About the Company:
Association for Bridging the Fursona of Arizona(ABFA) is a nonprofit organization doing business as Ashfang the Wolf and is dedicated to empowering furries, educating leaders, and building understanding between the furry fandom and the broader community. Through outreach, education, advocacy, and relationship-building, ABFA works to create meaningful connections with business leaders, HR professionals, community organizations, conventions, and the public.
Our organization exists to challenge misconceptions, promote inclusion, and provide a positive voice for the furry community. We believe that education and open dialogue can help build safer, more respectful, and more informed spaces where furries are understood, supported, and valued.
As a growing nonprofit, ABFA relies on passionate volunteers, leaders, and community advocates who are committed to professionalism, creativity, and service. Team members have the opportunity to help shape a mission-driven organization, strengthen community partnerships, and contribute to work that bridges understanding between diverse communities.
Fire Sharks LLC is a Phoenix-based company built on creativity, entrepreneurship, and community-focused service. As the parent company of Fire Sharks Creations, Fire Sharks Concessions, and Fire Sharks Koffee, Fire Sharks LLC brings together multiple business lines under one shared vision: creating memorable products, experiences, and services that connect with people in meaningful ways.
Through Fire Sharks Creations, the company offers custom and specialty products, including engraved items, personalized gifts, business products, and creative merchandise. Fire Sharks Concessions provides vending and mobile concession services for businesses, events, and public spaces, delivering convenient and enjoyable food and beverage options. Fire Sharks Koffee expands the brand into the coffee space with branded coffee products designed for everyday enjoyment.
At its core, Fire Sharks LLC is driven by innovation, quality, and a commitment to building brands that are both practical and memorable. Whether serving customers online, supporting events, partnering with businesses, or developing new ventures, Fire Sharks LLC is focused on growth, service, and creating value across every area of its operations.
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Public Affairs & Community Relations Manager to lead our organization’s engagement with the public, government agencies, and community stakeholders. This role is vital in shaping and advocating for policies that align with our mission, fostering positive relationships, and enhancing our reputation within the community. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional communication skills, a deep understanding of public affairs policy, and a proactive approach to community outreach. By leveraging media relations, strategic planning, and legislative expertise, you will drive initiatives that promote our organization’s values and objectives on a local, regional, and national level.
Role Purpose
The Public Affairs & Community Relations Manager is responsible for leading public-facing communications, community engagement, volunteer coordination, public relations, and social media strategy for Association for Bridging the Fursona of Arizona, while also supporting public relations and social media efforts for Fire Sharks LLC and its related brands. This role serves as a key representative of the organization by building positive relationships with volunteers, community partners, donors, supporters, followers, business leaders, HR professionals, and the broader furry fandom. The position is responsible for managing the AFBA volunteer program, coordinating outreach initiatives, strengthening the organization’s public image, creating engaging communications, and ensuring all public-facing messaging reflects the mission, values, professionalism, and brand identity of both AFBA and Fire Sharks LLC.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Knowledge of public relations, community engagement, volunteer coordination, social media management, and brand communications.
- Experience managing or supporting volunteer programs, community outreach initiatives, nonprofit programs, or public-facing events.
- Knowledge of nonprofit communications, donor engagement, stakeholder relations, and community partnership development.
- Experience creating social media content, public announcements, promotional posts, newsletters, press-style communications, or community updates.
- Knowledge of social media platforms, content calendars, engagement strategies, audience growth, and online community management.
- Experience representing an organization to the public, community partners, volunteers, vendors, supporters, or external stakeholders.
- Understanding of brand voice, messaging consistency, reputation management, and public image development.
- Knowledge of basic marketing principles, storytelling, audience targeting, and campaign planning.
- Experience supporting public relations for a nonprofit, small business, community organization, fandom-based organization, retail brand, concessions business, or creative company preferred.
- Understanding of volunteer recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, recognition, retention, and accountability practices.
- Experience developing volunteer communications, role expectations, training materials, guidelines, or program updates.
- Knowledge of professional communication standards, confidentiality, public messaging risks, and appropriate escalation practices.
- Experience coordinating outreach for events, conventions, fundraisers, community programs, speaking opportunities, or educational initiatives preferred.
- Understanding of the furry fandom, fandom culture, community norms, and the importance of respectful representation preferred.
- Experience working with business leaders, HR professionals, community advocates, online communities, nonprofit boards, or public-facing leadership preferred.
