.
Other Logistics:
• This position is full-time
• Location: Bethesda, Maryland/Hybrid
• Salary: $65,000
Our goal is to have competitive and equitable compensation. We have a market-based compensation approach which means that we benchmark each role from reputable data sources. We compare our benchmarks against similarly sized non-profit organizations with comparable annual budgets and geographical areas. We pay the same rate for the same roles and adjust to comply with statutory mandates.
We take care of our employees by providing benefits and perks which include but not limited to the following:
• Annual bonus based on team and individual goal attainment.
• Robust benefits package, including options for medical, dental, vision, and
health/wellness.
• Generous 403(b) match of up to 6% of employee contribution
• Flexible time off inclusive of PTO, floating holidays and special days
• Opportunities for professional development
Equal Opportunity Statement
Building an inclusive, high-performing team that is diverse across lines of personal identity is integral to our success and we are proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. This means we do not discriminate against any job applicant or employee because of their race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment. We actively strive and evolve to develop and maintain fully inclusive workspaces. We encourage candidates from underrepresented groups to apply.
Essential Job Functions:
Program Team– “Ability to maintain acceptable standards of conduct and work cooperatively as an effective team member of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Communicates with others, sits, or moves about the office to coordinate work and uses a computer as well as other office equipment as needed. In addition, must be able to travel independently, leading events with extended hours of moving about in various weather conditions and in some circumstances, able to lift or move objects unassisted up to 30 pounds with the ability to operate basic hand tools.”
Note: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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This job description does not constitute an employee agreement between the employer and the employee; this description is subject change by the employer as the needs and requirements of the position change.
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