Position Description and Application Information
Events, Outreach & Communication Coordinator
Rock River Coalition
Jefferson, WI
Job Type: Permanent
Salary Details: $22 - $28 per hour, depending on experience
Rock River Coalition is recruiting for a dynamic and detail-oriented events, outreach, and communication coordinator to join our team. The events, outreach and communication coordinator will collaborate with Rock River Coalition staff to develop and implement communications plans, strategies, and materials aimed at enhancing engagement with our mission and will lead a range of events, both in person and virtual. The events, outreach, and communication coordinator will play a central role in building a vibrant, inclusive, and productive Rock River Coalition community.
Rock River Coalition is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and provide opportunities for people of diverse interests to work together to improve the environmental, recreational, cultural, and economic resources of the Rock River Basin. Established over 25 years ago, the organization pursues its mission through citizen engagement.
Position Description: Rock River Coalition seeks an enthusiastic, detail-oriented person with a strong understanding of both science and communications to assist with communications, outreach, and event management efforts.
- Compensation: $22-$28 per/hour depending on experience. Rock River Coalition offers benefits that include a health stipend and paid time off. This is a part-time (20-30 hr. a week) grant funded position with prorated benefits. Current grant funding is available through 2024.
- Commitment: 20-30 hours a week, up to 35 hours a week during some event weeks. This is expected to be a permanent 20-30 hour per week position but will depend on funding. This position is responsible for structuring their time, but must be available for some meetings, events during regular business hours and events that happen on weekends or evenings.
- Anticipated start date: January 29th, 2024, or sooner
- Location: The Rock River Coalition’s main office is in Jefferson, WI at 864 Collins Road. It is anticipated that this position would work primarily from home. Some work will take place at our office in Jefferson, or at a TBD location in Madison.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Event Management (55%): Responsible for planning, arranging, and overseeing all aspects of event logistics.
- Coordinate bi-annual daylong conference: Identify planning committee members, schedule and lead planning committee meetings, develop marketing plan, recruit speakers, play a lead role in development and implementation of conference.
- Coordinate all aspects of the Rock River Coalition online auction fundraiser: solicit auction items, create the online auction webpage, promote the auction, and coordinate item delivery to item winners.
- Develop, promote and coordinate annual lecture series. Identify and reserve lecture locations. Recruit speakers, and moderate/host lectures.
- Coordinate and implement 4-6 build-your-own rain barrel workshops.
- Assist with volunteer trainings and appreciation events as needed.
- Coordinate and implement annual membership meeting.
- Negotiate and manage contracts with third party vendors and service providers.
- Coordinate other events as needed.
- Monitor and document event activities and data.
Communications (45%)
- Maintain and create content for Rock River Coalition’s website using WordPress.
- Conduct interviews and write Rock River Coalition e-newsletter articles as needed, as well as other content specific to programs, projects, or other communications channels. Collect and solicit additional content for monthly e-newsletter and biannual paper newsletter.
- Work with staff to distill technical information in an easy-to-understand way.
- Be a resource to Rock River Coalition staff and board for written and presentation materials.
- Collaborate and brainstorm with teammates on themes, strategies, and content for communications and marketing to reach, engage, and grow various audience segments including environmentally-conscious citizens and young conservation professionals.
- Write press releases.
- Design, create, and update visually compelling materials within existing brand and style parameters that promote the work and offerings of Rock River Coalition.
- Design monthly e-newsletter: Ensure e-newsletter is drafted with compelling and informative material and delivered each month in a timely manner to sustain engagement.
- Act as publisher for Rock River Reflections, Rock River Coalition’s bi-annual paper newsletter.
- Develop flyers and brochures to inform and promote programs (e.g., webinars, trainings, river clean-ups) and projects (e.g., Stream Monitoring Map).
- Act as point person with print houses and vendors for majority of print projects.
- Develop the day-to-day social media plan (Primarily Facebook. Also YouTube, Instagram).
- Monitor, manage, and respond to comments and messages on social platforms in timely manner.
- Track key performance indicators for email and social media; assist with compiling results for reporting.
- Potentially supervise an intern.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES
The successful candidate for this opportunity will have the following qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications and/or water resources, environmental science or related. (Should have extensive knowledge of both science and communications.)
- Ability to be responsible for planning and overseeing events from ideation through to completion.
- Demonstrated experience using social media platforms to grow and engage communities, as well as with management tools to curate content, pull metrics, and monitor audiences.
- Excellent communication (written, oral, listening, interpersonal) and organizational skills.
- Exceptional writing and editing skills.
- Self-motivated with an attention to detail.
- Willingness to take on work outside the immediate job description.
- Ability to work both independently with little supervision and in a team environment.
- Strong command of Microsoft Office, email marketing platforms and WordPress.
- A passion for water resources and the environment.
- Demonstrated understanding of the value of inclusiveness and diversity in all its forms: racial and cultural, political, age, gender, economic, and social.
DESIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES
- Familiarity with the land and waters of the Rock River Basin.
- One-to-three years of related graphic design, communications, marketing experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proficiency and strong command of Canva.
