How to Hire a Community Manager in 2026
Hiring a community manager is one of the most critical decisions you can make for your business in 2025. A great community manager can transform a quiet forum into a thriving ecosystem, create loyal customers who advocate for your brand, and build relationships that drive long-term retention. On the other hand, hiring the wrong person can lead to disengaged members, lost opportunities, and even reputational damage.
This comprehensive guide explains how to hire the right community manager for your business. You will learn about:
The essential role of a community manager
Strategies to find qualified candidates
Key skills, qualities, and qualifications
Writing the perfect job description
Salary expectations and budget planning
Interview questions and sample answers
Common hiring mistakes
The first 90 days and KPIs
Scaling your community team as you grow
The Role of a Community Manager
Many businesses still misunderstand what a community manager actually does. They often assume it is just about posting on social media or replying to comments. In reality, a community manager serves as the bridge between your brand and your users. They nurture trust, guide conversations, and create value for both the company and its members.
Daily Responsibilities
A community manager’s daily responsibilities often include:
Researching and creating relevant content for discussions
Engaging with both new and existing members
Organizing events such as AMAs, polls, or challenges
Acting as the voice of the brand within the community
Handling member disputes and ensuring a healthy environment
Gathering user feedback and sharing it with internal teams
Strategic Responsibilities
Beyond daily engagement, community managers also handle broader strategic initiatives such as:
Building retention and advocacy programs
Developing referral or ambassador programs
Analyzing engagement data to identify trends and insights
Planning growth campaigns and partnerships
Turning members into loyal brand advocates
They often collaborate closely with teams like marketing, customer success, sales, and product, ensuring that the community contributes to the company’s goals. A strong community manager is not just a moderator; they are a strategist, storyteller, and connector rolled into one.
Where to Find Community Managers
The best community managers are not always browsing generic job boards. They are usually busy managing their own communities or contributing to others. To reach them, you need to go where they are most active.
Best Places to Find Candidates
LinkedIn:
Search for people using hashtags like#community,#communitybuilding, and#communitymanager. Those who post about community management are usually the ones passionate about it.Industry Hubs:
Join professional spaces such as CMX, Community Club, Jatra Community, or Community Hub. These platforms often have job boards and discussion groups filled with skilled community builders.Reddit:
Visit r/CommunityManager. Many professionals share tips, challenges, and job opportunities there.Community Events:
Attend virtual or in-person events focused on community building. Conferences like CMX Summit, Community Leadership Summit, or local meetups can help you network with top talent.Referrals:
Referrals remain the best source for quality candidates. A single introduction from someone inside a community hub can be far more valuable than a hundred generic applications.
Pro Tip:
Post your job openings in at least two niche communities dedicated to community management. Members there already understand the culture and expectations, saving you weeks of filtering irrelevant candidates.
Qualities, Qualifications, and Skills of a Community Manager
The best community managers combine a unique blend of empathy, creativity, and analytical thinking. When evaluating candidates, focus on both soft and hard skills.
Soft Skills
Empathy:
Great community managers listen deeply. They can turn angry customer rants into constructive discussions by showing understanding and patience.Communication:
Clear and warm communication is vital. The ability to explain complex topics simply and respectfully is what keeps members engaged.Diplomacy:
Communities can face conflict. A manager must mediate tensions, uphold community values, and maintain harmony.Curiosity:
They should be naturally curious about people, ideas, and trends. Curiosity drives engagement and continuous improvement.
Hard Skills
Analytics:
Modern community management is data-driven. Candidates should know how to track engagement, retention, and growth metrics using tools like Google Analytics, Orbit, or PostHog.Technical Adaptability:
With tools like Discourse, Jatra, and Discord evolving rapidly, a community manager should easily adapt to new platforms and workflows.Creativity:
They should be able to create innovative campaigns like contests, challenges, or rituals that keep members active and inspired.AI Literacy:
In 2025, AI is part of the toolkit. Skilled managers use tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Notion AI for research, content creation, and sentiment analysis.
However, while AI can generate ideas, the human context makes content truly relatable. The best community managers know how to blend both.Public Speaking and Video Presence:
Communities are becoming increasingly visual. Comfort with live sessions, AMAs, and webinars can amplify engagement and make a brand more approachable.
How to Write a Job Description
A vague job description will attract vague candidates. Be specific about what you expect. The clearer your role definition, the better the match you’ll find.
Key Responsibilities
Here’s what to include in your job listing:
Develop a deep understanding of your company’s products and customers
Create engaging and relevant community content regularly
Track defined KPIs and share insights with stakeholders
Maintain consistent community engagement through discussions and updates
Encourage peer-to-peer connections among members
Identify, onboard, and mentor community champions
Collaborate with internal teams for campaigns and launches
Manage disputes and uphold community guidelines
Desired Skills and Qualifications
Exceptional written and verbal communication
Experience with community platforms, forums, or chat-based tools
Strong organizational and analytical skills
Understanding of SEO, content, and email marketing
Empathy and a customer-first mindset
Example Job Description Template
Download our ready-made template to write job description for Community Manager job role: Community Manager Job Description Template.
Here’s a simplified version to get you started -
Community Manager (Full-Time)
Location: Remote
Responsibilities: Build and manage our online community across multiple post types (Discussions, Events, Feedback, Articles). Develop engagement strategies, track KPIs, and collaborate with product and marketing teams.
Requirements: 3+ years in community management, excellent communication, experience with tools like Jatra, Discourse, or Slack, and a strong sense of empathy.
Bonus: Experience in hosting AMAs, webinars, or events.
