Community Relations Manager

Community Relations Manager

Summary: Acadiana Animal Aid (AAA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is the leading animal rescue agency in the Acadiana region. We are seeking a Community Relations Manager to join our team. The Community Relations Manager builds and strengthens relationships between the organization and the community it serves. This position is responsible for developing partnerships, engaging donors and volunteers, coordinating outreach activities, and increasing awareness and support for the AAA mission. The ideal candidate is an energetic connector who is passionate about animal welfare, enjoys building relationships, and thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. This position reports to the Development Director (DD), Executive Director (ED), and Assistant Director (AD).

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications and Community Partnerships

• Collaborate with the Social Media Coordinator to create engaging content for Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
• Produce weekly emails using Canva and Constant Contact, targeting segmented audiences with calls to action, event notifications, and community interest stories.
• Incorporate program metrics to continuously improve communication effectiveness.
• Coordinate and attend community events to promote volunteerism, fostering, and donor opportunities.
• Partner with internal teams (Volunteer Coordinator, Adoption Coordinators, Operations Director, and Facilities Manager) to support community partnerships, in-kind donations, and special projects.
• Develop and implement educational programming for on-site and off-site audiences.
• Identify grant opportunities that will benefit community programming, draft high-quality submissions, and complete required reporting and documentation.

2. Special Events and Campaigns

• Assist the Development Director and Board of Directors in planning, coordinating, and executing fundraising events.
• Recruit, train, and manage volunteer committees supporting large-scale special events.
• Research and collaborate with DD on innovative fundraising and community partnership campaigns using digital platforms, social media, and peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Collaborate with marketing partners to create compelling collateral, promotional materials, and digital content that inspire giving.
• Oversee the full life cycle of merchandise programs, including branding, production, inventory management, and accounting.

3. Donor and Community Partner Database Management

• Maintain a comprehensive donor and community partner database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information, gift tracking, and acknowledgement processes.
• Identify and correct lapsed accounts, incomplete entries, and duplicate records.
• Ensure synchronization between Constant Contact and database, maintaining accurate subscription lists.
• Generate regular reports to assess fundraising progress, donor retention, and return on investment with community partners.
• Use data insights to segment donors, personalize communications, and identify opportunities for targeted fundraising and community initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• An authentic passion for animals and animal welfare, and enthusiasm for AAA’s mission.
• An outgoing, relationship-driven personality, with genuine enjoyment in meeting new people, building connections, and inspiring engagement.
• A solutions-oriented, adaptable, and positive attitude, with the flexibility to navigate a fast-paced nonprofit environment.
• A collaborative spirit and enthusiasm for working with volunteers and staff across all roles.
• Working proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and social media platforms.
• The ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals, tell powerful stories, and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness to attend and participate in board meetings, community events, and other off-site activities as needed.
• Understanding of working with donors and board members, with excellent judgment and professionalism to maintain confidentiality and trust.
• Proficiency in fundraising software, donor databases, and online platforms for donor management and engagement.
• Preferred understanding of fundraising principles, community partnership building strategies, and best practices.
• Must be able to work around animals (including deceased, injured, and/or aggressive), loud noises, strong smells, and cleaning chemicals.

Time Commitment:

• This is a part-time, exempt position of 20-25 hours weekly. May include evenings and weekends as required.

Acadiana Animal Aid observes eight holidays and currently, does not offer medical benefits. AAA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Job Type: Part-time

Expected hours: 20 – 25 per week

Work Location: In person