Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: 45,000-58,000
Deadline: Sep 05, 2021

See full job and application details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-communications-associate-washington-district-of-columbia/4070217751

Location: Remote in Pacific Northwest preferred; Washington, D.C., or other remote location strongly considered.

About Outdoor Alliance: Outdoor Alliance works to engage the human-powered outdoor recreation community to drive policy outcomes that support conservation and sustainable and equitable recreation access. Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of human-powered outdoor recreation nonprofits, including Access Fund, American Canoe Association, American Whitewater, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, The Mountaineers, American Alpine Club, Colorado Mountain Club, the Mazamas, and Surfrider Foundation. We unite the voices of the outdoor community to conserve public lands and ensure those lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience. We work with the policy experts from our national member groups to track important issues, lead advocacy, and give the outdoor community meaningful opportunities to engage and make a difference. We believe that a unified outdoor recreation community makes a crucial contribution to protecting the outdoors. Visit www.outdooralliance.org to learn more.

Position Description: The Communications Associate works closely with the Communications Director to manage all aspects of Outdoor Alliance’s communications, including external-facing messaging for our policy campaigns, developing and distributing content across our platforms, social media management and media relations, engaging our growing email list, and translating complex policy into actionable content. We are looking for someone who loves the outdoors and is passionate about bringing citizens together to affect public policy. A successful candidate will have experience in communications, be a strong writer, have a willingness to learn and make mistakes as they go, share a passion for the outdoors and conservation, have a commitment to data-driven engagement strategies, and have a desire to be a part of a warm and inclusive working environment. Working with our Communications Director, the Communications Associate will use innovative communications and engagement strategies to unite the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to protect, enhance, and promote the human-powered outdoor recreation experience on public lands. 

About our Communications Program: 

The goals of our communications program are to:

  • Position Outdoor Alliance as a leader on outdoor recreation policy issues.
  • Be a resource for our multiple audiences by creating the very best content on outdoor recreation policy through our website, blog, social media, and email.
  • Educate the public about outdoor policy issues and about the best ways to engage in advocacy.
  • Build compelling, accessible, and actionable communications campaigns around our policy program.
  • Grow our list of supporters and attract new donors by presenting a cohesive picture of our campaigns and successes.

Responsibilities:

  • Content creation: Under the strategic guidance of the Communications Director, build out content for Outdoor Alliance’s campaigns, including writing action alerts, emails to supporters, blog posts, news alert, press releases, social media messaging, website messaging, and other content as needed.
  • CRM assistance: Be comfortable working in Outdoor Alliance’s CRM, EveryAction (we can provide training). This includes setting up or updating action alerts, drafting and sending emails, pulling lists and reports, assisting with email series, and managing constituents’ experiences.
  • Campaign management. Assist in building out campaigns, including content creation; working with partners to share Outdoor Alliance’s action alerts, messaging, and graphics; and analyzing metrics and data at a campaign’s end.
  • Social media. Distribute policy campaigns, activation opportunities, and partner content through our social media channels, including sourcing photos and taking advantage of new formats, apps, and paid marketing opportunities.
  • Media and outreach. Work with the Communications Director to draft press releases, build relationships with journalists and influencers, and develop rapid-response messaging on policy issues.

Required Attributes:

  • Excellent writing and speaking skills. You know how to change policy speak into plain language, quickly create clear and compelling copy, and effectively present in public settings. You excel at storytelling, and thinking about your audience and their needs.
  • 1-4 years of professional experience in communications, marketing, or digital engagement.
  • Experience with advocacy or policy not necessary, but a curiosity about public land policy and desire to learn the ropes is important.
  • Project management skills, and the flexibility to balance long-term communications objectives with often rapid-fire communications around urgent policy issues.
  • You are a strong self-starter with excellent personal time management.
  • You know how to set clear objectives and track key metrics to measure progress.

Preferred Attributes:

  • Experience with CMS (we use Squarespace) and CRM/database management (we use EveryAction).
  • Experience in a data-driven online campaign or advocacy setting (political or non-profit).
  • Experience using testing and data to inform communications and engagement strategies.
  • Experience with digital media, social media, and/or digital marketing.

Salary: $45,000 – $58,000, depending on experience

Benefits: Outdoor Alliance offers a generous benefits program, with retirement contributions, healthcare, paid family leave, generous vacation time, monthly bonus days off for outdoor adventures, gear discounts, and the best colleagues you could ask for.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are due September 5, 2021. Please send a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample (blog post, newsletter article, email alert, etc) to employment@outdooralliance.org with “Communications Associate – [Your Last Name]” in the subject line. Please attach all documents as a single pdf file and include your last name in the name of the document.

As we work to build an inclusive outdoors, we strongly value candidates who bring a diversity of perspectives and outdoor experiences to the role. Outdoor Alliance is an equal-opportunity employer, and candidates from all backgrounds are considered, and as an organization that values equity and inclusion, we highly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, and veterans to apply.