Retail Marketing Coordinator

APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work.

The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service.

APA! Thrift began in May 2017 with its 1st thrift store location on Burnet Rd. A year later, APA! Thrift opened its 2nd location on Oltorf and in 2020 we opened our 3rd location off of 51st St. Round Rock, our 4th location, opened in February, 2024 and Pflugerville, our 5th location, opened in April, 2024. Our stores are boutique-style, selling high quality new and gently used items for low prices. All net proceeds directly support the innovative lifesaving programs of Austin Pets Alive!, a 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization.

POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW:

The Retail Marketing Specialist will lead the day-to-day marketing and promotional efforts for our thrift retail operations. This role focuses on driving store foot traffic, boosting sales, supporting new location openings, and elevating public awareness of how our thrift stores directly power the mission of APA!. Serving as the professional marketing voice for thrift, this team member will combine digital storytelling, local PR, event coordination, and strategic promotion to position our thrift stores as a dynamic, modern retail program.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Traffic & Sales Generation
   • Design and execute local promotional campaigns, store sales initiatives, and digital advertising strategies to drive store foot traffic and increase retail revenue.
   • Coordinate marketing rollout plans for new location openings, ensuring strong local awareness and community engagement.
2. Social Media & Brand Storytelling
   • Manage dedicated Thrift social media accounts, creating engaging short-form video, reels, and stories that represent the daily energy of the stores.
3. Strategic Collaboration & PR
   • Partner with APA!’s primary social media team to coordinate quarterly collaborative posts and maintain a purposeful thrift presence across main channels.
4. Events & Campaigns
   • Plan and manage recurring retail events, including Second Chance Saturdays, seasonal sales, and special promotional pop-ups.
5. Revenue & Growth Objectives
   • Sales Growth: Achieve measurable annual sales revenue targets by executing targeted local marketing initiatives and promotional campaigns designed to increase foot traffic across store locations.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & EXPECTATIONS:

• Experience: 0–3 years of professional experience in retail marketing, social media management, communications, or public relations.
• Communication Skills: Excellent copywriting, short-form writing, and public speaking abilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Animal shelter office environment, with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals.