Posted on February 15, 2012

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Communications Coordinator

BACKGROUND
The Xerces Society is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, worms, starfish, mussels, and crabs are but a few of the millions of invertebrates at the heart of a healthy environment. Invertebrates are essential to the reproduction of most flowering plants, including many fruits, vegetables, and nuts; they are food for birds, fish, and other animals; they build the stunning coral reefs in our oceans. Yet invertebrate populations are often imperiled by human activities and rarely accounted for in mainstream conservation.

Established in 1971, and named after the extinct Xerces blue butterfly, the Xerces Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of local citizens to implement conservation and education programs. We protect endangered species and their habitats, produce ground-breaking publications on insect conservation, train thousands of farmers and land managers to protect and manage habitat for beneficial insects, and raise awareness about the invertebrates of forests, prairies, deserts, creeks, wetlands, and oceans. The Xerces Society is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with regional offices in California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, and North Carolina. We currently have twenty employees and multiple contractors, and an annual budget of almost $2,000,000.

SCOPE
The Communications Coordinator will work under the direction of the Executive Director to develop and implement Xerces Society’s communications strategy and manage the organization’s external communications and media relations. The Coordinator will be based in our Portland, Oregon office.

MAJOR JOB ACTIVITIES
Communications Strategy: Work with the Executive Director and program directors to develop communication strategies for the Web, as well as traditional and social media.

• Identify priority audiences for our communications;
• Develop communication materials targeted at specific audiences (for example, farmers);
• Identify appropriate communications vehicles, including the Web, print, and broadcast media;
• Ensure consistently high-quality and appropriate delivery of Xerces Society messages; and
• Coordinate with other Xerces Society staff to ensure all external communications have a consistent tone and presentation to reach intended audiences.

Website Development and Updating: Ensure the Xerces Society’s website is effective and provide timely content updates.

• Provide a review of website and provide recommendations on improving website navigability;
• Work with appropriate staff to develop and update programmatic material on the website;
• Ensure timely updates to media and other content pages; and
• Work with contractors on website development.

Electronic and Print Communication: Produce high-quality, consistent, compelling electronic and print materials for external audiences.

• Work with appropriate staff to write, edit, and publish:
  o Monthly e-mail newsletters and action alerts;
  o Issue-oriented reports;
  o Blogs, social networking sites, and other electronic media; and
  o Xerces Society’s annual report;
• Provide support to the Senior Conservation Associate on production of all print materials; and
• Work with Senior Conservation Associate to develop new look for all print materials.
  

Media: Ensure that Xerces Society and our focus on protecting wildlife are constantly in the public eye across the US and internationally.

• Cultivate contacts with media, including print, broadcast, and other media;
• Generate news and feature stories;
• Write press releases, opinion editorials, talking points, etc.;
• Work regularly with the Executive Director and Xerces Society program directors to coordinate media work; and
• Maintain and update media database.

Qualifications

The ideal Communications Coordinator candidate will have:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, plus at least four years of experience and demonstrated success in the communications field;
• Outstanding writing and communications skills;
• Demonstrated strategic thinking skills;
• Experience in website maintenance, including content management systems such as Wordpress;
• Enthusiasm for new media, such as Twitter, Facebook, etc.;
• Demonstrated experience in publication editing, design, and production;
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people and constituencies;
• Experience and skill in managing multiple projects simultaneously;
• Familiarity with insects, other invertebrates, and/or wildlife conservation and environmental protection;
• Ability to understand scientific literature and communicate findings to scientific and lay audiences; and
• Good sense of humor.

TERMS
The Xerces Society is an equal opportunity, at-will employer committed to workforce diversity. This is a full-time, one-year position, with the potential for extension based on funding and performance.

SALARY
$34,000–$40,000, depending on experience.

BENEFITS
This position includes a generous benefits package: eleven paid holidays, three weeks of vacation accrued after first year, company paid medical benefits, and a flexible work environment. If the position is extended beyond one year, 8% of the base pay will be contributed toward a SEP retirement account.

LOCATION
The Xerces Society office is located in inner northeast Portland, Oregon.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the Xerces Society and our programs, please see our website at www.xerces.org

Application Instructions

APPLICATION
No phone inquiries, please. Individuals interested in this position should e-mail a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three references as a single attachment in an MS Word or Adobe PDF file by Friday, March 2nd 2012, 5 pm PST to:

Katy Gray, Executive Assistant
RE: Communications Coordinator Position
kgray@xerces.org