Communications & Marketing Manager

Indyhumane; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

IndyHumane is seeking a Communications & Marketing Manager to lead the organization’s communications, branding, and digital content efforts in Indianapolis. You will craft and execute an integrated strategy to raise awareness, engage the community, and support fundraising initiatives.

The role blends strategic thinking with hands-on content creation, social media management, media relations, and collaboration across departments to tell IndyHumane's stories and advance its mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital marketing, or a related field required
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications or marketing strategies required
• Demonstrated experience creating digital content and managing organizational social media platforms required
• Experience with email marketing, website content management, and digital analytics required
• Experience developing media relationships, responding to media requests, or securing earned media required
• Demonstrated professional writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling experience required
• Experience coordinating multiple communications projects, campaigns, deadlines, and stakeholders required
• Experience managing, mentoring, supervising, or helping build a communications or marketing function preferred

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing strategy that aligns with IndyHumane's mission and fundraising priorities
• Translate programs and impact into compelling campaigns that drive engagement and donations
• Create annual plans, budgets, timelines, and performance measures for communications
• Collaborate with leadership to align communications with campaigns, events, donor engagement, and programs
• Identify opportunities to increase visibility and community engagement
• Monitor trends and analytics to inform strategy and improvements
• Establish processes and standards for communications activities
• Evaluate performance and adjust strategies based on data and priorities

Skills

Strategic thinking

Content development

Social media management

Media relations

Brand management

Storytelling

Writing & editing

Digital analytics

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Marketing/Public Relations

Tools

Microsoft 365

Social media platforms tools

Email marketing platforms

Website CMS

Digital analytics tools

Job description

The Communications & Marketing Manager leads IndyHumane’s communications, marketing, storytelling, digital content, media relations, and brand strategy. This position is responsible for developing and implementing an integrated communications and marketing approach that increases organizational awareness, strengthens community engagement, supports fundraising priorities, and advances IndyHumane’s mission.

This position joins IndyHumane at a defining moment in the organization’s history. As IndyHumane prepares for future growth and lays the groundwork for an upcoming capital campaign, the Communications & Marketing Manager will play a critical role in shaping how the organization tells its story, builds its reputation, and connects with Indianapolis and the broader community.

The Communications & Marketing Manager currently operates as an individual contributor while working with external partners, vendors, freelancers, and organizational stakeholders. As the organization grows, this position is expected to help develop the structure, strategy, processes, and capabilities necessary to build and lead a high-performing Communications & Marketing team.

The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking with hands‑on execution and is equally comfortable developing a communications strategy, writing compelling content, managing social media, working with the media, analyzing campaign performance, and collaborating across departments to uncover and tell meaningful stories.

Essential Job Functions

Communications & Marketing Strategy

• Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing strategy that advances IndyHumane’s mission, organizational priorities, fundraising initiatives, and strategic goals
• Translate organizational programs, priorities, outcomes, and impact into compelling communications and campaigns that inspire audiences to engage, advocate, adopt, volunteer, donate, and support IndyHumane
• Develop annual communications and marketing plans, goals, priorities, budgets, timelines, and performance measures
• Partner with the Chief Development Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Development Team, and organizational leadership to align communications with fundraising campaigns, events, donor engagement, programs, and strategic initiatives
• Identify opportunities to increase organizational visibility, community awareness, engagement, and support
• Monitor communications and marketing trends, audience behavior, organizational performance, and community needs to inform strategy
• Establish consistent processes, standards, and workflows for organizational communications and marketing activities
• Evaluate communications and marketing performance and recommend adjustments based on analytics, outcomes, and organizational priorities

Brand Management & Organizational Voice

• Protect, strengthen, and consistently apply IndyHumane’s brand, voice, messaging, and visual identity across organizational communications
• Develop and maintain brand and messaging standards that support consistent communication across departments and channels
• Ensure public-facing materials accurately reflect IndyHumane’s mission, values, programs, priorities, and organizational identity
• Provide guidance to departments and organizational leaders regarding brand standards, messaging, communications, and public-facing materials
• Review and approve communications and marketing materials as appropriate to maintain consistency, accuracy, and professionalism
• Identify opportunities to strengthen IndyHumane’s reputation and position within the Indianapolis and Central Indiana communities

Storytelling & Content Development

• Develop creative and consistent strategies for identifying stories throughout the organization
• Build strong relationships across departments and remain connected to the people, animals, programs, outcomes, and moments that represent IndyHumane’s work
• Develop simple and effective systems, channels, meetings, and processes that allow employees and departments to share stories, photos, milestones, animal updates, and program outcomes
• Transform organizational stories into compelling content that demonstrates impact and connects audiences with the animals, people, programs, and communities behind the organization’s work
• Write, edit, and produce content for social media, email, website, fundraising campaigns, newsletters, media materials, organizational publications, presentations, and other communications
• Maintain high standards for accuracy, storytelling quality, brand consistency, grammar, tone, and organizational voice
• Collaborate with Development and program teams to identify stories that support donor engagement, fundraising, stewardship, and community awareness

