From TU:
Department: Marketing and Communications
Reports to: Associate Vice President for Communications
Position Type / Hours: Full-time / 40
About Trout Unlimited
Trout Unlimited (TU) brings together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so future generations can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. We are a national organization with 350,000 members and supporters in more than 400 chapters and councils nationwide. These dedicated volunteers are matched by a respected national staff of conservationists, organizers, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists across the country. We overcome obstacles with grassroots credibility, professional skill, nonpartisan advocacy, and scientific expertise. We build relationships with decision makers, land and resource stewards, community members, and other stakeholders to deliver meaningful change on behalf of trout and salmon fisheries, healthy waters and vibrant communities.
Position Summary
The Mountain West Communications Director is responsible for leading TU’s communications efforts in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada. Reporting to the Associate VP for Communications and working with conservation program directors in their region, this staffer develops and drives creative and effective communications strategies to advance TU’s conservation goals.
The director is responsible for the full spectrum of communications streams, including content for in-house channels, traditional and digital earned media, and digital campaigns. Working on multiple issues and topics across programs, the director drives advocacy action; trumpets TU’s successes to increase brand awareness and support for the organization; and helps to engage volunteers, supporters, partners, donors, and new audiences in TU’s mission. This staffer works with cross-functional teams in the region, including staff working on conservation, policy, engagement, fundraising, and marketing.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Developing and executing multimedia communications plans to maximize awareness and engagement; this staffer will work closely with TU program staff on priority place-based advocacy campaigns in the region
- Communicating TU’s conservation value / impacts to target audiences by developing and creating compelling content for in-house channels (TU.org, digital magazine, social media); and assisting other staff in doing the same
- Building and maintaining relationships with contacts in traditional and digital outlets to generate earned media (press stories, op-eds, podcast interviews)
- Developing and managing digital communications campaigns as needed, including email messaging / action alerts, digital events, and paid ads (social, print, radio).
- Managing third-party content creators (e.g. videos, mapping)
- Managing communications in the region to ensure an accurate, compelling, clear, on-brand, and inclusive voice across communications products and channels
- Regularly collaborating with the national communications team to advance TU’s national goals and coordinate communications strategies and tactics across regions
- Using analytics to measure effectiveness of communications strategies and tactics
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred; five years of experience in communications: traditional or digital media; public relations; and/or digital marketing
- Knowledge of a wide variety of communications platforms
- Motivated, self-directed; capable of building relationships and collaborating with dispersed teams
- Able to develop and execute effective and creative strategic communications plans across multimedia platforms, and have demonstrated proficiency with digital communications and engagement tools
- Messaging savvy and judgment; ability to tailor communications to target audiences across political and geographic lines
- Ability to multitask across multiple campaigns and projects
- A working understanding of water policy, trout/salmon conservation issues, and science a plus; willingness to learn about these subjects a must
- Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills; able to reach readers with an engaging communications style; able to message inclusively in a way that resonates across political and geographic boundaries
- Proficient in Microsoft Office 365
- Graphic design skills a plus
- Relationships with traditional/digital media contacts a plus
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles
- Passion for TU’s mission
- Ability and willingness to travel throughout the region
This position will be based in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, or Nevada.
At TU, we value a diverse representation of staff, and we actively seek candidates for this position who come from communities that have been historically under-represented in conservation, and those who have been most affected by degraded rivers and streams. We are committed to building space for all people to participate in our work to care for trout and salmon and clean our shared waters. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and welcome you to read more about TU’s equity practice and values at tu.org/equity.
How to apply
Please send materials to Trout Unlimited via Paylocity, our online job application system: resume, cover letter, two or three published media samples that represent your professional skills, as well as the names and contact information for three references.
