Marketing & Communications Specialist (Salary/Exempt)

The Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL), located in Phoenix, is Arizona’s oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter, with a proud legacy spanning over 50 years. Founded in 1971 by television icon Amanda Blake, best known as “Miss Kitty” on the television program Gunsmoke, and a group of passionate animal advocates, AAWL has grown from a small volunteer-driven foster network into a comprehensive animal welfare organization and community partner.

AAWL is a limited intake shelter, which means that the shelter only takes in as many pets as it has space and resources to care for. Our facility houses approximately 140 cats and 190 dogs at any given time, supported by a network of roughly 90 foster families who provide temporary homes for animals needing extra care. Instead of accepting every animal who arrives at the door, we manage our intake carefully, so each pet gets the time, attention, medical care, and support they need to find a home.

Today, we care for more than 4,000 dogs and cats each year, serving our local community and partnering with shelters in Arizona’s rural areas where distance from veterinary services and other resources can create barriers to pet care. We’ve also evolved from a traditional animal shelter model into a community-centered organization that focuses on supporting both pets and the people who love them.

Position Overview
Do you want to make an impact on the lives of cats and dogs?

Do you enjoy when every day is new adventure or challenge?

Are you passionate about animals and want to find creative ways to share their stories?

The Arizona Animal Welfare League – Arizona’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter -- is hiring for a Bilingual Marketing & Communications Specialist to join our team! The Marketing & Communications Specialist will be an integral part of our marketing and development team, possessing strong storytelling and writing skills. We are looking for someone who is innovative and passionate about animals to develop new and engaging ideas to help promote the AAWL brand.

Key attributes for this position include being a strong communicator and writer, handling multiple projects and being flexible, sticking to deadlines and connecting with pets and their people.

The Marketing & Communications Specialist, who reports directly to the Sr. Manager of Marketing and Communications, may supervise a department intern or volunteers working on communications or marketing projects. This is a full-time, exempt position in Phoenix.

Responsibilities

Content Creation & Storytelling

Work with Sr. Manager of Marketing and Communications to develop compelling content to raise external and internal audience engagement.

Draft all written online content, including social media posts, email newsletters, and website content.

Build and execute a social media strategy through competitive research, platform determination, benchmarking, messaging, and audience identification and stay current with social media trends and best practices.

Proofread and review content of other team members and own work to ensure clarity and accuracy of final copy.

Ensure all content is aligned with brand voice and tone.

Moderate all user-generated content in line with the moderation policy for each community, including responding to all of our business review platforms such as Google and Yelp;

Collaborate with the Development Team to identify and share compelling stories that demonstrate the impact of donor contributions and support donor cultivation efforts.

Produce original video and photography content to promote AAWL and animals up for adoption to help find them forever homes.

Communications & Media Relations Support

Support team members with on-camera media opportunities by developing brand-aligned talking points, identifying adoptable pets and their stories, and providing onsite assistance during filming.

Conduct media interviews in English and Spanish, serving as a trusted spokesperson and effectively communicating the organization's mission, programs, and impact to diverse audiences.

Marketing & Project Support

Manage multiple projects with tight deadlines while maintaining quality and consistency.

Regularly update external signage and lobby displays.

Collaborate with other departments (adoptions, volunteers, operations and medical) to manage reputation, amplify engagement with key stakeholders and coordinate actions to promote events/activities.

Review and edit Spanish messaging in external documents and materials, and provide translation assistance on small or last-minute projects.

Maintain brand consistency across organizational assets by identifying outdated or off-brand materials and implementing updated, brand-compliant collateral.

Work closely with the manager to develop, execute, and optimize social media advertising strategy.

Continuously improve marketing and social media strategy by capturing and analyzing the appropriate social data/metrics, insights and best practices, and then acting on the information.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field

2-3 years of experience of marketing experience in an agency, corporation, or non-profit setting.

Must be comfortable handling and engaging with cats and dogs while capturing video and photography content.

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to do outreach and interview members of the public to create content in English and Spanish.

Must be comfortable and effective conducting media interviews in both English and Spanish.

Strong comprehension of professional photography and video equipment (DSLR) is preferred.

Working knowledge in Canva and preferably, Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere, Photoshop, Indesign).

Ability to execute on various projects with tight deadlines.

A strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Strong visual and listening communication skills.

Must be proactive and self-motivated and need minimal oversight to complete tasks.

Must be social media savvy. Familiarity with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.

Applicant must have strong project management and organizational skills.

· Driving & Outreach Requirements:
This position supports public relations efforts, community partnerships, and events, which may require travel. Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a driving record that meets organizational and insurance carrier standards.

· Bilingual Content & Engagement Assessment:

Given the importance of culturally responsive communication, candidates may be asked to complete a written and verbal Spanish assessment during the hiring process. This evaluation is designed to assess the ability to create and deliver messaging that effectively reaches Spanish-speaking audiences.

To Apply for This Position

Please submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references (including their email, phone, and relationship), along with (2) writing sample (blog post, newsletter, or other project), (1) sample social media posts, and (1-2) examples of your photography and videography skills to: [email protected]. Reference “Marketing & Communications Specialist” in your email. No phone calls or walk-ins.

Employment Details

The pay range is $52,600 – 65,800 per year

Generous PTO, sick leave, and 12 paid holidays annually.

100% employer-paid medical and life insurance; dental, vision, and supplemental options available.

Employer-supported professional development.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP). - that includes counseling visits, in-person/virtual capability, personal coaching sessions, and wellness app