Director Public Relations & Marketing

At Canine Companions, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. As an employee, you’ll help provide independence to individuals, while also giving a dog a meaningful job. Our commitment to our mission is reflected in our equally strong dedication to our employees.

Our Employee Benefits

We believe in offering a comprehensive benefits package to ensure the well-being and growth of our team:

• Employer-Paid Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits for staff
• Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays annually, including an Inclusion Holiday, plus 17 paid days off (PTO) during your first year
• Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 403(b) retirement plan
• Community Engagement: Additional paid hours to volunteer within your community
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs: Support for both professional and personal well-being
• Inclusion and Diversity Committee dedicated to ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by setting actionable goals and evaluating progress

Employee Testimonial

"I love the team atmosphere and collaborative nature. Everyone is always willing to connect and help each other, even when they have a lot on their plate."

— Philanthropy Team Member

The Director Public Relations and Marketing is a key member of the marketing leadership team and is responsible for driving strategic marketing and media initiatives while ensuring integration across the organization. This role leads Canine Companions’ national media strategy and oversees field public relations and marketing staff to elevate brand awareness and impact. The Director develops and executes an integrated media plan that advances the mission and supports awareness, fundraising, and advocacy goals, while maintaining consistent messaging across national and local markets. Acting as an organization spokesperson, this role cultivates strong relationships with journalists, media outlets, influencers, and partners to expand visibility and reinforce leadership within the service dog sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Marketing and Media Strategy: Lead and execute an integrated national media and communications strategy aligned with organizational priorities. Drive outreach and campaigns to maximize reach, engagement, and impact.
• Integrated Campaigns and Content: Collaborate on integrated campaigns across web, social, email, and video to ensure consistent messaging and audience growth. Develop media pitches, creative briefs, and an annual pitch calendar.
• Media Relations and Spokesperson Duties: Secure earned media across broadcast, print, and digital platforms. Serve as an organization spokesperson and prepare leaders for interviews, speaking engagements, and public appearances. Manage crisis communications and rapid response.
• National-to-Local Engagement: Lead event marketing strategies and national-to-local outreach initiatives that strengthen community engagement while maintaining brand consistency.
• Leadership and Performance: Lead and mentor a distributed team of public relations and marketing staff. Set KPIs, manage budgets and vendors, and report on performance and impact to senior leadership and the board.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess the following:

Must Have:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Proven success developing and executing integrated marketing and media strategies that drive brand awareness and audience engagement
• Demonstrated ability to secure national earned media across broadcast, print, digital, and social platforms
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and performance optimization skills
• Ability to manage priorities, solve problems, meet goals, and maintain attention to detail
• Strong organizational and recordkeeping skills with the ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to work effectively and professionally with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Experience leading and mentoring distributed marketing and public relations teams

Nice to Have:

• Experience in nonprofit, advocacy, public interest, or mission-driven organizations
• Crisis communications and issues management experience
• Familiarity with digital analytics, media monitoring tools, and CRM systems
• Advanced degree or relevant professional certifications
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 and Adobe Acrobat Pro

Compensation

Salary Range: $110,000-$120,000/year

Schedule

Full-Time

Inclusion and Diversity Commitment

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

The base salary range above represents the low and high of the range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees.

Pursuant to local Fair Chance Ordinances, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Accommodation Request

If you need accommodations during the interview process, please let us know. We are committed to ensuring all applicants have equal access to the opportunity to succeed.