Digital Marketing & Social Media

• Manage day-to-day organizational social media activities, including writing, creating, scheduling, posting, monitoring, and evaluating content across platforms
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar and coordinated content strategy across social media, email, website, and other digital channels
• Create engaging digital content designed to increase awareness, engagement, website traffic, participation, and support
• Monitor social media channels and online conversations and respond or coordinate responses as appropriate
• Manage digital campaigns supporting fundraising, adoption, volunteerism, events, community programs, advocacy, and organizational initiatives
• Monitor platform performance, audience engagement, reach, traffic, conversions, and other relevant metrics
• Use analytics and performance data to continually improve digital content and campaign effectiveness
• Stay informed regarding changes in social media platforms, digital communications practices, audience behavior, and emerging technologies

Website & Email Marketing

• Oversee organizational website content to ensure information remains accurate, current, engaging, accessible, and aligned with organizational priorities
• Coordinate website updates, landing pages, campaign content, program information, and organizational announcements
• Develop and execute email communications and marketing campaigns in collaboration with Development and other departments
• Maintain consistent messaging and branding across website and email communications
• Monitor website and email analytics, including traffic, engagement, click‑through rates, conversions, and other performance measures
• Use performance data to improve content, audience engagement, and digital strategy

Media Relations & Public Relations

• Lead IndyHumane’s media relations and public‑relations activities
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with local and regional media representatives
• Proactively identify opportunities for earned media coverage that increases awareness of IndyHumane’s programs, impact, expertise, events, animals, and community work
• Draft and distribute press releases, media advisories, pitches, statements, talking points, background materials, and other media communications
• Coordinate media interviews, requests, appearances, and organizational responses
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson when appropriate and authorized
• Prepare executives, leaders, employees, and subject‑matter experts for media interviews and public appearances
• Monitor media coverage and maintain records of organizational media placements and outcomes
• Support organizational communication during sensitive, urgent, or high‑profile situations in coordination with executive leadership

Fundraising & Campaign Communications

• Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer and Development Team to support fundraising communications, donor engagement, campaigns, sponsorships, events, and stewardship activities
• Develop communications strategies and materials that support annual fundraising priorities and future capital campaign efforts
• Translate organizational funding needs, programs, outcomes, and strategic priorities into compelling donor‑facing stories and communications
• Support development of campaign messaging, cases for support, donor communications, event materials, sponsorship materials, and fundraising content
• Coordinate communications calendars with Development activities to ensure consistent and strategic audience engagement
• Collaborate with Development staff to identify and develop stories demonstrating donor impact
• Support communications and marketing needs for fundraising events and donor‑engagement activities

Team & Vendor Development

• Work with third‑party partners, agencies, freelancers, vendors, and collaborators to advance communications and marketing priorities
• Manage external communications and marketing relationships, projects, deliverables, timelines, budgets, and performance as assigned
• Evaluate organizational communications and marketing capacity and identify future staffing, resource, and capability needs
• Develop processes, workflows, standards, documentation, and systems that support future growth of the Communications & Marketing function
• Assist in determining future team structure, roles, responsibilities, and capabilities as organizational needs evolve
• Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and development of future Communications & Marketing employees when positions are established
• Provide leadership, direction, coaching, and performance management to future direct reports in accordance with organizational policies

Collaboration & Organizational Support

• Build strong working relationships with departments throughout IndyHumane to understand programs, priorities, challenges, outcomes, and communications needs
• Collaborate with Development, Operations, Medical, Community Outreach, Volunteer, Human Resources, Finance, and organizational leadership on communications and marketing initiatives
• Attend leadership meetings, Development meetings, all‑staff meetings, organizational events, and professional‑development opportunities as required
• Serve as a communications resource and strategic partner to organizational leaders and departments
• Represent IndyHumane professionally when interacting with media, donors, volunteers, community partners, vendors, and members of the public
• Maintain confidentiality regarding donor, personnel, financial, strategic, and organizational information
• Support organizational priorities and respond appropriately to emerging communications needs
• Perform additional duties, projects, and assignments as needed

