Public Relations Strategist

Best Friends Animal Society; New York (NY); Remote; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Best Friends Animal Society is seeking a Public Relations Strategist to lead media efforts in NYC and beyond. The ideal candidate will have strong media contacts, excellent writing skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects. This role is essential for building public awareness and support for the organization's mission.

Benefits

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

401k savings plan

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of hands-on public relations experience.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute dynamic public relations strategies.
• Craft press releases and media alerts.
• Cultivate relationships with journalists and media outlets.

Skills

Writing

Communication

Project Management

Media Relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field

Tools

Critical Mention

MuckRack

Asana

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Location: Remote; Must live in NY City area

Hiring Range: $85,000 – $95,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

This position is anticipated to last until the end of 2026 with the intention of becoming a regular full-time role.

To apply for this role, go to bestfriends.org/careers and submit your application directly.

Position Summary: We are looking for an experienced PR person with great media contacts in the NY area and the ability to work beyond the 9-5.

The Public Relations Strategist will lead earned media efforts for Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York City, as well as priority locations across the East Coast. This role develops, supports, and executes a wide variety of public relations initiatives to build public awareness and support for Best Friends and its mission to achieve no-kill nationwide.

The ideal candidate is a critical thinker and creative storyteller, able to distill complex issues into compelling narratives for a wide range of channels and audiences. This person is an exceptional writer, multitasker, and communicator who works with a sense of urgency and can consistently find meaningful ways to enter the news cycle. They are collaborative, detail-oriented, and possess strong follow-through and project management skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute dynamic public relations strategies to elevate awareness for Best Friends in NYC, on the East Coast, and nationally.
• Craft press releases, pitches, media alerts, interview briefing documents, and talking points that effectively communicate Best Friends’ mission and impact.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with national, regional, and NYC-based journalists, editors, and producers across traditional and emerging media platforms.
• Respond to both proactive and reactive media opportunities.
• Use industry insights and data to shape narratives that resonate with key audiences and media outlets.
• Coordinate and oversee national and local media shoots and segments in NYC.
• Serve as a spokesperson for Best Friends and provide media training to approved spokespeople.
• Conduct media coverage analysis on animal welfare issues; provide strategic communications counsel to leadership and identify thought leadership opportunities.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams (marketing, social media, creative, advocacy, celebrity and corporate relations, and programs) to ensure alignment and maximize exposure.
• Proactively seek out media opportunities in NYC and key locations; serve as a strategic partner and mentor to local shelters and rescue groups within Best Friends network.

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of hands-on public relations experience, including a strong track record of securing national, NYC and other local media markets as assigned.
• Prior experience at a PR agency or in-house at a large brand is required.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to develop persuasive pitches and messaging.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative, team-first attitude.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects while delivering high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience managing 3–5 simultaneous campaigns or initiatives.
• Familiarity with tools such as Critical Mention, MuckRack, Asana, and Microsoft Office; comfort learning new platforms and systems.
• Experience leveraging data to develop strategic media narratives.
• Ability to travel up to 20% and work outside of standard business hours, including early mornings, nights, and weekends as needed.
• Must be responsive after hours and accessible via mobile for email and Microsoft Teams communication.
• Deep commitment to animal welfare and to Best Friends’ mission to Save Them All.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods, including repetitive typing and hand motion.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards.
• Daily work hours may vary based on departmental needs; this position includes some weekend, evening, and holiday work.

About Best Friends

Best Friends recently received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage. Visit the Best Friends Animal Society page on the Energage 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.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Temporary

Job function

• Job function

  Public Relations

• Industries

  Non-profit Organizations

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Inferred from the description for this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

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