As the scale and scope of the National Link Coalition’s work has expanded, we are excited to announce the creation of a new leadership position of an Assistant Director. The Assistant Director position is being funded and implemented as part of the Coalition’s succession plan to ensure continuous coverage of executive duties that are critical to our growing operations and sustainability and to ensure continuity in external relationships and organizational effectiveness.

The Assistant Director will support the Executive Director in the production and distribution of the monthly LINK-Letter, presentations at various conferences and webinars, and in general organizational operations. The Assistant Director will be expected to be available to step in should the Executive Director no longer be able to fulfill his duties. The position is intended to grow into the senior chief executive position at an indeterminate point in the future should the successful candidate gain adequate experience and knowledge, prove qualified and be willing to accept the Executive Directorship.

The position is part-time, working approximately 40 hours per month as an independent contractor, with an annual compensation of $30,000 plus travel expenses. The Assistant Director will be able to work remotely but will be expected to be able to travel occasionally and as necessary for initial training and speaking engagements.

The ideal candidate is someone looking for a position where they can work hands-on to make a tangible impact and take ownership of the National Link Coalition’s direction over time.

The position will remain open until it is filled. Interested candidates should submit a resume to Phil Arkow, Executive Director, at arkowpets@snip.net.

Title: Assistant Director

Name of Organization: The National Link Coalition

Location: Remote

Job Details

Job Type: Part time; Independent Contractor; Remote

Average number of hours per week: Approximately 10, up to approximately 40 hours per month

Compensation:  $30,000 per year plus travel expenses

This position is intended to grow into the senior leadership position at an indeterminate point in the future should the successful candidate gain adequate experience and knowledge, prove qualified and be willing to accept the senior position.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

The position will remain open until it is filled. Interested candidates should submit a resume or CV to Phil Arkow, Executive Director, at arkowpets@snip.net.

Required Skills:

• Experience in nonprofit leadership, organizational management and operations.
• Experience in nonprofit fundraising, development and grant writing to nurture existing funding sources and cultivate new ones from philanthropic, corporate, organizational, and individual relationships.
• Confident and effective public speaking and communication skills, particularly in reaching out to multiple disciplines and organizations.
• Extensive connections with individuals and organizations and the ability to maintain and grow existing relationships with current and new partners.
• Technological expertise in social media outreach, podcasts, blogs, website development, and use of new technologies.
• Strong familiarity with multiple aspects of The Link.
• Willingness to work part-time for an indefinite period of time in a supportive role before moving into what is expected to be a senior leadership position pending adequate experience, knowledge and qualifications.

Preferred skills:

• Conducting interactive training presentations in-person and virtually to multi-disciplinary audiences.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Strategic and analytical thinking that focuses on the larger picture.
• Time and budget management, with the ability to manage concurrent high-priority projects.
• Copywriting, editorial and marketing skills.
• Familiarity with legislative processes and collaborating with organizations in support of appropriate legislation.

Basic Requirements:

• Applicant must have access to reliable internet service, a computer with internet access, and familiarity with operating Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), editorial design software, and a smartphone with reliable cell services.
• Applicant must be able to work remotely and independently, under the supervision of the Executive Director and, ultimately, the Board of Directors.
• Applicant must be able to travel periodically as required, and to make his or her own travel arrangements for subsequent reimbursement of expenses.

Preferred Values:

• Visioning: Ability to visualize the Coalition’s future status and growth (structure, culture, leadership, target audiences, etc.) for long-term success.
• Leading and managing change: Challenge the status quo as appropriate, research organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges, and lead necessary changes.
• Passion for the mission: Identifies with the Link mission and inspires others about it.
• Credibility: Demonstrates honesty, sincerity, humility and respect for others while modeling organizational values and inspiring trust from others.
• Achieves results: Sustains and improves organizational practices, priorities and performance. Makes financially-sound decisions. Optimizes resources. Initiates efficient and effective work practices.
• Intelligence and judgment: Makes informed decisions and successfully addresses complex organizational challenges through careful analysis, synthesis and integration of information. Identifies collaborating partners who can provide insights and information as needed.
• Strategic thinking: Provides focus for both short- and long-term direction of the Coalition.
• Inspirational leadership: Develops commitment in others by setting a personal and enthusiastic example and understanding what motivates others.
• Stakeholder focus: Responds to the needs and expectations of others with interest in The Link and the Coalition.
• Financial development: Cultivates, provides direction and assists the Executive Director with contacting foundations and donors. Ensures that generally accepted accounting principles and budgeting processes are adhered to.
• Professional development: Develops strong multi-disciplinary professional loyalties to the mission and values of the Coalition to leverage good will and ongoing collaborations and partnerships.
• Talent management: Works with the Board and the Professional Advisory Committee to attract and develop a diverse talent pool of advisors and volunteers needed to grow the Coalition.
• Interpersonal relationships: Builds exceptional rapport and effective relationships with individuals and organizations who can advance The Link.

