Description

WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH ASSOCIATE POSITION OPENING

www.westernlaw.org/communications-outreach-associate

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Location: Western U.S., ideally in one of WELC's existing office locations in Santa Fe or Taos, NM, Helena, MT, Seattle, WA, or Eugene, OR.  Remote work locations will be considered.

Timeline: Position opened July 19, 2021; review of applications will begin August 30, 2021, and continue on a rolling basis thereafter until the position is filled.

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ABOUT THE WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

Western Environmental Law Center (WELC) is a leading nonprofit public interest environmental law firm. WELC has been celebrated as an Outside Magazine Best Place to Work, Oregon Business Magazine Best Nonprofit, a Law360 Environmental Group of the Year, and a Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner for ethics.

We envision a thriving, resilient Western U.S., abundant with protected public lands and wildlife, powered by renewable energy, defended by communities rooted in an ethic of conservation, and committed to equity, inclusion, and justice. We achieve this vision with steady, strategic, and bold legal advocacy that turns the wheels of power at all levels of government. WELC seeks a Communications and Outreach Associate to join our team and contribute to our mission. We strongly encourage people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants to apply.

For more information about WELC, please visit www.westernlaw.org

POSITION SUMMARY

The Communications and Outreach Associate is an exempt, full-time position. The position’s responsibilities will center on three specific WELC campaigns:

• WELC’s campaign to address the climate crisis by: (a) winding down the federal public lands fossil fuel programs; (b) pivoting public lands management toward a focus on ecological and community resilience; and (c) supporting a just and equitable transition for frontline energy-dependent communities (0.5 FTE).
• WELC’s digital media campaign to educate the public and decisionmakers regarding science-driven and solution-oriented approaches to wildfire and federal forest management in the Pacific Northwest (0.25 FTE).
• WELC’s digital media campaign centering on raising public awareness and engaging stakeholders in revision of the Northwest Forest Plan, which directs land management on 19 national forests in the Pacific Northwest (0.25 FTE).

The Communications and Outreach Associate will create digital content that is engaging, easy to understand, visually appealing, aligned with our core values and image, and cutting edge. In addition, the Communications and Outreach Associate will work with the Communications Director to create content and implement an audience engagement strategy that uses organic and paid promotion to reach potential WELC supporters as well as key policymakers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This work includes improvement of search engine optimization, interpretation of social media analytics to improve our content quality and reach, and occasional website maintenance.

In furthering these responsibilities, the Communications and Outreach Associate will coordinate with WELC program staff and, where appropriate, serve as an active representative of WELC in coalitions and relationships with clients, partners, and allies to develop and implement communications strategies in support of these campaigns.

WELC offers the opportunity to experiment with new, creative efforts to contribute and grow our communications advocacy and work. The position requires strong attention to detail, a commitment to excellence, and the ability to develop and maintain strong, trusting, and effective relationships with WELC clients, partners, and allies.

The Communications and Outreach Associate is a 40-hour/week position based out of an existing WELC office or a remote home office, primarily working during Monday to Friday business hours, though some night and weekend hours may be required. Limited travel may also be required, including overnight and weekend travel. The position also involves standard office physical demands. WELC will provide all reasonable accommodations to the extent possible or required pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

We offer a flexible, friendly, team-based environment with immediate opportunities to shape organizational strategies, competitive salaries ($47,000-67,000 for this position, depending on experience and location), and an excellent benefits package, including health, vision, dental, life, and disability coverage (with WELC paying 100% of an employee’s premiums), a 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% WELC match, 22 days combined of paid annual vacation and personal leave on top of 12 days of paid holiday leave, paid sick leave, and a paid long-term leave policy (3 months family/sabbatical leave for every 5 years of employment).

TO APPLY

Western Environmental Law Center is an equal opportunity employer. Our programs and employment are open to all. We strongly encourage people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants to apply. Review of applications will begin on August 30, 2021, and continue on a rolling basis thereafter until the position is filled.

Please email the following as PDF attachments to jobs@westernlaw.org:

• 1-2 page cover letter addressed to Brian Sweeney, Communications Director;
• Resume;
• 2-4 professional references; and
• 3-4 work samples with at least one sample of content you created for a social media campaign, one sample exemplifying experience creating web content (interactive features a plus), and one sample of graphic design for social media.

Cover letters should communicate the applicant’s commitment to WELC’s mission and advocacy and their motivation to work in this position and public interest environmental law generally. Applicants are strongly encouraged to tell us who they are as a human being, why they care about this work, and why they are interested in this position.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

We are keenly interested in considering a range of applicants with diverse lived experiences who approach the world with kindness, imagination, and vision. We will happily consider applicants who offer an equivalent or alternative set of qualifications to fulfill this position’s responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or other related field and 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of U.S. climate, conservation, and environmental justice advocacy issues relevant to the position’s focus on the three advocacy campaigns referenced above.
• Lived experience within or past work in partnership with frontline or resource-dependent communities a significant plus.
• A commitment to conceptualizing and implementing communications strategies that further equity, inclusion, and justice, including through the just treatment and meaningful involvement of clients, partners, and frontline community groups and individuals.
• Excellent writing skills and knowledge of AP style.
• Experience with:
  • Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram content and campaigns including messaging using an organization’s voice, targeting, A/B testing, metrics analysis, strategic advertising, and executing the respective best practices for these platforms.
  • Creating social media graphics and data-based infographics. Design skills with Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva a plus.
  • Creating video content.
  • Website content management system (we use Wordpress), including search engine optimization and Google Analytics.
• Solid project and time management skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently and proactively.
• Highly organized and intellectually curious.
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptive when needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to WELC’s mission and strategies and the public interest as well as a love for the land, waters, wildlife, and communities of the Western U.S.