Legitimate Telecommute Jobs for Animal Advocates Really Do Exist – Do You Know Where to Find Them?

By Paula Fitzsimmons

It wasn’t too long ago that the term Work from Home was synonymous with scam. Back in the 1970s, and even into the 1990s, those of us hoping to take advantage of flexible schedules were met with the same level of gimmicky advertising seen today. Perhaps not as sophisticated or widely circulated as modern ads, but still on the same level as too-good-to-be-true.

But there’s a difference. Back then, legitimate telecommuting opportunities were practically non-existent, unless you owned your own business – and even then, small business ownership was not as attainable as it is today.

Times have changed.

Thanks to the digital world we now inhabit, more of us are able to find – and even succeed at – a job or career that allows us to work remotely, even if just for part of the time.

Although it’s not absolutely clear if the majority of remote opportunities are being offered by employers, or are a result of the growth of entrepreneurship, numerous reports and articles, including “It’s Unclearly Defined but Telecommuting is Fast on the Rise”, from The New York Times, indeed point to a growing trend.

If you love animals and desire a more flexible work situation, I think you’ll be pleased to know that animal welfare & environmental organizations are part of this trend.

The following job groupings and titles are some I encounter while searching openings for my weekly job listings. Because an organization’s needs vary, some of these positions may be done completely from home; or they may require some travel or office time. And some organizations may combine job titles. Today’s employers – whether nonprofit or business – tend to value workers who are versatile and can adapt. Flexibility is a good attitude to adapt in today’s employment market.

Let me preface this list by saying that theoretically, most any job, unless it involves hands-on work – such as that a veterinarian or animal care worker do – can be turned into remote work. If you’d like to pursue this option with a potential or current employer, it might be wise to show them how they can benefit from such a situation. For example, you can refer to the “Teleworkers More Productive” article by Society for Human Resource Management, pointing to the potential benefits of working from home.

With that in mind, here we go . . .

A world of opportunity

Here’s a few of the numerous organizations that have advertised telecommuting and flex positions, with their actual job titles. Please note that they may or may not be hiring now, but it should give you an idea of the breadth of opportunities available.

Two  categories that appear quite often include writing & communications, and fundraising & development.

Getting the word out: Writers & communicators

Animal welfare and conservation nonprofits have a large amount of crucial information to convey – from new bills being considered in legislatures, and assaults on animals & the environment, to recent successes and activist alerts . They have to be able to communicate this information to a variety of audiences – donors, members, activists, the public, and members of the media.

Unlike corporate businesses, who may have a cadre of communication experts on hand, nonprofits often don’t have the resources. As the communications go-to person for a nonprofit, you may be tasked with managing and posting newsworthy tidbits on Facebook and other social media venues, writing news releases for the media, and crafting alerts that motivate people to be proactive. That’s a lot of responsibility.

If you have a good grasp of the issues facing animals, and can write persuasively, tactfully, and concisely (especially for the Internet) your skills are needed.

For more information and ideas about writing careers, be sure to check out my article Writer, Author . . . Animal Lover.

Raising money for a good cause: fundraising & development

Good works and intentions aside, charities need income in order to operate – human resources, administrative needs, rent, supplies, and marketing all require funding. Fortunately for those interested in this field,  fundraising jobs seem to be hot right now. From writing grant proposals and courting donors both big and small, to crafting compelling e-mail copy and planning events, jobs in this category continue to appear.

Check out my article, Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees: Help Raise Funds for Animal Nonprofits, for a look at some of the jobs available in this category.

Whether it’s called telecommuting, telework, remote work, or work from home, legitimate flexible employment opportunities  appear to be more available than they once were . . . with animal & conservation charities also offering these types of positions, complete with the same benefit packages offered to their traditional employees. There are numerous benefits for both you and your employer to working this way.

Be sure to check out my job listings page, which include both remote and traditional positions.

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