Community Engagement Strategist

Location: Los Angeles CA

Hiring Range: This position's hiring range is anticipated to be $65,000 to $72,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Interviews will occur weekly until the position is filled.

Summary: The Community Relations Strategist is responsible for the execution and management of Best Friends Animal Society’s NKLA initiative which includes but is not limited to the relationships and work with and around LA city officials, appointed LA Animal Services Commission members, the NKLA Coalition and strategic LA stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for building and maintaining city, coalition and strategic community stakeholder relationships in coordination of Best Friends’ work and priorities in Los Angeles.
• Responsible for development and execution of strategy to regularly communicate with city officials, keeping them apprised of the work Best Friends is doing, lifesaving progress in the city, and relevant challenges within their purview.
• Directly responsible for representing Best Friends at city meetings and with city officials, as well as assigned city events and meetings,
• Build a plan and implement with LA leadership strong relationships and timely communication with the city, LAAS, NKLA organizations and key individuals for Best Friends’ needs and work in L.A.
• Work with Best Friends Advocacy team to coordinate work with elected officials.
• Supervise, create, approve and review benchmarks and progress with Los Angeles outreach personnel to ensure adherence to the program’s strategic plan and goals, including estimating resources.
• Ensure Best Friends Animal Society Los Angeles (BFLA) staff and coalition partners are working closely together and productively with one another to achieve desired outcomes. In addition, deliver quality customer service including disseminating appropriate information as well as perform duties in a manner which encourages attainment of goals and contributions and business for Best Friends Animal Society, NKLA and its programs.
• Responsible for attending NKLA steering committee meetings, L.A. City Council Neighborhood and Community Enrichment Committee, L.A. City Council and LAAS Commission meetings when requested.
• Find opportunities to assist the coalition partners in their efforts to increase adoptions, build capacity, and apply best practice strategies.
• Track and report all lobbying activities in accordance with local, state, and federal laws as well as Best Friends’ policies.
• Support for other teams (e.g. events, admissions, outcomes, adoptions) as needed
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Experience:

• 3 + years of experience working in government politics, political campaigns, lobbying or local politics required: working for a humane organization a plus. Experience working in the city of LA strongly preferred.
• Experience with training and cultivating plans for political influence and impact.
• Experience reviewing statistical information to inform program direction.
• Engaging and friendly interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with the public and

various media outlets on the organization’s behalf.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends Animal Society positions on issues.
• Proficiency with computer tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, internet research, etc.
• Valid driver’s license with access to transportation for travel on organization business.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds.
• Must be physically able to perform strenuous manual labor.
• Effectively handle dogs and cats.
• Lifting and handling animals of varying sizes and breeds, bending, stooping and walking on a daily basis.
• Work at a computer for extended periods of time to include repetitive typing, arm and hand motion.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department, including weekends, evenings, holiday and on-call work.

Culture Statement and Responsibility