Summary:
Overview
The Manager, Internal Communications, will develop, plan and implement creative and inspiring employee campaigns, communication plans and initiatives that connect our employees nationwide, drive staff access to key information about our work, and deepen collaboration as we work together for a brighter future for animals. The role will be a part of the ASPCA’s Internal Communications team, which keeps more than 1,300 ASPCA staff nationwide connected by ensuring employees are informed, engaged ambassadors of the organization’s lifesaving programs and impact.
Working closely with the Sr. Director, Internal Communications, this Manager will be a key part of a high-performing team whose work plays an important role in shaping employee experience across the organization. A successful candidate will bring significant experience managing multiple projects with competing deadlines and priority levels, as well as strong interpersonal skills, professionalism, eagerness to learn, and a solid foundation in everyday communication best practices. The Manager should also thrive in a fast-paced environment, working both independently and part of a team and taking full ownership of projects assigned to successful completion.
We’re looking for someone who is creative, compassionate, and can work collaboratively across many teams within a mission-focused organization. This includes collaboration with program and operational teams to keep our employees informed, connected to our work, and inspired to do their best work for animals every day.
Who We Are
The Communications division works with key stakeholders to develop marketing and communications strategies, messaging, creative and content to engage audiences on priority issues to fulfill the ASPCA’s mission. Strategies are developed based on target audiences and organizational priorities across owned, earned and paid media and channels. ASPCA communications drive public awareness and engagement in our mission and impact, support our priorities and values, strengthen our brand, and advance our work.
What You’ll Do
- Manager, Internal Communications reports directly to the Sr. Director, Internal Communications and has no direct reports.
Where and When You’ll Work
- This is a hybrid position and will require occasional commuting (1-2 days/week) to 520 8th Avenue or other ASPCA location in NYC.
- Ability and willingness to travel outside of NYC up to 10-15% annually, as needed.
What You’ll Get
Compensation
Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.
- The target hiring range for this role is $72,000 - $77,000.
Benefits
At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
- Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
- Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
- Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.
Responsibilities:
What You’ll Do
Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:
Employee Communications: Content Production & Promotional Planning
- Plan and execute Internal Communications projects and campaigns by drafting editing, designing, and distributing a variety of employee communications assets, including communication plans, emails, newsletters and digital assets
- Partner with Internal Communications team members on production of weekly staff email newsletter and other communications as needed, including, but not limited to story mining and development, drafting and editing content, facilitating editorial review, and content distribution
- Proactively identify strategic connections and opportunities for collaboration to elevate and spotlight organizational priorities, projects and accomplishments from teams across the organization
- Partner with program, membership, and external communications teams to assist in the planning and implementation for integrated campaigns
- Gather feedback and data to assess effectiveness of staff communications and track progress toward the accomplishment of team KPIs and team and organizational goals, recommending new approaches to employee communications as needed to drive improvement and innovation
Employee Engagement: Building Internal Community and Ambassadorship
- Conceptualize, plan, and execute employee engagement opportunities that are rooted in recognizing staff and organizational accomplishments, deepening staff understanding of various aspects of our work and cultivating a deeper connection to colleagues and our mission
- Leverage data analysis and regular reporting to identify strengths and opportunities for employee engagement
- Establish and co-lead efforts that connect ASPCA employees with opportunities to get involved as ambassadors and advocate about our programs and impact within their communities
- Collaborate on planning for onsite and virtual employee events, including but not limited to large-scale internal learning opportunities, Town Hall events, and small group discussions featuring various members of the Executive Leadership Team
- Provide planning guidance and onsite presence for ASPCA-hosted conferences and public-facing events as needed
- Collaborate with internal presenters to produce engaging and informative presentations about their work and areas of expertise
- Collaborate with members of Internal Communications to promote the continued growth, engagement and optimization of the ASPCA digital internal community, Workvivo by Zoom platform
- Develop and maintain the Knowledge Pages on Workvivo that equip staff with critical information through an intuitive user interface, effective information architecture, and appealing design
- Explore new Workvivo features and stay current with industry trends and best practices to guide the evolution of our digital strategy and engagement
- Collaborate with members of the Communications team to support social media projects and campaigns, ensuring consistent messaging across internal and external social platforms and encouraging staff to promote our external campaigns and calls to action among their personal and professional networks
- Explore and test new technology, strategies, and tools for internal communications providing the team with thought leadership and innovation related to internal community management
Project Planning, Management & Collaboration
- Manage and take full ownership of assigned projects from start to completion
- Lead project planning meetings as needed, create and drive agendas, capture and distribute meeting notes and develop actionable next steps to keep projects moving while also keeping stakeholders informed on project progress
- Collaborate with colleagues who oversee other channels (member, public/professional online properties, social media, etc.) and engage with other stakeholders (donors, corporate partners, etc.) to encourage employee action and participation in activities to promote our work within and outside of the ASPCA
