Community Marketing and Partnerships Specialist

Independent Pet Partners•Woodbury, MN

8d•$60,000 - $70,500

About The Position

At Independent Pet Partners (IPP), we’re more than a retailer—we’re a community of passionate pet experts dedicated to making life better for pets and the people who love them. Loving your pet is the easiest thing in the world. Taking care of them should be just as easy. IPP brings everything pet parents need into one trusted place. Through our local pet store brands, Chuck & Don’s and Kriser’s, we create welcoming neighborhood stores where knowledgeable team members help pet parents make the best choices for their pets’ health and happiness. Our approach is guided by the 5 Pillars of Pet Wellness®, a philosophy that shapes everything we do - from the products we carry to the services we offer and the advice we share. With more than 77 neighborhood pet stores, we’re proud to serve pet communities across Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas and Colorado. The Community Marketing & Partnerships Specialist is responsible for driving new customer acquisition and local market awareness through grassroots marketing, community partnerships, and field-based outreach. This role will focus on building strong relationships with local pet-focused businesses and organizations while supporting store teams with strategies and tools to effectively engage their communities. This position plays a critical role in accelerating the ramp of new store openings and strengthening customer acquisition in existing markets. The ideal candidate is an outgoing, relationship-driven professional who thrives in the field and is passionate about connecting pet parents with our brand. Success in this role will be measured through customer acquisition growth, partnership development, new store activation performance, and measurable impact from local outreach initiatives.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in marketing, partnerships, community engagement, or customer acquisition.
Experience building partnerships or managing events.
Strong relationship-building and networking abilities
Excellent communication and influencing skills
Self-starter with strong organizational and project management skills
Ability to translate outreach and partnership activities into measurable business outcomes
Comfortable working in the field and engaging directly with community partners
Willingness to travel regularly to support stores and community partnerships
Passion for pets and the pet parent community
Located in Minneapolis or Denver metro areas
Must be able to work around pet hair and dander.

Nice To Haves

Experience in retail, services, lifestyle, fitness or multi-location consumer businesses preferred.
Experience supporting new store openings or local market development is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead grassroots customer acquisition initiatives through local partnerships, community outreach, and market engagement.
Identify and develop relationships with local, pet-friendly businesses such as veterinarians, rescues, shelters, boarding facilities, and other organizations.
Research and identify local events, partnerships, and community opportunities that drive brand awareness and customer growth.
Support new store openings through pre- and post-opening market outreach and awareness initiatives.
Build early relationships within communities to accelerate customer acquisition and store ramp performance.
Support grand openings and local market launch activities.
Establish and manage partnerships with local organizations, rescues, and businesses to strengthen community engagement.
Represent the brand in local markets and serve as a trusted partner within the pet community.
Provide guidance to district leaders and store managers on community outreach, partnerships, and local engagement opportunities.
Share best practices to help store teams successfully execute grassroots marketing initiatives.
Partner with Training and Development team to develop training for store team members on the best practices for community engagement.
Assist stores with planning and executing community events and local activations.
Lead planning and execution of corporate-led community initiatives and partnership events.
Represent the brand at community events and activations.
Track and evaluate the impact of outreach activities, partnerships, and events.
Identify successful programs and recommend opportunities to expand or improve customer acquisition efforts.

Benefits

PTO (paid time off) – 2 weeks in first year, 3 weeks in second year
Paid Parental Leave and Paw-Ternity (paid Pet Adoption bonding time)
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)/ Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – medical and dependent care
401(k) Program
Greatly discounted, employer-subsidized pet insurance
Generous discounts on goods and services
$25K life insurance policy (employer paid)
Short and Long-term disability (employer paid)
Employee Assistance Program/ 24X7 – completely confidential