Events & Community Manager, Austin

About the role

You will own the design and execution of Rho's community strategy in Austin, translating the nuances of the local startup scene into a living ecosystem of events and relationships. You will act as the primary connector between Rho and the Texas founder community, ensuring that every interaction reinforces trust and clarity around our banking platform. This role requires you to blend the energy of an operator with the insight of a strategist, crafting initiatives that feel personal at scale. You will speak the language of bootstrapped founders and VC partners alike, bridging gaps between distinct audiences with consistent clarity. Your work will center on building psychological safety and openness within community spaces, encouraging vulnerable and productive dialogue. You will measure the health of the community through both qualitative sentiment and quantitative engagement, iterating based on what you uncover. Most importantly, you will be the warm, reliable presence that makes Rho the first bank founders think of when they talk about their financial infrastructure.

Key facts

What you'll do

Develop and own a year-round events roadmap that reflects the distinct rhythms and needs of Austin's founder community, from intimate founder dinners to high-energy wellness and workout sessions for early-stage teams.

Design and execute programming for seed and Series A founders that balances operational education with authentic connection, ensuring every event delivers clear utility and memorable experiences.

Establish and grow Rho's presence through at least one major anchor event in the Austin market, setting the tone for the broader ecosystem and drawing in founders and investors together.

Cultivate deep, trust-based relationships with venture capital firms, accelerators, and ecosystem builders, turning these connections into a durable network of qualified customer leads.

Partner with leading local organizations such as Capital Factory and top-tier accelerators to co-create opportunities that amplify Rho's reach and relevance across Texas.

Manage event budgets with precision, tracking program success metrics rigorously to ensure efficient allocation of resources and continuous improvement.

Implement scalable systems and processes for community engagement that maintain quality, consistency, and brand integrity as programs and audiences grow.

Serve as the public-facing brand ambassador for Rho in Austin, embodying our values in every interaction and displacing entrenched incumbent banks in the minds of founders.

Foster a vibrant, active community among Rho customers through targeted programming, exclusive events, and ongoing engagement that strengthens long-term brand loyalty.

Leverage deep knowledge of startup terminology and founder psychology to create initiatives that resonate across different stages, from pre-seed to late-stage operators.

Maintain an active, thoughtful social media presence on platforms like Twitter/X and LinkedIn, contributing to the broader conversation and positioning Rho as a visible leader in the startup banking space.

Use a data-driven approach to community building, setting clear KPIs, running controlled experiments, and applying insights to refine and improve every program.

Build genuine, empathetic relationships through regular one-on-one coffee chats and roundtable discussions, earning credibility with seasoned investors and operators.

Own the end-to-end lifecycle of events, from initial concept and partnership development to execution, follow-up, and post-event analysis.

Champion curiosity and continuous learning by staying close to the realities of the Texas market, understanding when founders are most reachable and where they actually gather.

Create spaces where founders feel seen and supported, encouraging honest dialogue about financial infrastructure and the challenges of building in today's climate.

Requirements

You must have 5-7 years of hands-on experience building and scaling engaged professional communities, with documented growth in membership and year-over-year increases in meaningful engagement.

You must possess a strong, existing network within the Austin and broader Texas startup ecosystem, including established relationships with founders, operators, VCs, and other critical ecosystem players.

You must demonstrate a "boots on the ground" mentality, becoming ubiquitous in the market quickly by meeting people at scale and transforming initial connections into lasting community.

You must have a deep understanding of startup ecosystem dynamics, terminology, and the distinct needs of founders and operators across different stages.

You must have a refined sense of taste for community initiatives and events that genuinely resonate with the founder audience in Austin and align with Rho's brand.

You must have a track record of establishing strategic partnerships with venture firms, accelerators, thought leaders, and community champions to amplify reach and impact.

You must be data-driven in your approach to community building, comfortable setting KPIs, running experiments, and using insights to guide decision-making and optimize programs.

You must have exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to connect authentically with diverse people both online and in-person.

You must have a background working at a high-growth startup, VC firm, or scaleup in a community, marketing, or ecosystem-focused role.

You must have prior experience building communities specifically for B2B SaaS, fintech, or enterprise software companies, understanding the nuances of these audiences.

You must maintain an active social media presence and personal brand within the startup ecosystem, particularly on platforms where the community gathers such as Twitter/X and LinkedIn.

You must be based in or readily relocatable to Austin, with a demonstrated commitment to showing up consistently in local startup spaces and events.

Nice to have

Experience designing and facilitating workshops or intimate roundtables that generate actionable insights for founders.

A portfolio or examples of past community initiatives, events, or programs you have built and scaled.

Familiarity with fintech products and the specific banking needs of startups, including cash flow management, spend controls, and bill pay.

Experience with customer success or community platforms such as Circle, Discourse, or similar tools that support ongoing engagement.

An understanding of the venture capital and fundraising cycles in Texas, including how timing impacts founder availability and priorities.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position based in Austin.

The role requires regular travel within the Texas region for in-person events, networking, and community outreach.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship for this role.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.