Campaign Strategist

Location: Utah County, Utah - frequent onsite work is required.  

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $72,000 - $82,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

The Best Friends Campaign Strategist, will:

• Strategize, organize, lead and support campaign and legislative efforts to help end the killing of healthy and treatable dogs and cats in America’s shelters.

• Engage and educate government officials to ensure and understanding of the importance of Best Friends’ lifesaving efforts.

• Advocate for and implement local policies and practices that lead to lifesaving efforts of dogs and cats.

• Work to use all tools available, such direct action, advocacy, civic engagement, and education to help Save Them All.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build grassroots support for Best Friends initiatives by canvassing priority areas, phone banking, testifying at local government meetings, and tabling at community events.

• Develop strategy including goals, objectives, tactics, and timelines for advocacy campaigns.

• Support the implementation of various stages of the campaigns and policies.

• Co-facilitate/ participate in meetings for existing coalitions (as needed).

• Map the political and legal landscapes of designated localities, which includes participating in ongoing meetings with elected officials, other Best Friends teams.

• Build relationships and advocate with key stakeholders and policy makers in priority communities.

• Build coalitions and coordinate efforts to advance efforts to stop the killing of dogs and cats in local shelters.

• Review community-facing documents, when applicable.

• Support communications work for policy campaigns, when applicable.

• Represent Best Friends by attending, tabling, and speaking at conferences and events to advance policies that enable lifesaving in local shelters.

• Lobby for or against public policies for the purpose of removing barriers to lifesaving in local shelters as needed.

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred, but equivalent experience is accepted.

• Advocacy or legislative experience at the state or local level is required.

• Management experience in a political or advocacy campaign is preferred.

• Experience leading and coordinating coalitions/ strategic alliances.

• Experience with campaign planning and project management is strongly preferred.

• A commitment to reducing the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters.

• The ability to create strategic alignment among diverse stakeholder groups.

• Proactive at building relationships with organizers, advocates and elected officials in new areas.

• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.

• Demonstrate flexibility in a changing work environment while maintaining effectiveness and efficiency.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to:

  • Perform daily activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, and bending.

  • Walk and stand for extended periods of time.

  • Work at a computer or drive a car for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, arm, and hand motion.

  • Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.

• Comfortability with canvassing and going door to door to speak with constituents in communities.

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

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

• Travel could be up to 25%. Ability to travel in/out of state, 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.