Manager, Marketing Strategy - NWA Pet Resource Center

Location: NWA Pet Resource Center, Bentonville, AR (with regional travel up to 25%) - Hybrid role - 3 days onsite/week.

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $80,000 - $90,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Position Summary:

The Marketing Manager is responsible for engaging Northwest Arkansas (NWA) communities with compelling, data-informed campaigns that support adoption, fostering, volunteering, and donations—while supporting marketing partnerships with local shelters.

As a highly visible and collaborative role, the Marketing Manager works closely with Programs, PR, Multicultural Marketing, Creative, and Development teams to ensure efforts are informed by local insight, aligned with Best Friends’ mission, and tailored to the diverse communities we serve. This position also manages and mentors a direct report, supporting their professional growth while ensuring smooth coordination of local marketing efforts.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and proactive doer—equally comfortable building campaign plans and rolling up their sleeves to support execution.

Culture Statement and Responsibility: We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well-being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead Localized Marketing Strategy: Drive integrated, community-centered marketing campaigns for the NWA Pet Resource Center, collaborating with cross-functional teams and serving as the primary local marketing contact.
• Manage Local Content and Social Media: Oversee content calendars, promotions, and social media efforts that align with Best Friends’ brand voice, strategic goals, and broader campaigns. Provides oversight, accountability, and strategic integration—and can step in to manage social if needed.
• Leverage Data to Inform Performance: Monitor, analyze, and report on marketing metrics—including social media and campaign performance—to drive continuous improvement.
• Strengthen Media and Influencer Partnerships: Work alongside the Senior Specialist, who leads primary relationships with local press, influencers, and community partners. Provide strategic guidance, remove barriers, and help expand reach and impact through coordinated efforts with PR and editorial teams.
• Support Local Events and Community Engagement: Partner closely with the Community Programs teams to support the marketing and promotion of local events. Take an active role in firming up event details and reviewing marketing materials for accuracy and completeness, including social media, flyers, and signage, to ensure strong visibility, brand alignment, and local relevance. Provide structure around timelines and deliverables, and track and analyze performance data to help inform which events and partnerships are prioritized over time.
• Mentor and Manage Direct Reports and Volunteers: Provide guidance, feedback, and professional development to ensure effective and aligned local marketing execution.
• Champion Inclusive and Culturally Relevant Marketing: Support the development of inclusive campaigns that reflect NWA’s diversity and deepen community connections to the organization’s mission.

Skills and Experience:

• Marketing Strategy & Campaign Execution: 6 Years of experience in marketing, communications, or community engagement, ideally in nonprofit or cause-based environments. Proven ability to lead campaigns from concept to execution with measurable results, using data and analytics to evaluate performance and inform continuous improvement.
• Social Media & Content Development: Experience managing and growing social platforms (especially Instagram and Facebook), with a strong understanding of content strategy, analytics, and audience development.
• Digital Advertising & Audience Growth: Experience developing and managing targeted digital advertising strategies (e.g., social media ads, display ads) to expand reach, attract new audiences, and re-engage existing supporters; ability to align paid media with broader marketing campaigns to drive measurable results.
• Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to lead complex projects across multiple teams, balancing competing priorities and timelines in a fast-paced environment. Skilled at building strong cross-functional relationships, influencing without authority, and driving alignment to deliver high-impact results.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to supervise, mentor, and inspire team members. Skilled at fostering a collaborative and positive team culture.
• Communication & Cultural Fluency: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to tailor messaging for diverse audiences. Familiarity with multicultural marketing; Spanish bilingual skills are a plus but not required.

Position Expectations:

In addition to the core duties, the Marketing Manager is expected to contribute to a positive team culture, support organizational goals, and remain adaptable to the evolving needs of the NWA Pet Resource Center and broader Best Friends mission.

• Assist with website and landing page updates, social storytelling, and creation of localized collateral.
• Serve as a marketing liaison for community and shelter partners to ensure alignment between programs, marketing, and engagement as needed.
• Stay informed on local, national and industry marketing trends and best practices, bringing innovative ideas to strengthen local campaigns and align them with evolving supporter behaviors.
• Identify new marketing opportunities to increase visibility and engagement in NWA.
• Actively participate in planning meetings, team check-ins, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Maintain a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and occasional travel.
• Model Best Friends’ values in all interactions and contribute positively to team culture.
• Treat others with kindness, compassion, and respect; embrace honest feedback and continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively and transparently, fostering accountability, trust, and a shared commitment to lifesaving.

Physical Requirements:

• Routinely lift 65 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
• Ability to be in a shelter environment and work in the presence of and handle both cats and dogs, including organizations where cats and dogs are currently being killed for space.
• 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 up to 20% of the time (around NWA, within Arkansas, and out of state) and able to travel by various modes of transportation (plane, car, etc.)

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.