A well-managed community delivers substantial ROI by reducing churn, improving retention, and driving organic advocacy. To attract and retain top community talent, you must offer competitive compensation and meaningful perks.
In 2025, salary benchmarks for community roles vary based on experience and responsibility.
Junior-level professionals, typically with one to three years of experience, earn between $50,000 and $60,000 per year. They usually work as Community Coordinators, focusing on member engagement, support, and day-to-day moderation.
Mid-level managers, with around three to six years of experience, can expect salaries in the range of $70,000 to $85,000 annually. These professionals often take on the role of Community Manager or Community Strategist, responsible for planning engagement initiatives, tracking KPIs, and aligning community goals with business outcomes.
Senior professionals, with six or more years of experience, generally earn $90,000 to $120,000 or more. They often hold leadership titles such as Head of Community or Director of Community, overseeing multiple teams, defining strategy, and shaping the company’s overall community vision.
These figures can vary depending on company size, region, and industry, but they serve as reliable benchmarks for budgeting your next community hire.
Additional Benefits to Offer
Remote flexibility: Many community professionals prefer location independence.
Learning budgets: Provide access to courses and workshops like CMX Academy or Jatra Growth Labs.
Conference stipends: Cover costs for attending events and summits.
Stock options or performance bonuses: Encourage long-term commitment.
Top-tier equipment: Offer modern laptops and ergonomic setups for productivity.
Investing in a skilled community manager not only strengthens engagement but also reduces customer support overheads and drives better retention across the board.
Conducting Effective Interviews
Interviewing community managers requires more nuance than traditional roles. You are not just hiring a marketer or a content creator; you are hiring someone who will represent your brand’s voice.
Follow this 4-step interview framework to assess candidates effectively.
Step 1: Motivation and Experience
Start by understanding their journey and motivations.
Sample questions:
“Tell us about a community you’ve built or managed.”
“What were the biggest challenges you faced, and how did you solve them?”
“How do you think community building contributes to business growth?”
Look for real metrics and examples - such as engagement increase, retention improvement, or member growth.
Step 2: Situational Questions
Present real-world challenges and observe their approach.
Scenarios:
“Your engagement drops by 30% in a month. What’s your first move?”
“Two influential members have a public disagreement. How would you handle it?”
A strong candidate will combine analytical reasoning with emotional intelligence. Their focus should be on preserving the community culture while resolving the issue.
Step 3: Practical Exercise
Ask the candidate to respond to short writing prompts. For example:
A member is ranting about a product issue.
A new user introduces themselves.
A long-time member posts a milestone achievement.
Evaluate their tone, empathy, and ability to maintain community warmth and professionalism.
Step 4: Business Alignment
End the interview by testing alignment with business goals.
Ask:
How will you measure the impact of your community work on the business?
You want candidates who can connect their activities to tangible outcomes like lead generation, user retention, or product feedback.
Common Hiring Mistakes
Hiring the wrong person can stall community momentum for months. Avoid these common pitfalls:
Hiring too late:
Many businesses hire a community manager only after noticing high churn or low engagement. By then, recovery takes longer. Hire proactively when your user base starts growing.Confusing roles:
Social media management and community management are not the same. Social media is about broadcasting; community management is about conversation and relationship-building.Generic job descriptions:
Ambiguous roles attract unqualified candidates and waste time in filtering.Expecting one person to do everything:
Do not overload your community manager with responsibilities for strategy, content, analytics, and events all at once. Communities need focus and clarity of roles.
The First 90 Days and KPIs
Even the most talented community manager needs time to plan, implement, and measure success. A structured 90-day plan sets clear expectations.
30–60–90 Day Plan
Days 1–30: Foundation
Define purpose, mission, and goals
Set up your community platform
Seed initial content and invite early members
Establish rules, tone, and brand guidelines
Days 31–60: Launch
Onboard members and spark engagement
Host your first AMA, challenge, or poll
Gather early feedback and fine-tune onboarding
Days 61–90: Growth
Analyze engagement data
Identify superusers and community champions
Experiment with new engagement formats
Prepare a growth roadmap for the next quarter
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Tracking the right metrics helps align your community efforts with business impact. Some essential KPIs include:
New member growth
Daily/Monthly Active Users (DAU/MAU)
Engagement rate (posts, comments, likes)
Retention rate
Contribution ratio (active vs passive members)
Referral rate or advocacy growth
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Each KPI should tie back to your business goals, such as product adoption, churn reduction, or content generation.
Scaling Up Your Community Team
As your community grows, your needs will evolve. A single manager can only handle so much engagement before quality begins to slip. Knowing when to scale is key.
When to Expand
Add 1 moderator for every 100–200 active members who post weekly
Add 1 support team member for every 5,000 total members
Create specialized roles like Event Lead, Data Analyst, or Ambassador Coordinator as your ecosystem matures
Scaling ensures that every member receives attention and support without overwhelming your team.
Building a Team Structure
A balanced community team often includes:
Community Manager (Lead) – Oversees strategy and health
Moderator(s) – Enforce guidelines and support daily operations
Event Lead – Plans and executes events or webinars
Content Manager – Handles newsletters, recaps, and engagement content
Data Analyst – Tracks KPIs and suggests improvements
As the community grows, this structure provides scalability without losing personal touch.
Wrapping It Up
Hiring a community manager in 2025 is not just about filling a role; it is about investing in a long-term growth engine. A well-chosen manager can transform your brand’s relationship with customers, improve retention, and build a loyal audience that markets for you.
The key is to hire early, define expectations clearly, and look beyond superficial engagement metrics. When you hire a professional who understands people, data, and brand storytelling, your community becomes your most valuable asset.