Communications Coordinator

Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), founded in 1975, is one of 57 federally designated Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) in the United States. TOSA is committed to a mission of saving lives through the power of organ donation by providing organ donation and recovery services to Central and South Texans wishing to donate, and to those waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Recognized as a Top Employer, TOSA has staff members in Austin, San Antonio, and McAllen.

JOB SUMMARY: The Communications Coordinator is responsible for increasing public awareness of organ donation within their assigned region through community engagement, education, and strategic relationship-building. This role focuses on identifying and securing opportunities to educate diverse audiences, cultivating partnerships with hospitals and community organizations, and expanding TOSA’s presence through impactful outreach initiatives. This position requires travel by personal automobile or commercial aircraft to accomplish job responsibilities.  The incumbent will have access to confidential material and needs to use discretion with this information and strictly adheres to the TOSA confidentiality policy.

WORK SCHEDULE:  The Communications Coordinator is a full-time position.  Normal office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The employee may occasionally have to work evenings or weekends, as needed to support special events and media requests. This position will require the installation and use of a company-approved location tracking application during work-related travel and while performing duties at off-site locations.

KEY FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

Under the guidance and direction of the Director of Communications, the Communications Coordinator will:

Community Engagement & Education

• Proactively identify, secure, and participate in community outreach opportunities, including health fairs, speaking engagements, and local events.
• Develop and deliver compelling educational presentations to increase awareness and understanding of organ donation.
• Build and maintain a strong network of community partners, including local organizations, advocacy groups, and civic leaders
• Represent TOSA at community events as a knowledgeable and professional ambassador for the organization.

Partnership Development

• Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with partner hospitals, transplant centers, and donation-focused organizations.
• Identify opportunities to deepen engagement with partners and co-create educational events and initiatives.
• Serve as a primary liaison for assigned territory community partners to support donation awareness efforts.
• Leverage partnerships to expand outreach opportunities and increase program visibility within the region.

Event Planning & Execution

• Plan and coordinate community-facing events and initiatives that support organ donation awareness and education.
• Lead efforts for national observances including National Donor Day, National Donate Life Month, National Living Donor Day, National Pediatric Transplant Week, National Minority Donor Awareness Month, and National Donor Sabbath.
• Coordinate TOSA-specific events 
• Ensure events are well-executed, aligned with organizational goals, and effectively engage target audiences.

Media & Public Relations Support

• Draft and distribute news releases and media advisories to support key initiatives and events.
• Respond to media inquiries and participate in interviews as appropriate.
• Assist in coordinating public service announcements and media opportunities that align with outreach goals.

Administrative & Program Support

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of outreach activities, partnerships, and events using the regional events tracker.
• Submit regular reports on communications and outreach activities to the Director of Communications.
• Keep leadership informed of upcoming activities and opportunities on a consistent basis.
• Monitor local media coverage related to organ and tissue donation and maintain relevant records.
• Manage inventory of outreach materials for your territory and ensure availability for events.
• Manage correspondence related to community outreach, partnerships, and events.

REQUIREMENTS:  

1. College degree preferably in public relations, journalism, marketing or related field. 
2. Bilingual (English/Spanish) required for McAllen office - a plus for Austin and San Antonio offices. 
3. Candidate must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
4. Candidate must be familiar with local area including media in local area. 
5. Physical requirements also include the ability to lift at least 50 lbs.