Community Outreach Coordinator

Job Title: Community Outreach Coordinator

Department: Community Resources

Reports To: Manager of Community Resources

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Compensation: $24-$26

Location: Onsite, Arlington, VA

POSITION SUMMARY

The Community Outreach Coordinator advances AWLA's community outreach and programming by building trusted relationships with Arlington residents, nonprofits, businesses, housing partners, and other organizations whose work aligns with AWLA's mission. The position connects people and pets with resources that help keep families together, coordinates community-based programs and events, and develops systems that make AWLA's services accessible throughout Arlington. This role serves as a key point of coordination for outreach opportunities and supports meaningful engagement of volunteers, interns, and fellows. This role does not supervise employees.


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Community Partnerships & Resource Access
• Build trusted relationships with people and pets throughout Arlington, with particular focus on communities experiencing barriers to accessing pet care, supplies, and services.
• Collaborate with established housing and food security partners, safety net nonprofits, animal welfare organizations, businesses, and other community stakeholders to strengthen referral pathways, share resources, and increase awareness of AWLA programs and services.
• Support Pet Pantry and other community resource programs, including inventory coordination, data collection, resource distribution, and connections to additional AWLA or partner services.

Vaccine Clinics & Community Events
• Coordinate and support community outreach programming, including community events, resource distribution, tabling opportunities, mobile outreach, and other activities designed to connect residents with AWLA and partner resources.
• Assist with the coordination of logistics for AWLA's vaccine clinics including clinic scheduling support, site and partner engagement, volunteer needs, supplies and materials, and day-of implementation.
• Work with relevant veterinary and program leads to support accessible, community-centered clinic services; coordinate outreach and participant communications; and track clinic participation, services provided, referrals, and other program outcomes to inform future planning and impact reporting.
• Assist with the internal coordination of off-site community event opportunities, including identifying the appropriate type of AWLA participation, primary point of contact, materials, logistics, and follow-up.
• Coordinate community support events and outreach activities, including securing locations, communications, translation or language-access needs, materials, and promotion in collaboration with relevant internal teams.
• Oversee and coordinate event and outreach volunteers, including identifying shift scheduling needs, communicating assignments and expectations, preparing materials and resources, and supporting volunteers in representing AWLA effectively in the community.
• Provide day-to-day program guidance and project coordination for supportive interns, fellows, or similar temporary program participants when assigned, in partnership with the supervisor and relevant internal teams.

Program Coordination, Planning & Impact
• Maintain inventories of outreach and resource supplies including purchasing, track program expenses against budget, and record participation, activities, and outcomes.
• Develop a quarterly work plan in coordination with the Community Outreach Manager that identifies priorities, key activities, partnerships, events, and intended outcomes; provide regular activity and impact reporting to the supervisor to support evaluation and organizational planning.
• Ensure adequate and appropriate data collection to support impact reporting, collaborate across departments to support outreach event promotion, grant reporting, and information collection for distribution at events.
• Communicate seasonal and ongoing program needs to the Development team to inform in-kind and giving campaigns

External Representation & Communications
• Attend community meetings and represent AWLA at outreach events and tabling opportunities as assigned by the supervisor.
• Coordinate with relevant AWLA subject-matter leads to ensure public-facing outreach materials, presentations, resource guides, and program information are reviewed for accuracy and alignment prior to distribution.

Other Duties
• Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to AWLA policies, procedures, safety protocols, and code of conduct.
• Work collaboratively across AWLA teams to support coordinated, community-centered service delivery.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three (3) or more years of professional experience, preferably in community outreach, program coordination, human services, nonprofit services, or a similar role.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate events and manage competing priorities independently.
• Organized self-starter with demonstrated ability to plan and execute initiatives, set priorities, develop routines, and manage a varied workload.
• Exceptional interpersonal, customer service, listening, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams and with volunteers and community partners.
• Ability to support grant-funded programs, including tracking activities, outcomes, and reporting requirements.
• Ability to develop clear community-facing communications and coordinate outreach materials in collaboration with relevant internal teams.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, Arlington County government agencies, local nonprofits, community resources, and animal welfare services.
• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, animal care and behavior for dogs, cats, and small companion animals.
• Ability to work comfortably with and around animals according to AWLA procedures and protocols.
• Valid driver's license and driving record acceptable under AWLA's insurance requirements.
• Flexible schedule with the ability to work evenings, weekends, and non-standard hours as needed.
• Commitment to AWLA's mission and to keeping pets and people together; ability to exercise discretion with confidential information.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
• Fluency in English required.
• Spoken fluency in Spanish required as this position provides direct services to Spanish speaking Arlington residents
• Working written proficiency in Spanish required, sufficient to translate and adapt community-facing materials such as event flyers, resource handouts, and short program communications from English.


TYPICAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

This position combines office-based work with regular activity in the shelter and at off-site community locations. The role requires the ability to operate standard office equipment, move throughout AWLA facilities and community event spaces, transport and set up outreach materials and supplies, moving and lifting supplies up to 50 lbs, and work with frequent interruptions and changing priorities. The employee must be comfortable working around dogs, cats, small companion animals, and other animals encountered in the shelter or during community programming. The position also requires sound judgment, empathy, adaptability, and the ability to remain professional and composed while working with community members who may be navigating stressful circumstances.


EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, volunteers, and program participants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.