Location: Remote -Please note: The job duties and responsibilities of this role are unable to be performed in the following states, California, New York, Washington, and Colorado at this time.

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $45,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Manager interviews will begin after November 6th and continue until the position is filled.

Position Summary: The Merchandising and E-Commerce Coordinator will be a key contributor to our e-commerce team in raising brand awareness and generating revenue for Best Friends to further Best Friends’ lifesaving work of achieving no-kill.  They will supervise our promotional merchandise program and assist in e-commerce operations. This role involves coordinating merchandise selection and presentation with external vendors, utilizing customer feedback and market trends, and managing product details across our e-commerce platforms. The ideal candidate will be adept at multitasking, troubleshooting vendor issues, and creating impactful merchandise experiences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Treat people around you as our most valuable resource by leading with Kindness and Compassion in all your actions, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, encourage self-care and work-life balance through your own example, and work to build strong relationships with your team by creating communication loops to share and receive honest feedback. You are responsible and accountable for the culture of your team

• Leadership and Representation: Exemplify kindness and the principles of the Golden Rule in daily interactions, demonstrating inclusion and respect for all individuals. Act as a role model of authenticity, kindness, and positive influence, fostering an environment of support and compassion among staff, volunteers, visitors, and animals.

• Promotional Merchandise Management: Oversee and coordinate the selection and presentation of all promotional merchandise through our external vendor partner. This includes managing gifts for staff, such as service awards and new employee gifts. Responsibilities involve liaising with internal stakeholders, collaborating with external vendors, and sourcing diverse promotional items. Ensure the promotional selection remains current and relevant by utilizing reports and internal customer feedback. Assist vendors with special projects and artwork as necessary.

• Merchandise Selection and Presentation: Assist in leveraging customer feedback and market trends to support merchandise selection and presentation. Help develop and execute targeted initiatives aimed at improving product visibility and impact across both online and offline platforms.

• Vendor Reorder Coordination: Assist with managing the reorder process by collaborating with Merchandise Analytics staff to determine reorder quantities and placing reorders with vendors. Support the updating of relevant documents to keep the team informed, help adjust pricing as needed and address any vendor errors such as shipping or invoice discrepancies. Ensure that order forms are organized and up-to-date.

• New Product Launches Oversee the coordination of new product details, including SKU creation, style setup in Shopify, product photography coordination, and informing the Shopify lead of products ready for detailing and launch. Additionally, disseminate new product information to internal stakeholders including Brand Experience teams, life-saving centers, merch influencers, and the Sanctuary.

• E-commerce Photography Coordination: Collaborate with staff photographers (and freelancers when necessary) to produce usable photos for digital and print purposes. This includes organizing photo shoots during staff gatherings, sending samples to photographers, and occasionally arranging digital shoots.

• Event Merchandise Coordination: Assist with merchandise coordination for major BF Events by overseeing merchandising activities, training volunteer team leaders, placing merchandise orders for events, maintaining order tracking documentation, updating documents with pricing and assortment changes, designing event signage, and traveling to events as needed.

• Content Sourcing and Influencer Management: Develop and manage a network of internal and volunteer influencers to source content for product listings. This involves identifying enthusiastic staff and volunteers to provide feedback on products through photos or short video clips for use on the online store.

Skills and Experience:

• 5 years of product development and merchandising/e-commerce experience is required, including a working knowledge and prior experience in merchandise sourcing, production and product lifecycles. 

• Strong interest in retail trends and merchandise.

• A working knowledge and comfortability using Shopify is strongly preferred.

• Strong project management and deadline adherence skills.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Creativity and effective communication abilities.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Understanding of marketing principles and adaptability to feedback.

• Proficiency in multitasking and project management.

• Problem-solving skills and vendor troubleshooting experience.

• Data analysis skills for evaluating marketing effectiveness.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity and a working knowledge of Asana and photo editing tools is strongly preferred, or desire to learn, comfort learning new systems, including online information systems. 

Physical Requirements:

• Work at a computer or drive a car for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, sitting, arm, and hand motion. 

• Travel is required for this role, up to 20% travel. Flexibility to travel for events when needed.

• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status. 

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work. 

• Work indoors primarily and outdoors as needed for events in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.  

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society.  Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by Best Friends Animal Society.