Location: Remote

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $90,000 to $95,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Position Summary: The Senior Strategist, Network and Advocacy Communications develops and writes business-to-business content for digital and press content that focuses on issues that are imperative for achieving no-kill, creating data driven change, and creating awareness of Best Friends’ Network Partner stories and work for B2B audience. This role will develop a variety of written materials, conduct research to support B2B communications efforts, pitch data driven PR to local and national media, and partner with other internal Best Friends Teams to advance B2B efforts. This role would also share responsibilities on the advocacy team by monitoring state and local legislation in priority communities, drafting, reviewing, editing and amending ordinances and other pieces of legislation, as well as some travel to speak with local leadership and government officials on animal related laws and ordinances. In addition, this position will work with the advocacy team to provide strategic advice to other Best Friends departments to impact policy changes at the local level to advance the mission of No Kill.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Treat people around you with kindness and compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, prioritize your well-being like you do our mission, and work to build strong relationships with your colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback. You are responsible and accountable for the culture you add to your team dynamic.

• Draft short and long-form content for B2B audiences, including pieces that synthesize complex data into digestible and actionable terms for key audiences.

• Write and edit written content for website, email, social, video scripts, press releases, talking points etc.

• Pitch and writing assigned pieces about critical animal welfare issues that help network partners successfully work and accelerate towards no-kill and support the Network Team’s goals, strategies, and campaigns. 

• Participate in content meetings to align Network and other departments and divisions and identify editorial opportunities related to strategic needs.

• Provide writing guidance and support for subject matter experts and/or other communications channels, including the Best Friends Magazine and B2C web and social. Coordinate internal communication efforts for the Network team including BFConnect submissions and Workplace posts.

• Stay abreast of latest writing and communications trends related to similar organizations and the animal welfare field to ensure writing excellence and best practices across the organization.

• Collaborate with insights and analytics team to write and promote lifesaving data reports and ensure that data is prominently and appropriately incorporated into all B2B messaging and communications.

• Act as a data journalist, working closely with data scientists to interpret data, create media pitches and communicate with local and national reporters/media outlets.

• Provide assistance on complex legislation on animal law issues including researching, drafting and amending legislation and reviewing ordinances and reviewing existing and proposed laws to understand their impact on animals.

• Meet with state and local lawmakers, government officials and other stakeholders in local communities, virtually and in-person, to speak and present information related to animal shelter policies and legislation in various forums.

• Provide strategic guidance to various internal departments on changing policies and procedures to remove barriers to achieving no kill in priority communities.

Skills and Experience:  

• Requires bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) plus 5-7 years of experience.  Requires experience in legislative communications and writing with 3-5 years of experience.

• This position requires heavy internal cross-divisional collaboration, external partner communications and relationship building (including media outlets), and an understanding of B2B, B2C and legislative communications.   

• Exceptional writing, copyediting, and ghostwriting skills for several audiences, purposes, and channels in a variety of styles required. Comfort with development of short and long form content.

• Ability to simplify complex data/science/topics into succinct content that target audiences find compelling and relatable. Strong research experience and ability to draft talking points / background documents.

• Demonstrated ability to monitor various channels and connect consistently with peers and partners to identify story topic ideas and opportunities.

• Ability to follow and uphold brand voice across channels and styles. High comfort level with peer collaboration as well as feedback, edits, and suggestions from peers.

• Familiarity with omni-channel strategies and executing tasks within comprehensive.

• Communications plans with multiple audiences and goals. Ability to meet assignment deadlines and prioritize competing demands.

• Legislative experience with animal welfare related issues, as well as the ability to clearly and precisely communicate legal information and draft legal documents, including bills, resolutions, and amendments.

• Experience interpreting laws, regulations, and public policies.

• Experience with animal shelters, animal rescues or municipal governments is required.

• Excellent time management, project management, and self-regulation skills are necessary.

• Demonstrated experience using remote work collaboration and communication tools like Office365, Asana, Teams, etc. 

• Bilingual in Spanish a plus.

• Law degree a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting up to 40 pounds, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.

• Drive a car or work at a for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, arm, and hand motion.

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights and holiday work.

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance.  

• Travel to conferences, in person meetings, and discussions with local government officials and constituents on animal related laws and ordinances, not to exceed 30%.

• Ability to travel up to 30%, including overnight stays, when needed.   

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.