Communications Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Classification: Reports to:

Non-exempt Associate Director
32 hours per week

Organization

Sonoma Ecology Center (SEC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has worked with our community for over 36 years to identify and lead actions that achieve and sustain ecological health in Sonoma Valley and beyond. Our work improves the land, climate, water, and biodiversity—the foundation of our region’s high quality of life.

Each year, we provide in-depth environmental science instruction to over 1,100 students, manage over 5,000 acres of public and private land, including Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, raise thousands of native plants, restore native habitat, and provide research and technical support on timely issues affecting the region. With an annual budget of over $3 million, our professional staff manages numerous large grants and contracts, often in partnership with other nonprofits and agencies that, by working together, significantly leverage our work and impact.

Position Summary:

SEC seeks an experienced Communications Lead to play a critical role in ensuring the organization achieves its plans for growth in alignment with its mission, vision, and values. The Communications Lead is responsible for marketing all of Sonoma Ecology Center’s events and programs, managing the organization’s suite of websites, and collaborating with the organization’s staff and partners to ensure strategic communications alignment. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders. The candidate should be highly organized and detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently and collaboratively within a small, close-knit team in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. The position will report to the Associate Director and work closely with the Development Manager, Executive Director, and Program Managers across the organization.

This role is mostly remote, with the expectation that the Communications Lead have a reliable means of transportation and be available for special events on an as-needed basis, approximately 1-2 working days per month. The candidate must be able to travel to Sonoma Ecology Center’s locations that we manage, including Sonoma Garden Park, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, and other event venues such as Montini Open Space Preserve, Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve, etc,… For the full list of locations we manage, please see our website under “Visit Us.” The candidate must also have a reliable means of phone and internet access.

General Marketing & Communications

• Promote and protect the integrity of the voice and brand of the Sonoma Ecology Center

• Build alignment and identify brand ambassadors across staff and the SEC board of directors

• Manage all content (written, multimedia) and its related publication schedules across platforms (email marketing, social media, website) according to SEC’s Communications Calendar, in alignment with an annual Communications Plan and annual Development Plan

• Work with staff to ensure messages are communicated accurately and consistently to all external audiences

• Work with Staff Writer and Community Engagement Team to implement an annual strategic communication and marketing plan to promote SEC resources, research, publications, public awareness, current community affairs, and advocacy efforts

• Work with staff to ensure messages are communicated accurately and consistently to all external audiences

• Contribute to corporate/partner engagement and content development in collaboration with key staff members within SEC (Annual Fund, Annual Report, and seasonal appeals)

• Ensure that all content is culturally sensitive and designed to reach diverse audiences and speak to all of our community members

• Manage website content, including coming up with ways to effectively store and distribute Sonoma Ecology Center’s research and outside land management resources

• Support media relations, including developing press contacts, identifying news opportunities, pitching stories, and coordinating interviews

• Develop communications and fundraising strategies that will broaden programmatic reach and deepen awareness, leading to broader financial impact

• Act as liaison between our work and our audience; effectively translating program verbiage and scientific data into relatable language for donor communications and expanding our audience base

• Ensures SEC’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is operationalized in our communications plan, and SEC communications are culturally sensitive and designed to reach diverse audiences and speak to all our community members

• Manage all of Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma Garden Park, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park’s media assets, ensuring organized and easy access to media

Content Creation & Writing

• Write event copies; ensure website, calendars, and events are up to date.

• Write short and longform copy for blog articles, email marketing campaigns, press releases, newspaper articles, and webpages

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership in developing and implementing social media campaigns

• Via the social media channels, develop collaborations, reinforce partnerships, and strengthen bonds with other organizations to advance our mission and values

• Be responsible for daily content creation across social media channels, strategically aligned with campaign and content calendars

• Grow social media channels (Facebook, Instagram) through interactive, engaging video content that highlights the organization’s work and shares knowledge

• Produce quarterly reports on social media engagement with analysis and recommendations