Work directly with the Founder & Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice President of Marketing and Communications to implement media, PR and community outreach tactics that help promote PAWS Chicago’s mission, adoptions and program successes.

Position Objectives:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with local, regional and national media contacts to maximize current and future exposure.
• Build new relationships with local, regional and national media contacts to maximize and grow brand awareness and mission.
• Develop and pitch stories tied to mission and supporting events and programs, ranging from thought leadership to program and event information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Media Relations

• Responsible for managing and moderating communications between the organization and various media outlets – on and offline - such as newspapers, digital outlets, radio broadcasts and television stations. Also responsible for informing the media when something new happens within the organization and communicate with journalists when a negative event happens.
• Serve as spokesperson to the media and the general public and assist with production, photography and other media related requests.
• Promote PAWS Chicago’s community outreach programs, special events and other mission-based promotions or initiatives through media and by working with key staff partners to ensure cross-promotion and consistent key messaging.
• Issue press releases, arrange interviews and compile information for the press that explain/convey the organization's programs, services and mission in order to take advantage of media event, broadcast opportunities, improve relationships and/or obtain optimum media coverage for the organization.
• Secure and train media spokespeople when necessary.
• Develop and maintain proactive media fact sheets/talking points that tie to ongoing issues, events, tips, like cold weather, safe holidays, etc.
• Track media efforts on a monthly and yearly basis by medium and by type (adoption, event, mission-related, etc)

• Secure celebrity emcees for events.
• Develop talking points for Founder and other key senior managers for events, presentations, etc.
• Supervise Communications Associate

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  Passion for animals and animal welfare
• Bachelor’s degree in communications-related field or minimum 5+ years of experience in public relations field emphasizing media relations, writing and project management
• Excellent writing, verbal and organizational skills required
• Must possess a high level of decision-making ability, good planning, problem-solving and negotiating skills, perform well under pressure, ability to be a confident, on-camera spokesperson for the organization with solid understanding of PAWS Chicago’s No Kill mission and messaging
• Ability to work well with others, cultivate new media prospects, and provide stewardship to media contacts

PAWS Chicago Values-in-Action

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  Respect: for each and every life.
• Community: of people and organizations committed to helping homeless pets.
• Innovation: to constantly improve best practices and seek out new ideas and strategies to save more lives. To be a Learning Center that evolves and grows.
• Pro-activity: to solve difficult problems and to be prepared to offer emergency and crisis support.
• Transparency: that informs the public about the fate of homeless animals.
• Education: that raises awareness about the realities that homeless animals face in the community and across the nations, providing a forum for people to get involved in effecting change. Promotes and support reasonable pet ownership.
• Sustainability: through financial management practices that maximize the impact and reach of our resources and endure that PAWS Chicago will always be a resource for homeless animals.
• Compassion: towards all people and animals.