Job Duties

The Assistant Director will assist the Executive Director who functions as the Coalition’s chief executive, in a variety of responsibilities including, but not limited to:

               Organizational Management and Administration

• Assist in conducting Board and Advisory Committee meetings.
• Write and distribute minutes of Board & Advisory Committee meetings.
• Submit monthly work and expenses reports.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with collaborating organizations.

               Fund Development

• Help identify, cultivate and solicit potential additional sources of funding through  personal/professional relationships and grant writing.

               Information Technology

• Expand presence in all relevant social media.
• Explore feasibility of cloud-based resources and use of new technologies.

 

               Publications

• Shadow the Executive Director to learn how the LINK-Letter is produced.
• Assist in generating news content for The LINK-Letter, such as:
• Conducting state-by-state reviews of all pending bills to identify Link-related issues.
• Sign up for organizational newsletters and RSS feeds to obtain news media, legislative, and academic journal information for publication in The LINK-Letter.
• Encourage new subscribers.
• Assist in writing special reports addressing Link topics.

 

               Professional Trainings

• Identify additional opportunities to present Link programs, both in-person and virtually.
• Shadow the Executive Director to observe Link presentations.
• Present and co-present Link trainings.
• Design Link PowerPoints and other training programs with emphasis on interactivity  suitable for adult audiences.

               Legislation

• Submit letters and briefs on behalf of the Coalition in support of relevant bills.

               Research

• Scan and summarize research resources for articles of interest.
• Identify opportunities for funding that supports Link research.
• Conduct Link research and publish in academic journals.

                Other duties as assigned

 

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The National Link Coalition, created under the auspices of the American Humane Association in 2008 and later supported by the ASPCA, was incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in 2023. Our mission is to build greater legislative, academic, professional, and public awareness that acts of individual animal cruelty, abuse and neglect are not occasional aberrations but rather are frequently Linked to acts of domestic violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse.  We build on more than 40 years’ worth of research and programs that demonstrate how these four forms of family and community violence are interconnected in what is now widely recognized as “The Link.” Our emphasis is that agencies in these fields that cross-report and cross-train each other offer more effective prevention of, and response to, all forms of family and community violence. A multidisciplinary approach that addresses underlying and common causes of community and family dysfunction and violence has great potential for more effective strategies than do singular, isolated responses.

We have rapidly grown to become the most reliable and comprehensive Global Resource Center on The Link between Animal Abuse and Human Violence. Our motto is elegantly simple: When animals are abused, people are at risk: when people are abused, animals are at risk.

Led by a Board of Directors and an Executive Director augmented by a robust Professional Advisory Committee comprised of nationally renowned experts in the prevention of all forms of family violence, the National Link Coalition actively addresses the intersections between animal abuse, domestic violence, child maltreatment, and elder abuse through research, public policy, programming and professional and community awareness.

Our flagship publication, the free monthly LINK-Letter, is distributed via email to over 5,600 international multidisciplinary professionals and interested members of the public, bringing news in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field to the attention of animal care and control officials, domestic violence and victim services advocates, child and adult protective services, veterinarians, law enforcement, social workers, prosecutors, judges, academicians, human healthcare, and other interested parties.

Our website includes free downloadable resources, including the only National Directory of Abuse Investigation Agencies with telephone numbers for over 6,500 city and county agencies, and our Bibliography with over 2,500 academic journal and organizational publication references.

Our members conduct over 120 virtual and in-person trainings each year reaching thousands of multidisciplinary audiences nationwide and around the world.

We monitor and report on, and occasionally write in support of, over 200 proposals introduced each year in state legislatures and Congress that specifically address Link concerns.

We collaborate with numerous partner organizations on dynamic initiatives and informational publications that address emerging issues and opportunities.

The Assistant Director role is intended to grow into the senior position at an indeterminate point in the future as the successful candidate gains more experience and knowledge. The ideal candidate is someone looking for a position where they can work hands-on to make a tangible impact and take ownership of the Coalition’s direction over time.