Chief Communications Officer

Kansas City Pet Project

Job Description

Title: Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
Department: Marketing
Reports to: President/CEO
Category:  Full time/Exempt; Salary
Supervises: Manager of Marketing & Communications, Manager of Retail & Merchandising, Executive Communications Liaison, Customer Engagement Coordinator
Salary: $80,000-90,000
Schedule: 40+ hours per week, typically performed Monday through Friday. Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

KC Pet Project is a nonprofit organization that operates the Kansas City, MO animal shelter, caring for more than 16,000 pets a year.

Commitment: The Chief Communications Officer (CCO) at KC Pet Project plays a pivotal role in shaping and advancing the organization's public image, brand, and marketing efforts. This dynamic position is responsible for the strategy and leadership of all marketing, written communications, advertising, social media, media/public relations, and brand management activities to ensure KC Pet Project remains at the forefront of animal welfare both locally and nationally.

This leader is an excellent communicator and collaborator who is approachable, strategic, confident, and open-minded to different ways to achieve goals and work with others for the betterment of the animals and people in our community. As a key member of the Executive Team, the CCO collaborates closely with the President/CEO and the Development Team to drive philanthropic fundraising initiatives and promote the organization’s lifesaving efforts in the community.

This role is instrumental in promoting the organization's mission, engaging with the community, and cultivating meaningful relationships with stakeholders across various platforms. Ability to lead by example in managing issues requiring crisis communications and problem resolution with a “solutions, not excuses” approach with excellent interpersonal and intervention skills.

Key Responsibilities:
Oversees all marketing, advertising, social media, media/public relations, and brand management for KC Pet Project.
Collaborates with the Development Team on fundraising initiatives, grants, direct mail, donor appeals, and campaigns/events.
Promotes pets and KC Pet Project stories across television, radio, and other media platforms, locally and globally, while cultivating new media opportunities.
Oversees retail and coffee operations at the campus to achieve revenue and service goals.
Participates in the planning, coordinating, and execution of events at KCCAC to raise funds, increase awareness, and promote humane education within the community.
Writes blogs and position statements for the website to enhance messaging, programs, and services.
Creates social media strategy and oversees content creation for platforms including Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, website, and YouTube, ensuring alignment with voice and brand standards.
Creates frequent opportunities for media engagement; speaks publicly on behalf of the organization for radio and television interviews, conferences/webinars, community events, and other speaking opportunities.
Provides consistent communication with all staff and volunteers to support organizational goals.
Works with Executive Team members to coordinate community campaigns, new programs/services, and media engagement to increase lifesaving based on organizational needs.
Participates in all KC Campus for Animal Care and KC Pet Project boards of directors’ meetings.
Oversees and/or implements crisis communication strategies.
Positions KC Pet Project as a leader and best-practices organization in the animal welfare industry.
Participates in the annual budgeting process and reviews activity reports and financial statements for the Marketing/Communications department to determine progress and status in attaining objectives and revises objectives and plans in accordance with current conditions and the economy.
Prepares and distributes monthly Impact Reports to include marketing and communications key metrics. Provides updates or presentations at Kansas City, MO city council or department meetings as requested.
Demonstrates progressive leadership and actively contributes to the organization’s strategic goals through the commitment to the Human-Animal Support Services model and values. Collaborates with other animal welfare marketing/communications professionals by sharing best practices and supporting new programs and services to keep more people and pets together.
Assists in the identification of practices/barriers to pet adoption and recommends changes to internal policies or practices to remove barriers to pet adoption and/or veterinary services for under-resourced communities, understanding the systemic inequality prevalent in animal welfare, and committing to supporting the human/animal bond.
As a certified Service Enterprise organization, supports KC Pet Project by leveraging community volunteers throughout the marketing organization to achieve operational efficiency and greater social impact.
Assists President/CEO and Chief Development Officer with grant writing/reporting as needed.
Adheres to and ensures compliance with all KC Pet Project organizational policies and procedures.
Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned, or needed.

Qualifications:
Bachelor's or advanced degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field is preferred
A minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or marketing, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
Proven experience in nonprofit communications and public relations
A knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, or development, with a track record of meeting or exceeding annual revenue goals is preferred
Experience working within the animal welfare sector or a related nonprofit field is highly desirable
Must be willing to establish residency in Kansas City, MO in accordance with KCMO city ordinance (2020).

To apply: Please visit http://kcpetproject.org/careers to apply online and submit cover letter and resume. You may be asked to submit samples of media interviews and campaigns to hiring personnel.

This is a full time job