Michigan Pet Alliance Seeking CEO
(MPA, March 8, 2021)
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan – The Board of Directors for Michigan Pet Alliance (MPA) invites applications for its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as it transitions to a membership association. MPA is the outgrowth of a board-driven nonprofit organization established in 2003 to end the killing of homeless healthy and treatable cats and dogs in Michigan shelters. The organization has been recognized statewide for providing data, education, training, and technical assistance to Michigan’s 170+ animal shelters and home-based rescue groups.
“Our goal is to create Michigan’s first statewide association of shelters and rescue groups that will speak with one voice for those that can’t speak for themselves and to further advance better public policy, best practices and life saving measures in the field of animal welfare,” says MPA Board member Tanya Hilgendorf.
“Animal welfare is about the only industry I can think of without a professional statewide association. Though there has been real improvement in knowledge and practices over the last decade, this missing piece has hindered our ability to fully professionalize and see real change at the legislative level. Most people love their pets like family, but there remains a huge disconnect between how people feel about companion animals and the laws that exist to protect them.  For example, Michigan still operates under the archaic Dog Law of 1919. Having a unified voice advocating for the needs of Michigan’s homeless and abused animals and those who care for them is critical to making substantive change,” added Hilgendorf.
To fill the role of CEO, MPA is seeking an energetic forward-thinking leader with the proven ability of growing organization memberships and turning their engagement into action-oriented results. A successful candidate will be a natural relationship builder, ideally someone who understands leading industry practices and is already connected to animal welfare in Michigan.
As the public face of the Michigan Pet Alliance, the CEO must have an engaging, yet diplomatic approach and be committed to providing advocacy and resources in support of the mission and members. The position requires a transparent, collaborative leader with a proven track record of cultivating shared goals, and positioning an organization for relevance and sustainability in the years to come. 
The incoming CEO will provide inspired leadership to a 15-member working board of directors made up of pet advocates from shelters, home-based rescues, spay/neuter clinics, and enthusiasts, along with four working committees.
The position is part-time independent contract with the possibility of full-time employment when the membership base can sustain budget requirements. Applicants must live in Michigan, have a flexible schedule, be able to work from home, and be able to travel to other parts of the state and to Lansing on short notice. Pay range is $35,000-$40,000 per year.
Qualified candidates are invited to email their cover letter and resume to MichiganPetAlliance@gmail.com.
ABOUT MICHIGAN PET ALLIANCE 
The mission of Michigan Pet Alliance is to work in collaboration and speak with a single voice to eliminate abuse and neglect of Michigan’s companion animals and to save all healthy and treatable homeless companion animals through training, technical assistance, education, and advocacy. For more information, please visit: MichiganPet.org