Community Outreach & Engagement

AKC Canine Health Foundation Inc; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The AKC Canine Health Foundation Inc. seeks a Community Engagement Manager to lead CHF's community engagement, volunteer, and grassroots outreach efforts.

This role builds meaningful opportunities for participation, activates volunteers and ambassadors, and deepens engagement with supporters. You will oversee the volunteer experience from recruitment through recognition and retention while expanding programs such as CHAMPS, fundRACERS, and other initiatives.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to grow and engage volunteer communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communications for diverse audiences.
• Ability to translate organizational goals into actionable community programs.
• Experience with CRM and volunteer management platforms.
• Strong project management and multitasking skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute CHF's community engagement strategy with measurable outcomes.
• Build infrastructure for sustainable growth: policies, training, playbooks, and tools.
• Identify, recruit, and engage volunteers, ambassadors, and community partners.
• Lead and grow CHF community programs like CHAMPS and fundRACERS.
• Create scalable pathways for supporters to participate in CHF's mission.
• Manage volunteer experiences from recruitment to recognition and retention.
• Represent CHF at dog-related events to raise awareness and support.
• Track engagement metrics and use data to improve programs.

Skills

Relationship-building

Community growth

Communication

Project management

Creative thinking

Digital platforms

CRM systems

Data analysis

Tools

Volunteer management software

Social media tools

Content management systems

Job description

The Community Engagement Manager leads the growth of the Canine Health Foundation's (CHF) community engagement, volunteer, and grassroots outreach efforts by creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to participate in and advance CHF's mission. This position develops relationships, programs, and systems that attract new audiences, activate volunteers and ambassadors, strengthen community partnerships, and deepen engagement with existing supporters.

The role oversees the volunteer experience from recruitment through recognition and retention while expanding programs such as CHAMPS, fundRACERS, and other community-based initiatives. Working collaboratively across CHF, this position will help transform an established foundation of community programs into a strategic, measurable, and high-impact engagement function.

Essential Duties and 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.

Program Development and Growth

• 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.

Qualifications and Skills

• 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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