- Manage projects nimbly with the understanding that needs and objectives may change and evolve, and be able to redirect a project while ensuring timely and effective progress to goals
- Partner across Communications to ensure public and community events, fundraising events, and conferences (and any associated opportunities to attend and/or volunteer) are consistently and effectively promoted on our internal channels to drive staff awareness and engagement
- Provide internal communications consultation and support for annual programmatic campaigns & promotion of our adoptable animals and opportunities to get involved with the ASPCA through key actions such as pet adoption, fostering, volunteering, advocacy and more
- Track campaign effectiveness and report to Communications colleagues and project stakeholders as needed, speaking as an expert on employee engagement strategies, activities, and tactics
Administrative & Other
- Develop and maintain promotional plans, materials, and templates, updating them as needed, to streamline opportunities for collaboration with the Communications team
- Participate and contribute updates during Internal Communications team meetings, Communications departmental meetings, and work cross-functionally with other members of the team in a responsive and professional manner
- Engage in consistent and regular reporting to supervisor, including giving and receiving effective, two-way feedback
- Participate in both hands-on field and office classroom learning and share professional development/learning opportunities with the rest of the team, as appropriate
- Proactively build internal communications skills and expertise by learning and embracing new technology, staying abreast of internal communications developments and best practices, and attending training or development as available and approved
- Enhance and elevate employee events by gathering staff feedback, analyzing data, and providing recommendations for future events to ensure optimal employee access, participation, and engagement
- Cultivate positive working relationships with ASPCA locations liaisons and members of programs and Communications teams to manage logistics and promotion for onsite public and employee events, activities, and meetings
- Compose, proofread, and distribute employee messages, meeting agendas/minutes, reports and other documents as required
- Assist with special projects and administrative needs as determined and assigned
Skills Qualifications
- A self-starter who proactively identifies projects and opportunities to contribute to the team and the ASPCA’s impact
- Well-organized with exceptional time management skills and a demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple projects, tasks, and deadlines
- Demonstrates ownership, independent thinking, and the ability to consistently and reliably manage projects to completion with minimal oversight
- Forms authentic, trusting relationships within and across teams to enhance individual performance and collective impact
- Comfortable giving and receiving feedback, sharing ideas, and asking questions to work toward the best solution within the team and from senior leaders and executive stakeholders throughout the organization
- Exceptional copy writing and editing skills and strong attention to detail, including knowledge of AP Style and ability to adhere to guidelines set forth in the ASPCA Brand Book
- Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including professionalism, poise and the ability to maintain confidentiality
- Strong skills in planning meetings and events, including setting agendas, following up with stakeholders, identifying next steps and dependencies and comfort level in public speaking and meeting facilitation
- Demonstrated data analysis and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to connect the dots across projects, teams, and initiatives
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to maintain good working relationships with employees, department staff and the public
- Ability to work rapidly and meet deadlines under pressure
- Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.
Language
Education And Work Experience
- BA, BS or equivalent in English, Communications, or a related field or equivalent experience
- Minimum 3 years of related experience in communications required; corporate/internal communications, marketing, public relations, social media, or related roles preferred
- Proficient in building email newsletters and email-based marketing and promotional assets required
- Proficient in building and designing digital assets using web-based design tools required (proficiency in Canva is a plus)
- Proficient in managing content on a website, social community, intranet or similar channels and leveraging performance data to implement system improvements required
- Proficient in leading the execution of multi-channel communications campaigns (internally or externally) and/or projects with multiple stakeholders required
Language:
English (Required)
Education and Work Experience:
Bachelors (Required)
Internal or Corporate Communications, Plus Experience with Web-Related Programs
Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.
Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.
Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.
ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).
About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.
The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.
The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.
At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.
Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees’ protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.
Applicants that are residents of Colorado and Oregon: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058 and ORS 659A.030, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries through completion of the initial interview. We can require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant should redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.
Indiana Applicants: Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office: (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free: (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired: (800) 743-3333 | Fax: (317) 232-6580; E-mail: icrc@crc.in.gov | Website: www.in.gov/icrc. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 463-999-1240; Fax: 317-226-7953; TTY: 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122.
Massachusetts Applicants: Per Massachusetts law, we are providing notice that it is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Philadelphia Applicants: You may view your rights under the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Act here.
