The Great Plains Region of Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU) is seeking an experienced individual to join our Great Plains Conservation Team. We seek a highly motivated, self-starting, collaborative individual to work as a key staff member of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV) in Great Falls, Montana. The Communications Specialist serves as lead PPJV communications staff working across the 5-state region (MT, ND, SD, MN, IA) of the Joint Venture. This position provides critical direction and implementation of strategic external and internal communications to advance PPJV efforts. Work is guided by the PPJV Strategic Communications Plan to ensure effective communications. This position oversees all aspects of the PPJV Communications Program, including program development and exploration of funding opportunities. The Communications Specialist is also responsible for furthering communications to support wetland and grassland habitat conservation. The position works hand-in-hand with key communications partners to ensure our communications efforts reach priority audiences with targeted messages to influence actions and behaviors.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, natural resources, or related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or marketing preferably for a natural resources or conservation organization.
• Experience in outreach and communicating scientific results to agency leaders, conservation professionals, the public, and the media.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with social media campaigns, working with journalists, photography and websites.
• Experience writing and editing of natural resources and conservation content preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate well with staff and partners.
• Experience working with state and/or federal wildlife or natural resources agencies.
• Expertise in strategic planning, strategic communications, and facilitation.
• Track record of obtaining funding preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed to connect with the JV partnership and support stated objectives.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Oversee, implement, and coordinate the design and delivery of strategies and tools in line with the goals and objectives identified in the PPJV Strategic Communications Plan or PPJV Implementation Plan (e.g., news releases on peer-reviewed scientific research projects, website, social media, E-News, etc.).
• Engage partners, staff, and Management Board members in strategic planning for the communications program and communication campaigns.
• Increase the visibility of the PPJV and its programs to stakeholders.
• Provide vision and direction for future communications program growth.
• Serve as the Managing Editor for the PPJV E-newsletter (linked here) published three times per year.
• Direct, develop, and write content as needed to benefit the PPJV partners
• Cultivate media relationships and develop press releases.
• Ensure communications tools are properly delivered to target audiences.
• Coordinate with partners to expand the reach of communications tools.
• Develop or utilize existing evaluation mechanisms, such as web-based analytics, surveys, and questionnaires, to track and report on communications strategies and tools using quantitative (e.g., number of website visitors, number of e-news readers, etc.) and qualitative (e.g., website users report increased knowledge and awareness of PPJV programs, presentation lead to increased skills to implement strategic bird habitat conservation, etc.) benchmarks.
This is a full-time position (40 hours/week) and the job will involve travel to attend partner meetings, visit project sites and represent the Joint Venture. Either a vehicle will be provided, or personal mileage will be reimbursed ($0.575/mile). Salary will be commensurate with experience and with that of similar positions in other Migratory Bird Joint Ventures.
To apply, please fill out the application materials on this link: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=7deee1c0-b159-4fdc-8bdb-3f1d87c47510&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=366021&source=CC2&lang=en_US and attach a cover letter, resume, three writing examples and daytime contact information (email & phone numbers) for three professional references by July 10, 2020. To request application materials, please contact Human Resources at hr@ducks.org. For more information regarding this position, contact: Robert Sanders at rsanders@ducks.org, or Sean Fields, Prairie Pothole Joint Venture, 922 Bootlegger Trail, Great Falls, MT, 59404. sean_fields@fws.gov (406) 727-7400 x218 (office), (406) 217-1645 (cell)
