Strategist, National Shelter Support

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $60,000 to $70,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Out-of-town travel for the job is expected to range from 50%-60% depending on the location of the jobholder and specific responsibilities and tasks assigned.

Position Summary: The Strategist for the National Shelter Support program will work closely with the Senior Manager of National Shelter Support to help analyze, set and execute the programmatic strategies for the advancement of Best Friends’ goal to achieve a no-kill nation in 2025 through the National Shelter Support (NSS) team. This will be accomplished through strategic programmatic services which includes, but is not limited to, working directly with assigned portfolio shelters to identify and solve for lifesaving gaps, assisting and leading Best Friends’ assessments, and supporting other BFAS programs in achieving specific lifesaving goals.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

• Conduct assessments that identify lifesaving gaps in shelter/animal control operations of strategic partners across the country and create formal written reports on how shelter/animal control partners can fill identified gaps, increase effectiveness and work collaboratively to achieve lifesaving goals.  

• Under the supervision and leadership of the Senior Manager of National Shelter Support coordinate and assist in the planning and implementation of the shelter operations and field services training courses and related training programs.

• Provide partners with systems of accountability.  Empower partners to achieve goals, hold partners accountable and provide a reporting system of determining measurable successes.  

• Work closely with regional staff members to support regional priorities, focus and tactics. 

• Represents Best Friends at national, regional and state events and conferences including public speaking and making presentations on a variety of topics related to shelter operations.  

• Identify and cultivate new relationships with animal services and welfare community and other stakeholders with the intent of reaching NK2025.  

• Monitor trends in the animal welfare field, and advise on positioning, messaging and programming. 

• Support the Development division to effectively communicate the mission and vision of BF and to cultivate BF resource growth.  

• Ensure work is always consistent with and supportive of the BF organizational brand.

• Collaborate with Communications division to best ensure all program and communications goals are met.  

• Interact with other BF support services to create and/or support effective processes, technologies, and other official BF operational policies.   

• Other duties as assigned.  

Skills and Experience:  

• Background in the animal control movement: 3+ years of experience working for or with an animal control organization.  Both field services and shelter experience is strongly preferred. Candidates should be comfortable explaining lifesaving programming and field services. 

• Ability to create formal assessment reports which provide a comprehensive overview of animal shelters’ operations and recommendations for improving processes and shelter lifesaving metrics.

• Extensive knowledge of major animal welfare/control issues. 

• Strong public speaking skills required.

• Strong interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations. The ideal person for this job would be a team player, personable, professional, upbeat and energetic, who takes initiative, uses tact and diplomacy.  

• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and professionalism are necessary for this position.      

• Experience in collaboration and conflict resolution.  

• Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ position on issues.  

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in various stages of development, each with a unique timeline.  

• Demonstrated ability to affect change/create positive influence on agencies outside of position’s direct management control.  

• Work requires continual attention to detail.  Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.  

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint; and other systems as needed.  

  Physical Requirements:

• Extended periods of time working on the computer with repetitive typing, arm and hand motion.    

• Lift up to 50 pounds, bend, stoop, reach, climb, twist, crawl, stand and walk for an extended period.  

• Ability to be in a shelter environment and work in the presence of both cats and dogs, including organizations where cats and dogs are currently being killed for space.   

• Must be able to work in weather with temperatures varying between extreme hot and extreme cold.  

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance. Ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.  Ability to drive a Best Friends vehicle when necessary.

• Travel could be up to 60%. Ability to travel via various forms of transportation. 

• Able to work varying hours, which may include early morning and/or late evening hours.     

About Best Friends

Best Friends received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage. Visit the Best Friends Animal Society page on Energage's Top Workplaces award winners’ site here to learn more. Not only do we take pride in cultivating a welcoming and supportive community and culture for our employees, but we also offer competitive benefits that make it easy to see why we were granted such an awesome award! We offer competitive pay including the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on performance. We offer medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, paid family leave, dependent care reimbursement, pet sitting reimbursement when traveling for work, flexible spending account, and health savings account. We offer generous paid time off up to 9 hours per month for full time employees, nine paid holidays annually, auto insurance discount, and legal and identity theft coverage.  For added well-being support, we offer Pawternity Leave for employees to have time to care for their personal pets, mental health support, and an employee assistance program. We also offer a generous 401k savings plan. Do you want to love where you work and make history and end the killing of shelter pets by 2025? Look no further and apply today! 

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 US 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 US by Best Friends Animal Society.