Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $24-$27 hourly
Deadline: Jul 07, 2023

BACKGROUND
Since its founding in 1980, Friends of the Columbia Gorge (Friends) has been one of the most influential and effective conservation organizations in the Pacific Northwest. We are the only group dedicated exclusively to preserving, protecting, and stewarding the Gorge’s scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources. For over four decades, we have successfully advocated to protect the Gorge from irresponsible development, purchased scenic and sensitive lands for long-term preservation since our Land Trust inception in 2005, and worked with community partners to foster a larger culture of Gorge stewardship by connecting thousands of students and volunteers to the Gorge’s wonders. With offices in Portland and Hood River, Oregon, and Washougal, Washington, the organization uses an array of tools (advocacy, litigation, land acquisition, and public education) to ensure the Columbia Gorge remains a wondrous and vibrant place in perpetuity.

SUMMARY OF POSITION
Building a large and diverse cross section of public support across the Pacific Northwest is critical to sustaining and accelerating Friends’ efforts to preserve the Columbia Gorge for future generations. Friends’ Public Engagement team works to develop innovative and creative strategies to effectively engage and educate the public about the Columbia Gorge and Friends’ efforts to protect, preserve, and steward it.

This role will spearhead Friends’ digital evolution by launching the organization’s TikTok channel with short-form direct-to-social videos, producing compelling long-form videos, leading efforts to take Instagram and other social platforms to the next level, contributing to web and email marketing efforts, and improving other aspects of our digital presence as part of our goal to modernize the Friends brand and inspire younger generations of Columbia Gorge lovers and adventurers to join our community and donate. The ideal candidate is highly active on TikTok and Instagram (including Reels and Stories) and has a deep understanding of how to create impactful, shareable content using a diverse range of media (videos, photos, graphics, etc.), themes (education, conservation, sustainability, advocacy, policy, etc.), and voices (inspirational, humorous, serious, etc.) while staying true to Friends core mission and values. 

The best candidates will bring a passion for protecting the Columbia Gorge and a basic knowledge of its landscapes, trails, wildlife, and communities. 

The digital content producer works closely with Friends’ communications & engagement director and in collaboration with colleagues across other departments to advance public engagement strategies through social media, advertising, media outreach, promotions, and other communications platforms.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the organization’s social media lead, including strategy development, multimedia content creation, copywriting, publishing, paid ads campaign creation and management, community management, and analytics.
• Create and oversee a detailed and well-organized social media calendar.
• Launch Friends’ TikTok by devising and executing a comprehensive strategy to inaugurate and oversee a captivating channel. 
  -Conceptualize, film, and produce short-form, straight-to-social videos for TikTok and Instagram. This role will also require you to act as the on-camera “talent” for certain videos.
  -Craft TikTok/Instagram content that resonates with the organization’s core mission and values to create impactful and shareable content to foster a sense of community and engagement among followers.
  -Proactively follow TikTok/Instagram trends and consistently brainstorm and pitch new content ideas.
• Conceptualize, film, and produce long-form videos to educate our audiences about Friends’ work and ongoing conservation issues in the Columbia Gorge.
• Lead audience engagement by monitoring and promptly responding to comments, messages, and inquiries across social media platforms.
• Elevate Friends’ online presence across Instagram and other social platforms by enhancing engagement, expanding reach, and fostering follower growth. 
• Create other forms of digital content, including but not limited to social media graphics, infographics, digital ads, and memes.
• Assist the communications & engagement director with the progressive modernization of Friends’ digital brand, visual aesthetics, voice, and messaging.
• Assist the communications & engagement director in managing Friends’ website, including content updates and digital layout for news stories, press releases, and photo essays.
• Design Friends subscription e-newsletters in MailChimp, partnering with Philanthropy, Conservation, and Land Trust Teams to ensure consistent digital brand, tone, and quality. 
• Manage Friends annual photo contest and serve as the organization’s primary keeper and manager of digital assets, including photo and video archives.
• Work with the communications & engagement director on media outreach and engagement efforts to help raise Friends’ visibility, advance advocacy efforts, and further conservation and community engagement initiatives.
• Run paid media campaigns via social and Google.
• Help cultivate new media contacts and assist in maintaining Friends’ media contacts database, press tracking services, and placement management systems.
• Work with Philanthropy, Land Trust and Conservation team members and other colleagues to help support ongoing efforts (events, presentations, etc.) to help recruit and engage Friends’ members, volunteers, and partners. 
• Work with the communications & engagement director on media outreach and engagement efforts to help raise Friends’ visibility, advance advocacy efforts, and further conservation and community engagement initiatives.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Minimum 3 years experience in multimedia content creation including video editing and production, photography, and graphic design.
• Previous work experience managing social media channels for a nonprofit organization, public agency, or business working on conservation, outdoor recreation, or other related issues.
• Extensive experience filming videos with both professional camera equipment and smaller/mobile devices (e.g. phone, GoPro, DJI Osmo, etc.) 
• High level of proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Premiere, Photoshop, and Lightroom. 
• Hands-on experience in digital content and social media management with a solid knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO), social listening and engagement, keyword research, digital marketing, and Google Analytics. 
• Strong writing and editing skills paired with an understanding of how social media and digital communications can effectively engage key audiences as well as support (or damage) a brand is essential.  
• Strong skills in organization, project management, and content quality control.
• Previous multimedia production or publications management experience—including a demonstrated professional and tactful demeanor in dealing with authors, editors, graphic designers, and multimedia producers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to deliver creative content (text, image, and video) to engage and activate target audiences.
• Strong project management skills with attention to detail and experience in project evaluation and creative problem solving.
• Valid, insurable driver’s license and must be able to work some non-standard hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to the protection, preservation, and stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
• Commitment to implementing Friends’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice initiatives.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in journalism, communications, film, digital design, digital marketing, or another relevant field. 
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interact with Friends’ staff, board members, and larger community.
• Experience with After Effects and Illustrator.
• Experience flying drones for videography; commercial pilot license an extra bonus.
• Knowledge of the Pacific Northwest conservation and political climate.

APPLICATION
Please send cover letter and resume to jobs@gorgefriends.org  with “Digital Content Producer” as the subject line no later than July 7, 2023. If possible, please combine all written application materials into one PDF. In the body of the email, please identify where you found the job posting.

In addition, please submit:
1) At least four work samples in videography and/or video production (social media or YouTube links are fine). One or two of these should be short-form TikTok or Instagram-style videos. Ideally these samples will show your skills in both videography and video editing/production.
2) At least three work samples in graphic design (social media links are fine).
3) At least two work samples in writing (something other than a social media post; ideally a longer article or blog post).
Early applications will be considered on a rolling basis.