Communications Specialist

Description

Job Title: Communications Specialist 

Reports to: Development and Communications Director 

Objective: The Communications Specialist leads  marketing, digital strategy, content creation, and media outreach for Cat Adoption Team (CAT). Under the direction of the Development and Communications Director, this position is responsible for representing CAT’s brand across channels; creating digital and print publications; building audience engagement through multi-channel communications; assisting with public relations projects and events; leading communications volunteers; and performing other duties as assigned. 

Position Type and Hours: Non-exempt, hourly, 32-36 hours per week (Full-Time) performed onsite at least 4 days a week. Includes some weekend and evening hours for events.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Social Media (50% of time) 

• Strategy & Planning: Develop, implement, and execute a comprehensive, multi-channel social media strategy with the aim of moving beyond a one size fits all approach. Utilize audience segmentation, content calendars, and campaign mapping to build brand equity, drive adoption rates, and boost donor conversion.
• Content Creation & Execution: Oversee day-to-day execution across all social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube). Produce brand-aligned multimedia content (photos, short-form video, copy) that accurately represents CAT’s mission, values, and key promotional campaigns.
• Analytics, Reporting & Evaluation: Continuously monitor, analyze, and evaluate social media performance against core KPIs (engagement rates, follower growth, website click-throughs, ad conversions). Translate data into actionable insights and monthly reports to optimize future strategy and content performance.
• Community & Reputation Management: Proactively cultivate and engage CAT’s digital community. Moderate public comments, respond to private inquiries with empathy and brand authority, and maintain reputation management across social platforms and review sites.
• Partnership & Campaign Coordination: Autonomously identify, select, and manage social media collaborations, cross-promotions, and influencer/partner opportunities (e.g., Give!Guide partners, local business sponsorships, feature adoptable animal campaigns).
• Live & Event Coverage: Strategize and execute real-time social coverage for major shelter events, fundraisers, and community outreach, leveraging pre- and post-event media to maximize campaign reach.

Content Creation (25% of time) 

• Editorial Strategy & Calendar Planning: Assist with developing, maintaining, and executing an annual content strategy and publication schedule to align internal and external messaging with organizational goals and seasonal priorities. 
• Internal & External Publications: Plan, write, edit, format, and distribute digital and print publications for internal staff and volunteers and external public audiences on scheduled recurring timelines using email software and publishing tools.
• Campaign & Promotional Storytelling: Conceptualize, draft, and produce written and visual content for marketing campaigns, news releases, promotional materials, direct mail, and donor stewardship communications.
• Content Development & Interviewing: Identify compelling stories, pitch content concepts, conduct interviews with staff and community members, gather research, and capture/curate supporting photography and visual media.
• Design & Link Tracking: Design print and digital collateral (promotional graphics, physical signage, and display ads) while setting up custom URLs with tracking parameters (UTM codes) to measure campaign performance.

Communications Administration (25% of time) 

• Event Promotion & Live Coverage: Attend, document, and promote organizational events and community outreach by capturing, producing, and distributing pre- and post-event media and updates.
• Promotional Campaign Management: Coordinate adoption and marketing promotions by liaising with external media contacts, staff, and volunteers to identify features, review campaign submissions, and capture promotional photography.
• Website Administration: Maintain and update organizational websites using content management systems, managing routine page updates, site navigation, link redirects, and periodic content audits.
• Email & Database Hygiene: Administer digital communication platforms through ongoing subscriber list maintenance, contact segmentation, and routine database audits.
• Public Relations & Operational Media: Support PR initiatives by scheduling media interviews, monitoring and responding to public online reviews, and capturing behind-the-scenes operational and clinical photography.
• Event Logistics & Volunteer Leadership: Provide administrative and on-site support for community outreach events, including supply organization, setup and teardown, vendor coordination, and volunteer oversight.
• Special Projects & Asset Management: Oversee production logistics, photography, design coordination, and distribution for annual signature collateral and internal/external facility signage.
• Performance Reporting: Collect, synthesize, and analyze channel data to prepare and present monthly Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reports.
• General Support: Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Knowledge 

• Organizational social media administration, tools, and digital marketing trends.
• Digital publishing platforms, including WordPress with Elementor and basic HTML.
• Email marketing software (Constant Contact or similar) including list segmentation, automation, and design.
• Computer applications including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and social media management tools.
• Grammar, punctuation, AP Style standards, and clear brand messaging principles.

Skills

• Strong written, verbal, and visual storytelling skills across diverse channels (social, email, direct mail, web).
• On-site photo and video capture and editing in active environment settings.
• Graphic design creation for digital ads, print media, and physical signage.
• Time management, prioritization, and multi-project coordination to meet firm deadlines.
• Effective volunteer leadership and collaborative cross-departmental project management.
• Work independently with little direction or supervision. 
• Operate standard office equipment, including computers, copy machines, telephone systems, and printers. 

Abilities 

• Exercise sound independent judgment and take initiative on projects with minimal direct supervision.
• Rapidly learn and master new software tools and communications technology.
• Build strong, empathetic relationships across staff, volunteers, donors, media, and the public.
• Respond with empathy and patience to online interactions, effectively diffusing community friction.
• Receive feedback constructively and provide clear, encouraging feedback to volunteers.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Necessary

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field or combination of education and experience.
• 2–3 years of professional experience managing multi-channel digital communications, content creation, and corporate or non-profit social media accounts.
• Demonstrated portfolio showing written communications, photography/videography, and digital graphic design work.
• Hands-on experience with WordPress (or similar CMS), email design tools, basic HTML, and analytics tracking (UTM parameters).
• Ability to work on-site at an active animal shelter with direct proximity to shelter animals and cleaning agents.

Preferred 

• Professional experience in animal welfare, non-profit fundraising, or donor stewardship communications.
• Experience using Elementor page builder for WordPress.

Mental Effort: This position has regular variation in tasks, and the job holder must decide which tasks to complete as well as the order in which they are completed. The job holder must also contribute ideas, make decisions, and take actions which commit the organization in some way or are outside of the established policy/procedure. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job functions or this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Move and/or transport items up to 25 pounds (assisted or unassisted)
• Position oneself at various levels to successfully carry out the essential functions of the job
• Provide direct animal care including feeding, watering, cleaning litter boxes, and other animal handling
• Clean animal housing and facility 
• Disinfect and sanitize using agents such as bleach and/or Rescue®
• Communicate effectively with other staff, volunteers, clients, and members of the public by email, phone, or in-person
• Navigate the shelter and building
• Read and keep accurate records/files
• Work on a computer and use various software programs
• Operate office equipment such as a copy and fax machine, printer, scanner, and multi-line telephone 
• Operate a camera 
• Operate a motor vehicle 

Work Environment

Work in this position is performed within an office setting at an animal shelter. Typically the work environment is well-protected and free from hazards or obstacles. Job conditions are usually comfortable, with only minimal issues of confinement, temperature change, noise, smell, interactions of a disagreeable nature, exposure to contagious zoonotic disease, emotional taxation due to the nature of animal welfare, etc. Job conditions are occasionally uncomfortable relative to noise, temperature, smell, and/or dirty conditions. With that said, the worker may be occasionally exposed to the following: 

• Distressed animals that put the worker at risk for injuries such as bites and scratches
• Animal urine, animal feces, animal vomit, animal blood, animal fur
• Medications used to treat animals
• Disinfecting agents such as bleach and Rescue®

Pay Range: $24.00–$27.00 per hour 

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job related duties required by their supervisor.  This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

Please note - There are required screener questions included in this application that will replace a cover letter.