Job Title: Development and Communications Director 

Reports to: Executive Director

Objective: The development and communications director is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive fundraising and communications strategies, events, and initiatives that raise funds and increase community awareness of CAT’s mission and activities. This position manages and directs relationships, solicitations, and stewardship/cultivation efforts to secure contributed funding; oversees marketing, communications, and brand strategy; participates in organizational leadership and strategic planning, and performs other duties as assigned. The development and communications director also supervises a small team of staff, volunteers, and contractors.

Position Type and Hours: Exempt, salaried, full-time. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

Department Strategy, Vision, and Leadership (15% of time) 

• Participate in long-term planning of the organization by working with the organization’s leadership and full staff to develop a strategic plan every several years; develop an annual implementation plan with the management team.
• Develop and execute a development department plan that sustains and grows CAT’s annual fundraising revenue; work with the executive director to determine the organization’s long-term fundraising needs; create a development strategy with implementation plan goals that address these needs.  
• Develop and implement a communications department plan to broaden awareness of CAT locally and nationally and to strengthen CAT’s brand identity; work with the executive director to develop and execute an annual communications plan that aligns with organizational and communications-specific goals. 
• Develop, implement, and manage communications and development department annual budgets; forecast revenue and expenses based on past years’ expenditures, fundraising, earned income, and other costs/revenue from planned projects, campaigns, and environmental factors; review financials monthly and reconcile any issues. 
• Oversee department support team, including development and grants officer, data entry assistant, and communications assistant, as well as temporary or contract positions; interview and hire applicants for department support positions as needed; orient and train new employees; oversee the employee life cycle of direct reports, including training, performance management, workflow, and professional development; manage performance problems up to and including termination if necessary.
• Consistently promote and cultivate a unified, positive, and rewarding work culture for staff and volunteers by effectively modeling and adhering to the tenets of CAT’s Workplace Culture Agreement; provide feedback and coaching to direct reports to assist them in adhering to the WCA as well.
• Participate in required organizational trainings and meetings; seek out and participate in relevant continuing education opportunities; attend and complete required training and workshops in person or online as required by CAT; regularly seek out and read research and/or attend webinars related to the latest communications and fundraising best practices.

Development Operations (40% of time) 

• Oversee fundraising messages and tactics by developing fundraising materials and communication such as brochures and one-sheets, website content, newsletter articles, etc; stay updated on fundraising best practices and trends; utilize KPIs to strategize the measure of success of CAT’s fundraising efforts. 
• Manage major giving programs, including Planned Giving/Roger H James Society, Loving Legacy program, and corporate partnerships; plan, strategize, and execute major/planned gift solicitations by conducting or reviewing prospect research; solicit major/planned contributions (both through personal asks and via program marketing); plan, design, and deliver program-specific marketing materials; regularly track and report on program progress to goals. 
• Develop and implement annual giving programs, including direct mail campaigns, to solicit individual donations; write and direct design for annual direct mail pieces; prepare and execute related digital assets (such as donation pages, social media posts, and email messages); ensure quality and timely printing and mailing to appropriate donors and donor prospects. 
• Oversee development and grants officer in management giving programs; work with development and grants officer to ensure smooth operation of fundraising activities and programs, including monthly giving/Meow Team, shelter sponsorships, employee giving, vehicle donation program, online giving, memorial/honor gifts, etc. 
• Build and maintain relationships (stewardship and cultivation) with individual donors and other key constituents (grantmakers, corporate sponsors, etc.); make phone calls and attend in-person meetings; regularly correspond with donors, grantmakers, and other supporters via email/mail; respond to donor questions and concerns; ensure timely donation receipting and acknowledgment; track correspondence in donor database.
• Supervise CAT’s grant program by managing the development and grants officer to ensure its quality and effectiveness, including pursuing appropriate funding opportunities, fulfilling grant requirements, and stewardship of funders. 
• Oversee and direct the development and grants officer in the administration of third-party donation programs and activities, including cause marketing and community-led fundraising events; direct the development and grants officer in responding to and assisting with approved third-party fundraising efforts, such as events and cause-marketing projects. 
• Work with the development staff to ensure proper data entry as well as maintenance of donor and prospect records, gift management systems, financial data, and reports; develop and maintain data entry guidelines and work with development staff to ensure that data is entered and managed properly within the donor database and related systems, and in compliance with organizational and legal records retention and privacy policies; oversight of monthly and annual financial reconciliation.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal nonprofit fundraising laws, rules, and regulations; develop and update compliance documentation; conduct research from appropriate sources and draft policies to ensure CAT is in compliance; work with the development and grants officer to ensure that CAT completes nonprofit organization renewal forms with Oregon and any other states as required by law.

