If you love connecting with people, building relationships, and creating value for your community, you might be interested in becoming a head of community. This is a role that requires a mix of skills, experience, and passion for your niche. But how do you get there? Here are some tips to help you on your journey.
Before you apply for any head of community position, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. What is your vision for the community? What are the values, mission, and culture that you want to foster? How will you measure your impact and success? Having a well-defined strategy and roadmap will help you communicate your value proposition and align your actions with your goals.
Align your personal goals with an organisation’s mission statement. I combined my personal journey (through lived experiences) and academia (undergraduate/postgraduate studies around Youth, Community Leadership and Strategic Management) helping me to shape and define my long-term goal, which is to ‘Transform Communities Together’. It fits perfectly in line with my organisation’s mission (to create opportunities for young people, residents and the wider community). Once you have positioned yourself (after many failures, which is all part of the learning process), you are all set to achieve your goals and overcome obstacles through self-belief, resilience and hard work.
As a head of community, you need to have a range of skills. Communication is essential, and you should be able to write, speak, and listen effectively, as well as use multiple channels to reach your audience. You should also have leadership skills, such as the ability to inspire and guide your community members, as well as manage your team and stakeholders. Additionally, you should have marketing skills to promote your community and attract new members. Furthermore, you need analytics skills to collect, analyze, and report data on your community's health. Finally, project management skills are necessary to plan and execute initiatives, events, and programs. You can develop these skills through formal education or online courses. You can also learn from other community leaders and experts by joining networks or groups.
Over a decade, I invested/developed my skills via both academia and CPD. Putting yourself out there and being willing to take risks plays a key role in helping you reach your goal. Sacrifices will have to be made along the way and constantly prioritising tasks both in your personal and professional environment. Surround yourself with experts and unleash your active listening and critical thinking skills. Finally, don’t be afraid to use your imagination/creativity and put your target audience/beneficiaries at the heart of everything you do.
Gaining experience in the community is the best way to learn and prove your skills. Consider starting or joining a project or initiative that aligns with your interests, volunteering or interning for a respected organization, working as a community manager or coordinator for a company you believe in, and creating or contributing to content, events, or resources that add value. You can also showcase your experience by creating a portfolio, website, blog, newsletter, or social media profile that highlights your achievements and learnings.
Actively look for Board Member roles that also fit with your personal goals and apply! I am currently a Community Advisory Board member (voluntary role) for a not-for-profit organisation, which is known nationally for influencing societal change and helping bridge the gap between communities and policy-making. This level of experience and exposure puts you up there with the best (experts) and no doubt will help you in mysterious ways.
Finally, if you want to become a head of community, you need to network and apply for opportunities that match your goals, skills, and experience. You can search on job boards, websites, newsletters, or social media that specialize in community roles or industries. Additionally, it’s helpful to ask for referrals or recommendations from your network, mentors, or peers. Reaching out to potential employers or partners that you are interested in and sharing your value proposition and portfolio can also be beneficial. Don’t forget to follow up and follow through with your applications and interviews. Becoming a head of community is not easy, but it is rewarding. If you are passionate, persistent, and proactive, you can achieve your dream and make a difference in your community.
Also while you’re rushing to apply and connect - Focused networking is essential for impact. Concentrating on specific topics, sectors, or goals ensures meaningful peer connections, moving away from random, unfocused interactions.