Employment

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• 2+ years of professional experience in communications, marketing, digital media, nonprofit development, or a related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong storytelling, copywriting, and editing skills.
• Experience creating content for multiple digital platforms and audiences.
• Experience with Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop.
• Experience managing websites, preferably WordPress.
• Familiarity with email marketing platforms and digital fundraising tools.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and build strong internal relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to think creatively, solve problems, and adjust priorities as needs change.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently while keeping appropriate team members informed.
• Knowledge of digital marketing best practices, current trends, SEO, analytics, and digital fundraising is preferred.
• Experience with Google Analytics, Google Ad Grants/Google Ads, Classy, or similar platforms is a plus.
• Experience working with a nonprofit, animal welfare organization, or mission-driven organization is a plus.
• Experience handling animals in a professional environment is helpful but not required.
• Must be willing to learn new skills, processes, and technology and adapt to changing organizational needs.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Content & Storytelling

• Lead the development of compelling written, visual, and digital content that supports NHA’s mission, programs, fundraising priorities, and community engagement.
• Monitor NHA’s social media platforms, actively manage community engagement, and respond to comments and messages in a timely, professional, mission-aligned manner.
• Work with department leaders to understand their communication needs and identify meaningful stories, milestones, program updates, and opportunities to highlight NHA’s impact.
• Develop photography, video, graphics, copy, and other content for social media, email, web, print, events, and other promotional channels.
• Create content that showcases adoptable animals, animal welfare programs, community impact, Humane Education, fundraising initiatives, events, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and staff.
• Develop monthly blog posts, website content, event content, and other communications.
• Coordinate with contract photographers and videographers, including scheduling in-shelter photoshoots and gathering content for events, campaigns, holidays, and adoptable animals.
• Build animal rosters and assist with animal handling for approved photoshoots as needed.
• Maintain an organized content library and ensure appropriate photos, video, graphics, and other assets are available for departmental, grant, sponsorship, and marketing needs.
• Maintain consistency in NHA’s voice, messaging, visual identity, and brand standards.

2. Digital Marketing & Website

• Manage and maintain the NHA website on a day-to-day basis.

• Serve as NHA’s primary liaison with the website host, Media Tree.

• Identify and implement opportunities to improve the website experience, content, functionality, and visibility across departments.

• Develop and maintain digital content strategies that support engagement, fundraising, events, adoption, community programs, and organizational priorities.

• Create and manage digital assets for email campaigns, fundraising campaigns, event pages, sponsorship promotions, and other development initiatives.

• Support digital marketing efforts through SEO, analytics, Google Ad Grants/Google Ads, and other appropriate tools.

• Monitor digital engagement and provide relevant data and insights to the Development Director and other appropriate staff.

• Work with the Development and Events teams to evaluate digital engagement and fundraising results and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Stay current on digital marketing trends, platform changes, and nonprofit communications best practices.

3. Development & Fundraising Communications

• Partner closely with the Director of Development to ensure communications and content support NHA’s fundraising priorities.

• Develop promotional content for annual campaigns, special appeals, Giving Days, planned giving, events, sponsorships, and other fundraising initiatives.

• Create donor-centered stories and messaging that demonstrate the impact of giving and encourage continued engagement and support.

• Work with the Development and Events teams to promote major fundraising events before, during, and after each event.

• Develop event storyboards and content plans and serve as the communications liaison for contracted photographers and videographers at major events.

• Support sponsor recognition and promotional requirements through digital, social, website, email, and event content.

• Work with the Community Relations Coordinator to promote local business partnerships and fundraising opportunities.

• Help identify creative opportunities to connect NHA’s programs, animals, donors, sponsors, and community supporters through storytelling.

• Support development campaigns with graphics, email content, event ticketing pages, digital promotions, and other communications needs.

• Track and report on engagement related to fundraising communications and use results to improve future campaigns.

4. Merchandise & Additional Development Support

• Oversee purchasing, ordering, design, and inventory of NHA merchandise with guidance from the Director of Development and Executive Director.

• Manage the relationship with NHA’s merchandise partner, currently Big Frog Green Hills, including online store operations and design needs.

• Monitor merchandise inventory and work with Development and Pet Services to develop promotions for adopters, fosters, supporters, and the general public.

• Identify opportunities to use merchandise and related promotions to increase engagement and support fundraising goals.

• Provide additional communications and development support as needed for organizational campaigns, events, and priorities.

Cross-Department Collaboration

This position works across NHA and should develop strong working relationships with department leaders and staff.

The Specialist will:

• Meet with departments as needed to understand upcoming priorities and content needs.

• Help departments identify stories and opportunities that support their goals while maintaining consistent NHA messaging.

• Establish clear communication with departments to collect information, photos, videos, and other content.

• Help ensure communications accurately and appropriately represent NHA’s programs, animals, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners.

• Work collaboratively with Development, Communications, Events, Adoptions, Animal Care, Volunteer Services, Community Resources, and other departments.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured by the Specialist’s ability to:

• Consistently produce high-quality, engaging content.

• Keep the NHA website accurate, current, and useful.

• Connect communications and storytelling to fundraising and development goals.

• Take ownership of assigned projects and follow them through to completion.

• Build strong working relationships across departments.

• Proactively identify content and marketing opportunities rather than waiting for assignments.

• Meet deadlines and effectively manage competing priorities.

• Use data and engagement results to inform future communications.

• Represent NHA professionally and thoughtfully in all public-facing communications.

• Adapt to changing priorities while maintaining quality and follow-through.

Additional Requirements

• Follow NHA policies, procedures, animal handling, behavior management, and training protocols.
• Learn and safely handle animals of various species according to NHA standards.
• Ability to work on your feet for extended periods and perform physically demanding tasks, including bending, mopping, scrubbing, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varied and inclement weather.
• Maintain a calm, respectful, and professional approach in high-stress situations.
• Demonstrate strong communication, teamwork, accountability, and self-motivation.
• Reliable attendance and punctuality with flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and varied schedules.
• Maintain discretion, integrity, and a professional presence both in person and online.
• Ability to safely navigate and perform duties within the shelter environment.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
• NHA is a drug-free workplace.
• Support shelter operations and other organizational needs as directed by the Director of Operations or Executive Director.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• All positions involve regular and direct contact with shelter animals and, as applicable, wildlife.

Job Type: Full-time

Reports To: Director of Development

Hours: Day shift, flexible schedule; occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as needed

Salary: $50,000 – $55,000 (based on experience)