Manager, Marketing Strategy

Job Title: Marketing Manager

Location: Bentonville, AR (with regional travel up to 25%) - Hybrid role -3+ days onsite/week

Reports to: Senior Manager, Marketing Strategy or equivalent

Hiring Range: This position's hiring range isanticipatedto be $80,000-$90,000 depending on experience, plus great benefits!

About This Role

Best Friends Animal Society is on a mission to end the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters. In Northwest Arkansas, that mission is showing up in neighborhoods, at community events, and across social feeds every day. This role sits at the center of that work,isconnected to one of the most innovative assets in Animal Welfare- theNWA Pet Resource Center, andshapeshow people in NWA discover, connect with, and advocate for the pets in our care.

As Marketing Manager for the NWA Pet Resource Center, youwon'tjust run campaigns -you'llbe the reason a family meets their dogorcat,a volunteer shows up on a Tuesday, and a donor decides this cause is worth their money. Your work lives at the intersection of mission and community: getting the right story in front of the right person at exactly the right momentand requiresstrategic leadership,tenacity, androlling up sleeves to support execution.

You'llblend data and instinct to build marketing that drives adoption, fosters, volunteers, and donations - using modern channels, emerging tools, and genuine creative conviction. You'll also lead and grow a direct report, bringing the same energy to their development that you bring to a campaign launch, and partner closely with Lifesaving Teams, PR, Multicultural Marketing, Creative, and Fundraisingto ensure thatlocalinsightcanbesuperchargedtoscaleandresonate.

WhatYou'llDo

• Lead Marketing Strategy:Community-centered campaigns for the NWA Pet Resource Center that work across channels and touchpoints. Serve as the primary local marketing contact,brininginnovativesolutions(i.e.scaling withAI)to work smarter across planning, coordination, and execution.

• Manage Local Content andSocial 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.

• Build and Champion Marketing Systems:Improve how marketingoperatesbyidentifyingand advancing systems, automations, and workflows that reduce manual effort, increase visibility into performance, and support stronger decisionmaking across campaigns and channels.

• Strengthen Media and Influencer Partnerships:Work alongside the Senior Specialist, who leads primary relationships with local press, influencers, and community partners.Providestrategic 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 Community Programs teams to support and promote local events, ensure marketing materials areaccurateand effective, and use what you learn to decide what's worth doing again.

• Mentor and Manage Direct Reports and Volunteers:Provide guidance, feedback, and professional development to ensure effective and aligned local marketing execution. Supportgrowth, andmodel thoughtful adoption of evolving tools and ways of working.

• 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.

What You Bring

• Marketing Strategy & CampaignExecution:You bring 6+years of marketing or community engagement experience, ideally in a nonprofit or cause-centered environment. You lead campaigns from concept to results and use data to sharpenwhat'sworking. You know how to evaluate what's worth adopting versus what'shype- and you understand when AI accelerates the work and when the human touch matters more.

• 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.

• Hands on AI Practices & a Modern Marketing Mindset:You have hunger to understand, use and build '/skills' and 'self-start' in the evolving AI and marketing landscape. Youoperateat the intersection of creativity and data, and get excited about using AI to accelerate ideas, personalize content/delivery and own the human layer, keeping a sharp eye on brand, audience, and message quality.

• 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:Track record leading complex projects across multiple teams, balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Skilled at building cross-functional relationships, getting people alignedthrough influence, and following through to deliver results.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship:You'vebeen a marketer, not just a manager of them.You'reas comfortable leading through influence as through direct authority, and you model the collaborative culture you expect from others.

• 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 notrequired.

You show up with kindness, transparency, and a genuine commitment to the mission.You'reflexible when the work calls for it - includingsomeevenings and weekends - embrace honestfeedback, andthrive in a culture built on accountability and sharedpurpose.

Physical Requirements:

Working in animal welfare means showing up for the animals directly. This roleoperatesin and around shelter environments, and that's part of what makes it meaningful.

• 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.

• Comfort working in and around active shelter environments, including facilities where animals are at risk. This is the reality of rescue work, andit'swhat drives everything we do.

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years,abilityto 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.)