Marketing & Communications Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $55,800 to $64,000 per year

Are you a storyteller and strategist who wants your marketing skills to save lives?

Who We're Looking For

Were looking for a communicator who sees a story everywhere - in a senior dog finally going home, the veterinary outreach team helping a family stay together, a volunteer who shows up every Tuesday-and knows how to turn that story into action: a donation, an adoption, a share, a lifelong supporter.

Yourea planner whodoesntpanic when the plan changes. You can build a quarterly campaign calendar and still drop everything (gracefully) when an emergency intakemedia releaseneeds to go public bynoon.Yourecurious about what the data says, calm under pressure, and happiest whenyourebuilding something rather than justmaintainingwhat already exists.

Andyourejust as comfortable in front ofpeople asbehind a keyboard. Whetherits an interview, a presentation to a service club, a donor at an event, or a family who just adopted their new best friend, you speak warmly, clearly, and credibly on behalf of the mission.

Purpose of Position

The Marketing & Communications Manager leads HSCOs marketing and communications work so thatCentral Oregonunderstands the need, feels connected to the animals and people we serve, and is inspired toact.You'lltranslate organization priorities into communications plans, find our most compelling stories, and deliver clear, consistent, mission-driven messagingacross digital, print, media, fundraising, and community channels.

Success in this role strengthens HSCO's visibility, deepens audience engagement, supports donor retention and acquisition, and builds trust across Central Oregon.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Communications StrategyandPlanning

• Develop and implement integrated communications plans that support fundraising campaigns, events, adoptions, programs, advocacy, community engagement, and organizational priorities.

• Partner with the Director of Philanthropy & Communications to align messaging with fundraising strategy, donor journeys, revenue goals, and stewardship needs.

• Build simple systems forcontentintake, prioritization, approvals, and reporting so the team moves quickly without chaos.

• Maintain message clarity, brand consistency, and audience focus across all external communications.

Content DevelopmentandStorytelling

• Lead the development of content for email, website, social media, print, signage, media, presentations, and campaigns.

• Identify, gather, and elevate impact stories that highlight animal care, adoptions, veterinary outreach, foster, volunteerism, emergency response, and the human-animal bond.

• Write and edit clear, compelling copy that motivates action while honoring the dignity of animals, clients, donors, volunteers, and staff.

• Maintaina content calendar balancing planned campaigns withtimelyshelter needs, reflecting HSCOs socially conscious sheltering approach.

Digital and Marketing Oversight

• Own HSCOs website content strategy, email marketing, and social media strategy -hands-on atfirst, then in partnership with the Digital Media Specialist you hire.

• Use analytics, testing, segmentation, and audience insight to improve engagement and conversion.

• In partnership with Director of Philanthropy & Communications and Development Coordinator, strengthen digital fundraising through effective landing pages, email journeys, donation forms, and campaign messaging.

Team Leadership

• Help scope, hire, and onboard a Digital Media Specialist.

• Clarify roles, priorities, deadlines, and ownership of communications deliverables.

• Foster a collaborative, responsive,solutions -oriented team environment.

• Turn competing cross-department requests into clear priorities and share information proactively.

• Model good judgment, calm problem-solving, curiosity, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Fundraising and Campaign Support

• Collaborate with the Philanthropy teammembersto plan and execute donor communications, digitalfundraising, direct mail support, event promotion, sponsorship recognition, and stewardship messaging.

• Develop campaign messaging that connects urgent needs with donor impact andclearnextsteps.

• Create reports, stories, and updates that show donors the difference their gifts make.

• Coordinate communications for major events, including timelines, collateral, email, web, social, signage, scripts, and post-event follow-up.

Media, Public Speaking, andCommunity Relations

• Serve as a spokesperson for HSCO (one ofa team): give on-camera and radio interviews, and speak confidently and compassionately with reporters, donors, partners, and community members.

• Represent HSCO in person at community events, presentations, service clubs, shelter tours, and tabling opportunities, and prepare other staff to do the same with talking points and coaching.

• Manage local media relationships; draft press releases, pitches, talking points, public statements, and crisis communications as needed.

• Coordinate with leadership so public messaging isaccurate,timely, compassionate, and aligned.

The Qualities That Make Someone Great in This Role

• You translate goals into messages, campaigns, and content plans and then actually ship them.

• You juggle multiple channels and deadlines with strong attention to detail and follow-through.

• You build trust across departments with people whose priorities and work styles differ from yours.

• You give clear expectations and honest, kind feedback, and you enjoy helping others grow.

• You let performance data change your mind aboutwhatsworking.

• Youcanwork independentlybutstill keep the team in the loop.You reach out early whensomethingsstuck, rather than going quiet.

Required Skills and Abilities

You'llbring:

• Four to six years of professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, content strategy, or related work.

• Strong writing, editing, and project management skills across email, web, social media, print, and media relations.

• Strong verbal communication and public speaking skills:yourecomfortable being interviewed,presenting togroups, andrepresentingan organization in public settings.

• Workingproficiencywith digital marketing tools: email platforms, website content management systems, social media platforms, analytics, and basic design/content tools.

• A bachelors degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.

• A valid drivers license and ability to travel locally as needed.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, responsiveness, and follow-through.

Bonus points:

• Youvewrittenfundraising copy that worked and can share the data to illustrate.

• Yourehandy with a camera (photography, video, or short-form editing) and can produce strong content without a production team.

• Youvedone live oron-camerainterviews, orhandled communications during a sensitive or fast-moving situation.

• You know the Central Oregon media and community landscape.

• Familiarity with donor CRMs,GA4, A/B testing, or paid social.

This Role ProbablyIsntfor You If

• You want a quiet, predictable desk job. Our office comes with fur, barking, and the occasional loose cat.

• Youdprefer to stay behind the keyboard exclusively. Interacting with community members, colleagues, and animals is a core part of this role, not an occasional extra.

• Raising support on behalf of a mission makes you deeply uncomfortable. Fundraising communication is at the heart of this job.

• When priorities shift suddenly, you tend to withdraw rather than speak up and re-sort the list.

Compensation, Benefits & Work-Life Balance We believe the people caring for animals deserve exceptional care, too.

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Simple IRA retirement plan with a 3% employer match
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Significantly discounted veterinary care for employee pets
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities
• Relocation assistance may be available for exceptional candidates