Senior Manager, Nonprofit Communications

Austin Pets Alive!•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is a dynamic nonprofit and a leader in the national No Kill movement, dedicated to rescuing, treating, and adopting out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats annually. APA! serves as a safety net for Austin's most at-risk shelter pets and influences animal welfare nationally through its division, American Pets Alive!. This division launched Human Animal Support Services (HASS) in 2020, an initiative focused on rethinking traditional animal sheltering by supporting people and pets in the community to reduce shelter intake and improve outcomes. HASS promotes collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, positioning animal welfare as a social service through personalized, proactive support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, marketing, journalism or closely related field; or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum of 7 years of experience in multi-channel communications, content strategy, or professional writing; 2 years of proven experience managing and mentoring paid employees.
Proven success in developing comprehensive communications strategies and managing integrated digital campaigns.
Advanced knowledge of CMS, email marketing platforms, and digital content production.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write press releases and pitches quickly and accurately.
Proven understanding of the fundamentals of storytelling; ability to independently research and fact check stories.
Skilled with media tracking platforms such as Muck Rack, Meltwater, Cison or others.
Knowledge on the latest updates, features, trends and best practices in public relations.
Detail-oriented with the ability to maintain a high level of quality assurance.
Solutions-oriented, adaptable and positive attitude; fast turnaround times and a high production/output.
Ability to strategize how to achieve multiple goals through compelling content.
A strong understanding of how content management systems work and the ability to quickly and efficiently post articles online.
Experience managing multiple complex projects, people and resources in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented, dynamic environment.
Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather.
Must be able to comfortably interact with cats/dogs of various health levels, including cats who may carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, intestinal parasites, etc.
Able to be on your feet for multiple hours of the day.
Must be able to focus in a loud and busy environment despite distractions.
Must be able to walk around shelter as needed - uneven ground, keeping a safe distance from dogs and handlers.
Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart.
Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations.
Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission.
Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles.
Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members.
Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials.
Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively.
Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations.
Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality.
Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed.
Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience.

Nice To Haves

Photography and video production/editing skills, graphic design a plus.
Spanish speaking is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead proactive media pitching, assist with crisis communications, and manage brand reputation across all platforms.
Create organizational communications, ensuring a consistent content cadence across internal and external channels to prioritize deadlines and messaging.
Work closely with members of the Advancement, Programs, and Operations teams to gather stories and translate complex program information into compelling narratives.
Maintain content guidelines and brand voice; oversee the creation of assets including donor communications upon request, website copy, internal newsletters, and impact reports.
Oversee distribution across owned channels (website, internal communications, etc) in addition to earned media to increase reach and engagement.
Manage a small team of paid staff, interns, and volunteers to meet departmental and mission-driven KPIs.
Foster and model a volunteer-powered culture across the team by ensuring that every staff member is partnered with volunteers on every shift, with the goal of empowering volunteers to lead and grow within the program.
Serve as a facilitator and coach to staff and volunteers, ensuring the work is shared, not siloed, and that volunteers are supported in completing daily tasks.
Ensure active recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of volunteers using volunteer engagement tools and resources.
Support retention by matching volunteers to appropriate tasks, offering guidance, and providing regular check-ins and staff mentorship.
Identify strong volunteers for deeper roles and seek out customer to volunteer conversion opportunities.
Recognize volunteer contributions through consistent appreciation and shoutouts.
Provide clear expectations, hands-on training, and in-the-moment coaching to set volunteers up for success.
Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings.
Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues.
Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and manage volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis.
Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned.
Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment.