Community Relations & Communications Manager (8597)

Schedule: Mon-Fri 40 hours per week

Benefits:

• 29 days PTO
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Affordable Health Insurance
• Retirement Benefits with Employer Match

This Position Is Responsible For:

• Be the strategic voice and face of TSA Austin — serve as chief spokesperson and media liaison across Travis and Williamson Counties, including leading our growth into Williamson County's, building the civic and media relationships that turn visibility into philanthropic opportunity.

• Turn communications into revenue — translate brand strategy into measurable donor engagement and fundraising growth, using storytelling, campaigns, and community presence to drive giving, and awareness.

• Lead direct mail strategy — work with our external vendor and plan and produce locally-written, story-driven mail campaigns, tying each drop to our seasonal giving calendar and donor segments across both counties.

• Build community partnerships that convert — cultivate and formalize new alliances with nonprofits, schools, churches, and civic organizations, while identifying volunteers, sponsors, and matching-gift partners that grow our pipeline.

• Champion Mission in Motion — help lead our quarterly community outreach and other initiatives, creating authentic touchpoints that build trust and long-term donor relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

Job Summary:

Plans, directs, monitors, and evaluates all internal and external media and public relations functions for the Area Command to ensure the that The Salvation Army maintains a positive and professional image in the community; serves as Public Information Officer for all disaster services of the Area Command; serves as liaison to all media ensuring the desired message is communicated; takes photographs and writes articles covering Salvation Army events.

Essential Functions:

This job description should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this position. The incumbent may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this job description.

Supervisory Responsibilities (20%)

• Plans, directs, and supervises the work of assigned staff; trains and instructs employees in the proper methods and procedures; monitors work in progress and upon completion, ensures accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established policies and procedures; conducts performance evaluations and provides hiring/firing recommendations to the Director of Development.
• Supervises all aspects of Area Command Development Department in the absence of the Director of Development.

Public Relations Responsibilities (50%)

• Represents The Salvation Army to the press and public by acting as chief corporate spokesperson in the absence of or as requested by the Area Commander; fields and directs responses to all media-related inquiries.
• Maintains database of public relations contacts.
• Develops ideas and opportunities for feature articles, interviews, presentations, and other public relations activities that promote awareness of the company and its products or services.
• Attends special events for the purpose of recording the event in photograph and writing; conducts research and develops a file of stories and testimonials to be made available for public speeches and presentations.
• Submits news and press releases of special Salvation Army events, meetings and projects to local media, as well as Salvation Army internal media outlets.
• Assists with the development of promotional or fundraising tools such as public service announcements, videos, brochures, posters, displays, etc.
• Develops local public relations guidelines and procedures for approval by the Director of Development; assists and coaches company staff with public speaking engagement, presentations, and preparation of articles for publication; works in cooperation with the Director of Development in developing and implementing a training of officers and staff for media interviews.
• Serves as Public Information Officer (PIO) for all disaster services for the Area Command; serves as representative to the local American Red Cross, City and County Disaster Planning and VOAD organizations.
• Develops printed materials such as brochures, flyers, posters and other related matters; coordinates special mass mailings to the general public; prospects new donors; plans and coordinates media advertisements including local television, radio, newspaper coverage, outdoor posters and other related items; ensures that the image projected is in compliance with The Salvation Army standards and mission; evaluates appropriateness and effectiveness of public relations efforts.
• Writes and submits news and press releases to radio, television and print media to promote Salvation Army events, meetings, programs, activities and projects; designs, develops, writes and prepares a regular newsletter for supporters.
• Organizes, develops and sees that an annual report is prepared to keep donors, media and those requesting information of The Salvation Army up-to-date on the activities of The Salvation Army in the local area.
• Assists in the design and usage of Salvation Army web site and related social media and electronic communication mediums.

Community Relations and Liaison Responsibilities (30%)

• Develops contacts and relationships with media representatives to create opportunities for keeping The Salvation Army and its programs or services in front of public and the not-for-profit community; serves as liaison to all media outlets to ensure that the desired message is communicated in a positive and professional manner.
• Seeks opportunities for promotion of Salvation Army programs; creates general awareness of The Salvation Army in the community.
• Maintains communication with the DHQ PR division of the Development Department.
• Prepares and conducts presentations for community and public relations groups.
• Serves as Salvation Army spokesperson to groups at civic clubs, corporations, small businesses, colleges and universities, schools, other non-profits, and churches to encourage/solicit their support or to ensure redundancy of services is not occurring throughout the region.
• Personally, establishes and maintains strong relationships with volunteers and leaders of key organizations and manage them to meet the short and long term goals of developing target market opportunities, creating organizational alliances and requesting financial support from constituents.
• Identifies, cultivates, recruits, motivates and coaches all level volunteers to assist in obtaining organizational participation through sponsorships, matching gifts and other giving from organizations.

Strategic Planning and Evaluation Responsibilities (20%)

• Plans and implements organization’s media relations strategies, policies, and procedures; evaluates the effectiveness of all strategies and makes recommendations for change as needed.
• Quantifies results of media placement for Area Command for analysis, trends and management reports.
• Develops crisis response in cooperation with the Area Commander and responds to negative publicity

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to meet attendance requirements.
• Ability to read, write and communicate in the English language effectively.
• Ability to work under the pressure of deadlines and time constraints.
• Ability to speak before large groups in person, by radio and television.
• Ability and willingness to conduct all duties in accordance with the ministry of the organization and its Christian principles; conducts all communications and job duties with the highest level of professionalism.
• Duties are usually performed seated. Sitting may be relieved by brief or occasional periods of standing or walking.
• Limited amount of physical effort required associated with walking, standing, lifting and carrying light objects (less than 25 lbs.)

Working Conditions:

• Work may be performed in an office environment where there are little or no physical discomforts associated with changes in weather or discomforts associated with noise, dust, dirt, and the like but not limited to the office environment.