Skills:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong public relations, community engagement, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to create clear, engaging, and mission-aligned content for multiple audiences.
- Strong social media content creation, scheduling, and audience engagement skills.
- Ability to manage online communities professionally and respond appropriately to public comments, messages, and inquiries.
- Strong volunteer leadership and coordination skills.
- Ability to recruit, onboard, motivate, and retain volunteers.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple communication priorities across AFBA, Fire Sharks LLC, and related brands.
- Ability to maintain consistent brand voice while adapting messaging for different audiences and platforms.
- Strong judgment when handling sensitive, public-facing, or reputation-related matters.
- Ability to communicate professionally with volunteers, donors, supporters, business leaders, HR professionals, vendors, and community partners.
- Strong event coordination and outreach support skills.
- Ability to develop content calendars, campaign plans, volunteer schedules, and communication workflows.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address volunteer concerns, public inquiries, and communication challenges.
- Ability to work independently while providing proactive updates to leadership.
- Strong attention to detail in written materials, social media posts, graphics, captions, public notices, and organizational messaging.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive organizational, volunteer, donor, partnership, business, or reputation-related information.
- Ability to promote a welcoming, professional, inclusive, and mission-aligned community environment.
Key Accountabilities:
- Lead the volunteer program for Association for Bridging the Fursona of Arizona
- Recruit, onboard, schedule, train, support, and recognize volunteers who assist with AFBA programs, events, outreach, and community initiatives.
- Develop and maintain volunteer role descriptions, expectations, guidelines, communications, schedules, and program materials.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for volunteers, ensuring they receive timely communication, support, and direction.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with community partners, supporters, donors, volunteers, business leaders, HR professionals, furry fandom members, and public stakeholders.
- Support AFBA’s public affairs efforts by promoting the organization’s mission of empowering furries, educating leaders, and building understanding.
- Manage or support public relations activities for AFBA, including public statements, outreach messaging, partnership communications, and reputation-building efforts.
- Manage or support public relations and social media communications for Fire Sharks LLC and its related business divisions.
- Develop and maintain social media content calendars for AFBA, Fire Sharks LLC, and related brands as assigned.
- Create, schedule, and publish engaging social media posts, announcements, updates, campaigns, and promotional content.
- Monitor public comments, messages, online engagement, and community feedback, escalating sensitive matters to leadership when appropriate.
- Ensure public-facing communications are professional, accurate, brand-aligned, and consistent with organizational values.
- Promote AFBA programs, volunteer opportunities, events, educational initiatives, fundraising efforts, and community partnerships.
- Promote Fire Sharks LLC brands, services, products, events, and public-facing business activities through appropriate communication channels.
- Support event outreach, convention presence, community appearances, speaking opportunities, and public engagement activities.
- Assist with the development of press releases, media statements, newsletters, blog promotions, website updates, donor communications, and public announcements.
- Track social media engagement, volunteer participation, outreach activity, and public relations efforts to help evaluate impact and effectiveness.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen AFBA’s visibility, credibility, and community presence.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen Fire Sharks LLC’s public image, brand awareness, and customer engagement.
- Coordinate with leadership, board members, managers, volunteers, designers, vendors, and outside partners to support communications and outreach goals.
- Protect confidential and sensitive information related to volunteers, donors, business operations, partnerships, internal decisions, and public relations matters.
- Represent AFBA and Fire Sharks LLC in a professional, respectful, and mission-aligned manner at all times.
Additional Statements:
- Drug and alcohol screening: Employment contingent upon passing pre-employment drug and alcohol screen. Also, contingent upon receiving a favorable background check. Must pass a physical examination if required.
- EEO statement: Our policy is to afford Equal Employment Opportunity to qualified individuals regardless of their race, color, sex, religion, age, creed, marital status, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or gender identification. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.
- Disclaimer and closing statement: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this job. Fire Sharks LLC is committed to offering our employees competitive compensation and benefits, opportunities for development and growth throughout an exciting and rewarding career, and the safest work environment possible.
Pay: From $78,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Application Question(s):
- Please explain why you think you would be a great fit for the role
Education:
Experience:
- Public relations: 3 years (Preferred)
- Social Media: 2 years (Preferred)
- Non-Profit Community Relations: 2 years (Required)
- Volunteer management: 2 years (Preferred)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: Remote
