Community Initiatives Manager
Remote
SPARC
Date Posted: 9/18/2024
Overview
At SPARC, we understand the profound impact stories and messages have on pet families. We help the animal care and well-being sector strengthen, grow, and do its best work for pets and people through narrative change.
The Community Initiatives Manager will be integral in mobilizing better narratives through an active, engaged online community of animal welfare practitioners. You will expand SPARC’s audience, build innovative, empathic online spaces for learning, and champion better messaging and storytelling. The right candidate will recognize and respect the love and deep connections between pets and people from all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. You will be excited to launch ideas from scratch and have the creativity and energy to ensure they flourish.
The Community Initiatives Manager is a new position that will play a vital role in helping SPARC achieve our mission. You will work remotely (within the United States), with some travel expected (~10%), and report directly to the Executive Director.
Primary Responsibilities
Community Leadership
Build, launch, and facilitate SPARC’s Community of Practice (CoP).
Co-host and facilitate online (and possibly some in-person) training, events, and meetups.
Manage the day-to-day logistics of the community, including training registration, questions, and communications.
Ensure there are mechanisms for accountability and responsibility that support a community environment of trust and openness.
Community Building
Create spaces for animal care and well-being practitioners to learn, grow, and feel supported. (Practitioners include: staff and volunteers at animal shelters, rescue groups, municipal animal services, veterinary clinics, community organizations, neighborhood networks, national nonprofits, and people caring for pets in communities)
Manage the creation of digital content as part of a social media strategy to engage and expand SPARC’s community of supporters and practitioners.
Network with potential partners and collaborators in the animal care and well-being sector and beyond.
Strategy Development
Co-create the SPARC Community Strategy in collaboration with the Executive Director and team.
Iteratively manage annual community engagement plans to meet desired outcomes and fulfill long-term impact goals.
Stay up-to-date on ongoing and rapidly developing trends in animal sheltering and rescue, the human-animal bond, and animal care and well-being.
Learning & Adaptation
Implement a feedback mechanism to gather input from members on the community’s activities and effectiveness.
Regularly assess the CoP’s progress towards program and institutional goals and make necessary adjustments.
Team Collaboration
Be a powerful resource for SPARC’s core principles of narrative change, and represent SPARC at in-person and virtual conferences and events as needed.
Support team members in various SPARC efforts such as reviewing materials and guidance, and developing curricula and course materials.
Experience
Have previously built or managed an online community (either professionally or personally) and have grown it to a significant size.
Tech savvy and a track record of engaging audiences through online community platforms and content such as: blogs, newsletters, and social media posts.
Qualifications
Passion for the well-being of animals and people, and a commitment to approaching people and issues with respect, empathy, and patience.
Solid understanding of the animal care and well-being sector and knowledge of current animal welfare and sheltering issues.
Ability to create inclusive and accessible learning environments for virtual and in-person participants.
Strong communication skills that include deep, active listening and expressing complex ideas and concepts concisely and clearly to different audiences.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills; successful experience in working with diverse people of varying age, socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, gender, and identity.
Committed to learning, adapting, and growing both as an individual and as part of a community.
Maintain confidentiality, discretion, integrity, and professionalism in day-to-day and challenging situations.
What to Expect Working for SPARC
SPARC is a rising organization with the strong operating backbone of a 501c3 fiscal sponsor and the gusto and energy of a start-up . We are fueled by innovation, creativity, and compassion. Be prepared to dive into the beginning stages of a project and play a key role in bringing it to fruition. We love narrative change, geek out on social science and communications, and work hard to make our work the best it can be.
Connecting with people and centering dignity are the bedrock of how we operate. Our might comes from tapping into the wisdom and insights of a broad network of individuals - people in the field, supporting partners, contractors, colleagues, and our Advisory Committee. We are professional and serious about getting things done, but we like to laugh and we understand real life - sometimes cats walk across our screens, dogs bark in the background, and children pop into meetings.
Creating a healthy, supportive environment for people is something we take seriously. We are focused on a work culture that values individuals, approaches people and issues with integrity, and creates spaces for us to achieve our best work together. Through our regular work habits, team culture, and benefits package, we strive to cultivate a space where you can be successful and well.
SPARC Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Inclusion is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation at SPARC. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich our team and allow us to achieve SPARC’s mission. We are committed to excellence in messaging, learning, and research as inextricably linked to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Salary and Benefits
$77,000 annual
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, health/dental/vision/life insurance (100% for employees and 50% for dependents), 401k plan, reimbursement for eligible work phone line and home internet, reimbursement for pet care for work travel up to $75.00 per night with managers approval, an annual $750 stipend for eligible pet care expenses, flexible work hours, and ability to work from home.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
SPARC is a fiscally sponsored project of the Humane America Animal Foundation (HAAF). HAAF is an equal-opportunity employer. We aim to employ people with many different experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who share our passion for accomplishing as much good as possible. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees have the opportunity to succeed. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other legally protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws.
How to Apply
Send your resume and cover letter (500 words or less) to opportunity@sparcinsight.org. In your cover letter, please share an example of a message or narrative in animal care and well-being (from a shelter, rescue, municipal agency, or business) that you think needs to change and why it should be different.
We will be accepting applications until October 15th, 2024.
Compliance with Federal Law
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. The policy of SPARC's fiscal sponsor, Humane America Animal Association, is not to sponsor employment visas. Humane America Animal Foundation participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For up-to-date information on E-Verify, visit www.uscis.gov and click on the 'E-Verify' logo". You can view the required posters here and here.
