Community Engagement & Volunteer Programs Lead

AKC CHF; North Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is seeking a Community Engagement Manager to lead the growth of its volunteer, outreach, and grassroots programs, building relationships with dog-related groups and partners while expanding CHAMPS and fundRACERS.

You will oversee the volunteer experience from recruitment through recognition and retention and help transform CHF's community programs into a strategic, measurable engagement function.

Qualifications

• Exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues, volunteers, donors, community partners, and diverse external audiences.
• Demonstrated success growing a community, membership, volunteer, ambassador, or grassroots engagement program, including attracting new participants and sustaining engagement over time.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate CHF's mission in a clear, engaging, and compelling manner.
• Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, relationships, and activities simultaneously.
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop innovative programs, engagement opportunities, and supporting content.
• Experience using or learning digital communication platforms, social media tools, CRM systems, volunteer management software, and community engagement technologies.
• Ability to translate organizational goals into meaningful and practical opportunities for community participation and involvement.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate program effectiveness and make data-informed recommendations for improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute CHF's community engagement and activation strategy, establishing goals, target audiences, programs, priorities, and measurable outcomes aligned with organizational objectives and mission impact.
• Build and maintain the infrastructure required for sustainable growth, including policies, procedures, role descriptions, training resources, communication plans, tracking systems, playbooks, and volunteer engagement tools.
• Expand CHF's community of participants and advocates by identifying, recruiting, and engaging new volunteers, ambassadors, community partners, and other individuals who can help extend the Foundation's mission and reach.
• Lead and grow CHAMPS, fundRACERS, and other community-based engagement programs by developing communications, programming, and participation opportunities that encourage long-term involvement, connection, and advocacy.
• Create new scalable pathways for supporters to become actively engaged in CHF's mission.
• Build and manage a comprehensive volunteer program, including recruitment, screening, onboarding, training, placement, communication, engagement, recognition, and retention.
• Develop clear pathways for deeper engagement, helping individuals move from awareness and initial participation to ongoing involvement as volunteers, ambassadors, advocates, event participants, and supporters.
• Represent CHF at select AKC, conformation, sporting, and dog-related events to raise awareness and support for CHF within the dog community.
• Build and maintain relationships with dog-related organizations, community groups, educational institutions, and other strategic partners that can broaden CHF's reach and mission impact.
• Plan and coordinate community activations, volunteer initiatives, events, and grassroots engagement opportunities, including programs that can be replicated and scaled over time.
• Manage community-specific social media channels to encourage engagement and ensure content aligns with CHF's mission and brand standards.
• Collaborate with Development, Communications, Scientific Programs, Collaborations, and other CHF teams to connect community participation with education, fundraising, research awareness, events, and strategic organizational priorities.
• Communicate CHF's mission and impact in a compelling manner that motivates participation and advocacy.
• Track, analyze, and report community engagement performance metrics, including participation, growth, retention, volunteer activity, referrals, feedback, reach, and overall impact.
• Use data and insights to evaluate program effectiveness, strengthen engagement strategies, and identify future opportunities.

Skills

Relationship-building

Community growth

Communication

Project management

Creative thinking

Data analysis

Digital platforms

Tools

CRM systems

Volunteer management software

Social media tools

Engagement platforms

Job description

The Canine Health Foundation (CHF) is seeking a Community Engagement Manager to lead the growth of its volunteer, outreach, and grassroots programs, building relationships with dog-related groups and partners while expanding CHAMPS and fundRACERS.

You will oversee the volunteer experience from recruitment through recognition and retention and help transform CHF's community programs into a strategic, measurable engagement function.