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, or a related field preferred
• An equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and professional experience may be considered
• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital marketing, or a related field required
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications or marketing strategies required
• Demonstrated experience creating digital content and managing organizational social media platforms required
• Experience with email marketing, website content management, and digital analytics required
• Experience developing media relationships, responding to media requests, or securing earned media required
• Demonstrated professional writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling experience required
• Experience coordinating multiple communications projects, campaigns, deadlines, and stakeholders required
• Experience managing, mentoring, supervising, or helping build a communications or marketing function preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional written, verbal, editing, proofreading, storytelling, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong understanding of communications, marketing, public relations, digital media, social media, and brand‑management principles
• Ability to translate complex organizational information, programs, data, and outcomes into clear and compelling stories
• Strong strategic‑thinking and planning abilities combined with a willingness and ability to execute day‑to‑day communications work
• Ability to develop communications strategies, annual plans, campaign goals, budgets, timelines, and performance measures
• Strong understanding of social media content development, audience engagement, platform management, and digital communications practices
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with journalists, media representatives, community partners, vendors, and organizational stakeholders
• Strong project‑management, organizational, and time‑management skills
• Ability to manage multiple campaigns, deadlines, priorities, and stakeholder needs simultaneously
• Ability to analyze communications and marketing data and use findings to improve strategy and performance
• Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and ability to appropriately manage sensitive or high‑profile communications
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and proactively identify communications opportunities and organizational needs
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and organizational levels
• Ability to provide strategic guidance while remaining comfortable with hands‑on content creation and execution
• Ability to adapt quickly to emerging priorities, news events, organizational developments, and changing digital platforms
• Commitment to the mission, vision, values, and work of IndyHumane

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams
• Experience managing major social media platforms for a business, nonprofit, brand, or organization
• Experience with social media scheduling, publishing, monitoring, and analytics tools
• Experience with email marketing platforms and audience segmentation
• Experience working with website content‑management systems
• Experience using digital analytics and reporting tools to evaluate communications performance
• Experience creating or coordinating digital graphics, photography, video, or multimedia content
• Familiarity with graphic‑design and content‑creation platforms such as Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud preferred
• Experience with donor‑management, CRM, project‑management, or other organizational software preferred
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize new communications, marketing, analytics, and organizational technology

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible communications, marketing, public‑relations, or related professional experience
• Experience leading, supervising, mentoring, or building a communications or marketing team or function
• Experience working in a nonprofit, foundation, association, animal welfare, healthcare, human services, or other mission‑driven organization
• Experience developing communications strategy for fundraising, philanthropy, donor engagement, or nonprofit development
• Experience supporting a capital campaign, comprehensive campaign, major fundraising initiative, or significant organizational growth initiative
• Established relationships with Indianapolis or Central Indiana media outlets and journalists
• Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson or preparing executives and subject‑matter experts for media interviews
• Experience managing external agencies, freelancers, consultants, or communications vendors
• Experience with crisis communications, issues management, or sensitive organizational communications
• Experience developing and managing communications or marketing budgets
• Experience with search engine optimization, digital advertising, audience segmentation, or paid media campaigns
• Experience with photography, videography, graphic design, or multimedia storytelling
• Experience working in animal welfare

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the workday
• Ability to work on a computer and use communications equipment for extended periods
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, through video conferencing, and in writing
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry communications, photography, event, or office materials weighing up to 25 pounds
• Ability to move throughout IndyHumane facilities to gather stories, photographs, video, interviews, and other content
• Ability to travel locally for media opportunities, community events, organizational activities, meetings, and other work‑related responsibilities
• Ability to occasionally work evening or weekend hours for events, media opportunities, fundraising activities, or organizational needs

Work Environment & Potential Exposures

• Animal-related allergens, hair, dander, odors, noise, and animal‑welfare environments
• Frequent movement throughout shelter and program areas while gathering stories, photographs, video, or other content
• Fast‑paced work environments with multiple deadlines, competing priorities
• Frequent interruptions and changing organizational or communications needs
• Extended periods of computer, mobile‑device, and screen use
• Occasional evening or weekend events and activities
• Local travel for media, community, fundraising, and organizational activities
• Sensitive, confidential, emotionally significant, or potentially high‑profile organizational situations
• Exposure to emotionally challenging animal‑welfare stories, images, or situations

Core Competencies

• Strategic Communications
• Marketing Strategy
• Brand Management
• Storytelling
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Digital Marketing
• Social Media Management
• Content Development
• Media Relations
• Public Relations
• Fundraising Communications
• Strategic Thinking
• Creativity & Innovation
• Project Management
• Organization & Planning
• Relationship Building
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Leadership
• Initiative & Accountability
• Analytical Thinking
• Sound Judgment
• Adaptability
• Professionalism
• Mission Commitment

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

IndyHumane is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

IndyHumane is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state laws.

Employees and applicants requiring accommodations should contact Human Resources.

At-Will Employment Disclaimer

Employment with IndyHumane is at‑will. This means that either the employee or IndyHumane may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and with or without cause, subject to applicable law. Nothing in this job description should be interpreted as creating a contract of employment.

Job Description Disclaimer

The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required. IndyHumane reserves the right to modify duties, responsibilities, and position requirements based on organizational needs.

Safety Statement

Employees are expected to comply with all workplace safety standards, organizational policies, confidentiality expectations, information‑security requirements, animal‑welfare safety procedures, and OSHA‑related safety requirements.

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