Retail Marketing Coordinator

APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at‑risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non‑traditional, community‑based animal rescue work. The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community‑based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service. APA! Thrift began in May 2017 with its 1st thrift store location on Burnet Rd. A year later, APA! Thrift opened its 2nd location on Oltorf and in 2020 we opened our 3rd location off of 51st St. Round Rock, our 4th location, opened in February, 2024 and Pflugerville, our 5th location, opened in April, 2024. Our stores are boutique‑style, selling high quality new and gently used items for low prices. All net proceeds directly support the innovative lifesaving programs of Austin Pets Alive!, a 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization. POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The Retail Marketing Specialist will lead the day‑to‑day marketing and promotional efforts for our thrift retail operations. This role focuses on driving store foot traffic, boosting sales, supporting new location openings, and elevating public awareness of how our thrift stores directly power the mission of APA!. Serving as the professional marketing voice for thrift, this team member will combine digital storytelling, local PR, event coordination, and strategic promotion to position our thrift stores as a dynamic, modern retail program. BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The Retail Marketing Specialist plays a key role in advancing the goals of APA!’s Retail Programs, with a focus on Thrift. This position contributes directly to APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and high‑impact model for marketing. The Retail Marketing Specialist is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high‑quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight. This is a hands‑on, mission‑driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork. APA! is a volunteer‑powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Retail Marketing Specialist collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day‑to‑day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect. This position may involve weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need. Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day‑to‑day workflow. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 1. Traffic & Sales Generation Design and execute local promotional campaigns, store sales initiatives, and digital advertising strategies to drive store foot traffic and increase retail revenue. Coordinate marketing rollout plans for new location openings, ensuring strong local awareness and community engagement. Analyze traffic patterns using Dor Analyze sales and revenue using Square 2. Social Media & Brand Storytelling Manage dedicated Thrift social media accounts, creating engaging short‑form video, reels, and stories that represent the daily energy of the stores. Serve as a present, comfortable visual host in stories to showcase merchandise, store impact, and special offers. Mission Connection & Impact: Articulate the "Face of Thrift" by consistently educating shoppers on how their store purchases and on‑site donations directly fund APA!'s life‑saving animal programs, rescue efforts, and shelter operations. In‑Store Education: Develop clear in‑store narrative touchpoints, signage concepts, and digital campaigns that bridge the gap between retail thrift shopping and APA!'s mission, turning casual thrifters into dedicated mission supporters.Help define the "Face of Thrift" by educating the public on how store purchases directly fund APA!'s overarching mission. 3. Strategic Collaboration & PR Partner with APA!’s primary social media team to coordinate quarterly collaborative posts and maintain a purposeful thrift presence across main channels. Attend monthly in‑person Advancement team meetings Draft compelling copy, press releases, and media pitches; serve as an articulate spokesperson for media inquiries and community outreach. 4. Events & Campaigns Plan and manage recurring retail events, including Second Chance Saturdays, seasonal sales, and special promotional pop‑ups. Provide on‑site coverage for key events, promotional days, and occasional weekends. 5. Reputation & Internal Intake Management Monitor and respond to customer reviews across online business listings and social platforms. Manage and streamline the internal marketing request process, guiding store managers and staff to submit official request forms for store‑level needs. Attend regular thrift manager meetings to maintain alignment on promotional calendars while setting clear, professional standards for marketing workflow. 6. Revenue & Growth Objectives Sales Growth: Achieve measurable annual sales revenue targets by executing targeted local marketing initiatives and promotional campaigns designed to increase foot traffic across store locations. On‑Site Donation Lift: Drive measurable increases in direct financial and item donations on‑site by implementing strategic donation point‑of‑sale messaging, promotional drives, and donor engagement tactics during checkout and events. Actively contribute to a volunteer‑powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—siloed Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands‑on guidance, and offering in‑the‑moment support Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager OTHER FUNCTIONS: Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed Able to work in a high‑volume, fast‑paced, high‑stress environment Comfortable working autonomously when given goals and deadlines QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & EXPECTATIONS: Experience: 0-3 years of professional experience in retail marketing, social media management, communications, or public relations. Communication Skills: Excellent copywriting, short‑form writing, and public speaking abilities. On‑Camera Presence: Enthusiastic and comfortable appearing on social video, stories, and media interviews. Digital Marketing: Familiarity running targeted digital ads, managing social channels, and handling online reputation/review platforms. Organization & Boundaries: Ability to juggle competing requests from multiple store locations using structured intake processes. Flexibility: This is a full‑time, on‑site role with flexibility to travel to 8 different store locations in the greater Austin Metro area and work special events and Saturdays/Sundays as needed. Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles Comfortable working cross‑functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials Self‑starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather Must be able to comfortably interact with cats/dogs of various health levels, including cats who may carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, intestinal parasites, etc. Able to be on your feet for multiple hours of the day Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away with the ability to hear and discern dog vocalizations both soft and loud Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer Must be able to focus in a loud and busy environment despite distractions Must be able to walk around shelter as needed - uneven ground, keeping a safe distance from dogs and handlers Will sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, stoop, bend, stretch, squat, kneel, grasp, grip, put fingers together firmly and reach above and below shoulder level, lift and/or carry up to 30 pounds and push and pull up to 50 pounds for situations of moving supplies and setting up for events; repetitively use hands to operate computers; flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist. If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship to the organization. WORK ENVIRONMENT Animal shelter office environment, with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals Uses own transportation to travel and transport Work is normally performed inside; some outside work is required Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, disinfectants, and high levels of noise Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people Occasional after‑hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs TIME COMMITMENT This is a full‑time, exempt position with an average of 40 hours per week. Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed WORKING RELATIONSHIPS This position reports directly to the Director of Retail Operations, or another individual designated by APA!. LOCATION(S) APA! Main - Town Lake Animal Center 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703 APA! Cat Adoption Center and Gift Shop 3108 Windsor Road Austin, TX 78703 APA! Neonatal Nursery at 3102 Windsor Rd, Suite D Austin, TX 78703 Tarrytown Dog Adoption Center, Play Yard & Gift Shop 3118 Windsor Road Austin, TX 78703 Tarrytown Corporate Office, 2414 Exposition Blvd, Suite B‑100, Austin, TX 78703 Store #2 - Oltorf Thrift 1409 West Oltorf Street Austin, TX 78704 Store #3 - 51st Thrift 5102 Clarkson Ave Austin, TX 78751 Store #4 - Round Rock Thrift 913 N IH‑35, Round Rock, TX, 78664 Store #7 (Opening November 2026) - San Marcos: 302 University Dr B, San Marcos, TX 78666 Store #8 (Opening February 2027) - TLAC: 1156 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703 May travel to other locations as needed BENEFITS Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees, including subsidized employer‑sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short‑term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plans, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full‑time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life‑saving work. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non‑conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation. APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at View email address on click.appcast.io at least one week in advance of your interview. When Austin Pets Alive! started rescuing animals in 2008, the City of Austin was focusing their resources on spay and neuter programs – causing the live outcome rate at our city shelter to hold steady at around 50% for nearly ten years. Austin Pets Alive! set out on a mission to change that. Austin Pets Alive! is not your average animal shelter. We maintain comprehensive, innovative programs designed to save the animals most at risk for euthanasia. #J-18808-Ljbffr