Community Relations Specialist

At Pets Global Inc., we care deeply about our community, whether it’s internal or external, and we’re seeking a Community Relations Specialist to help us maintain and nurture these relationships. The ideal candidate will have excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills, as well as an ability to foster positive relationships with individuals and organizations. Under the direction of the Sr. Project Manager, the Community Relations Specialist will develop a strategy for building and maintaining programs and activities that will have a positive impact on the community, build and maintain relationships with members of the community, key individuals, and other organizations, serve as a point of contact for neighboring businesses, institutions, and communities, be the principal ambassador for the company, responsible for sharing its vision with a global community.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field.
• 5-10 years of work in public relations OR at least three years of work in a field related to the industry preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Experience building forums on all social media platforms.
• Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work extremely well as part of a team.
• Ability to evaluate the cost of a program and compare it to the benefits for the organization.
• Excellent persuasion skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage sensitive or controversial subjects with tact, kindness, and professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and interact with all levels of management.
• Position requires travel.
• This is an In-Office position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Builds and maintains relationships with members of the community
• Plans, develops, implements, and organizes events and volunteers to advance the mission and goals of the company
• Organizes community outreach programs and coordinates special events that will influence public opinion or promote products, services, or ideas of the company
• Attend relevant events and activities to represent the company and build strong relationships with key community members
• Uses social media to coordinate Community Relations
• Experience building a community for a top 1% of top clientele
• Drafts and distributes/publishes various content pieces that promote the company, as well as individuals or groups within the company.
• Selects positive publicity materials and distributes them through a variety of channels.
• Responds to inquiries from community members and other interested parties; when needed, recruits a knowledgeable spokesperson or information source to assist.
• Plans, coordinates, and executes special events and press conferences.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES:

• Oral Communication--Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication--Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Project Management--Coordinates project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; coordinates project team activities.
• Innovation--Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Assists with innovative approaches and ideas; Assists with presenting ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.
• Business Acumen--Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; Supports organization's goals and values.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Sufficient strength, agility, and mobility to perform essential functions of the position
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use a computer for extended periods of time and be able to communicate using a computer and phone/smart device
• The employee frequently is required to sit and reach and must be able to move around the work environment
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT:

• Adhere to all safety policies, rules and standard operating procedures established by Pets Global, Inc.
• Inspect, correct, and maintain your workstation/environment to ensure it is free from hazards or unsafe conditions.
• The employee is responsible for reporting all injuries and accidents, no matter how minor to your supervisor or the HR Department.
• Immediately report all observed unsafe acts and conditions to your supervisor or the HR Department.

Always report to work in an acceptable condition, not under the influence of any substance that could inhibit your ability to work safely or efficiently.

CORE FUNCTIONS

• Builds and maintains effective, positive relationships with the customers, clients, and staff.
• Creates a supportive work environment.
• Models’ relationship-building skills (including Listen First) in all interactions.
• Responds and/or resolves customer and client inquiries and/or concerns in a timely manner
• Understands and executes their role in fulfilling our promise as a pet food company.