Communications Operations (35% of time) 

• Conduct overall organizational communications and messaging tactics by creating or overseeing the development and implementation of organizational messaging materials; stay updated on and implement communications best practices and trends; regularly track and report on department progress goals.
• Manage CAT’s marketing and advertising messaging and tactics to ensure effectiveness and alignment with CAT’s brand and goals (excluding Thrift Store advertising); develop and oversee implementation of tactics to increase awareness of CAT’s programs and services; develop, schedule, and measure all CAT shelter advertisements, including purchasing and content creation; utilize KPIs to strategize and measure the success of CAT’s marketing and advertising efforts.
• Oversee the continued development and use of the CAT brand; regularly review and update CAT’s brand guidelines, including logo use, style and copy guides, photography assets, etc.
• Serve as managing editor for CAT’s publications by generating story ideas, planning, assigning, creating, and editing content; oversee production schedules and editorial calendars; supervise work by communications assistant and freelance writers/designers; manage layout and distribution (print and digital). 
• Develop a strategy for CAT’s primary social media channels and oversee communications assistant in fulfilling that strategy; manage communications assistant in planning, implementing, executing, and monitoring CAT’s social media accounts (except Thrift Store accounts) to build and engage audiences with CAT’s brand, programs, and services.
• Manage media and public relations for the organization, including serving as a spokesperson for media and other appearances; actively cultivate and manage press relationships to ensure positive coverage of CAT’s programs, special events, public announcements, and other projects; seek and pursue opportunities for media coverage and community presence; represent CAT in press coverage (on-air, interviews, etc.); oversee the communications assistant in responding to press inquiries and/or scheduling press interviews for other CAT staff as needed. 
• Oversee all aspects of the organization’s website(s); direct web design and development and manage site hosting and domains; perform routine site and content maintenance and updates and/or oversee the communications assistant and contractors in performing such work; ensure sites align with CAT’s goals and objectives.

Event Planning (15% of time) 

• Plan, organize, execute, and attend fundraising and other donor engagement events that effectively steward and cultivate donors and/or raise funds in support of CAT’s mission; strategize to set goals; create event timelines/plans; ensure appropriate vendor/partner/staffing support; work with staff and contractors to plan and produce engaging and successful events and activities that effectively support fundraising and stewardship efforts; measure and share results; in collaboration with the volunteer department, oversee an effective system for determining and organizing CAT’s participation in community outreach events, including a method for determining participation, evaluating event needs (materials, fees, volunteers, etc.), and program management. 
• Evaluate and assist with community outreach events related to increasing awareness of CAT in the community

Other

• Participate in the organization's major events, including Kitten Palooza and the annual volunteer appreciation event. 
• Serve on the on-call manager rotation (phone/text; does not require going onsite for calls).

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Knowledge 

• Supervision best practices
• Fundraising and public relations
• Social media administration for an organization
• Proper use of punctuation and grammar
• Basic HTML and photo editing/graphic design
• Database administration
• Computer programs, including Microsoft Office (Excel is a must), Google Suite, Shelter Buddy, DonorPerfect, Donorbox, etc. 

Skills

• Provide friendly, professional, respectful customer service
• Report and record financial accounts
• Manage details 
• Communicate facts, ideas, and concepts clearly in writing and verbally 
• Prioritize tasks to meet deadlines 
• Analyze and solve problems effectively 
• Remain organized 
• Work independently with little direction or supervision
• Collaborate with others on projects
• Input data precisely
• Operate standard office equipment, including computers, copy machines, multi-line telephone systems

Abilities 

• Foster teamwork and lead a positive workplace culture
• Manage and lead change
• Work cooperatively within a team environment 
• Diffuse conflict in-person and online
• Facilitate difficult conversations
• Anticipate and prepare for different situation outcomes
• Create action plans
• Speak and present publicly
• Provide corrective feedback and coaching
• Delegate tasks effectively
• Connect with new people and build relationships
• Creatively solve challenging problems
• Maintain donor confidentiality 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Necessary

• High school diploma or equivalent 
• 4+ years of professional fundraising experience 
• 2+ years of management experience

Preferred 

• Associates degree or higher
• CFRE or other fundraising certificate
• Previous experience managing social media/marketing communications
• Previous experience in nonprofit development
• Previous experience working within a nonprofit or animal welfare organization
• Proven track record in fundraising, including leadership 

Mental Effort: This position consists of duties requiring the job holder to create and implement organizational strategies, frequently assess risk, analyze options, make decisions related to competing strategic priorities and demands, develop contingencies, and perform independently with limited supervision. 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 

Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Move and/or transport items up to 20 pounds (assisted or unassisted)
• Position oneself at various levels to successfully carry out the essential functions of the job
• Provide direct animal care including feeding, watering, and cleaning litter boxes
• Disinfect and sanitize using agents such as bleach and/or Rescue®
• Communicate effectively with other staff, volunteers, clients, and members of the public
• Navigate the shelter and building
• Read and keep accurate records/files
• Work on a computer and use various software programs
• Operate office equipment such as a copy and fax machine, printer, scanner, and multi-line telephone 
• Remain in a stationary position for long periods of time 

Work Environment

Work in this position is performed within an office setting at an animal shelter. Typically the work environment is well-protected and free from hazards or obstacles. Job conditions are usually comfortable, with only minimal issues of confinement, temperature change, noise, smell, interactions of a disagreeable nature, exposure to contagious zoonotic disease, emotional taxation due to the nature of animal welfare, etc. Job conditions are occasionally uncomfortable relative to noise, temperature, smell, and/or dirty conditions. With that said, the worker may be occasionally exposed to the following: 

• Distressed animals that put the worker at risk for injuries such as bites and scratches
• Animal urine, animal feces, animal vomit, animal blood, animal fur
• Medications used to treat animals
• Disinfecting agents such as bleach and Rescue®

Pay Range: $93,000-$103,000 Annually

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

To Apply: Click the Apply button below. Please upload your resume to the application portal--a resume is required for consideration. If you are having any problems uploading your resume to the application portal, please email your resume to jobs@catadoptionteam.org, and we can send you a list of the screener questions to answer.  

PLEASE NOTE: There are required screener questions for this position that will replace a Cover Letter requirement.