Communications & Operations Coordinator

Join our collaborative team and be a voice of KELT! We are looking for an imaginative and motivated individual to support the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust by telling the stories of our diverse and mission-driven work. This position is ideal for someone looking to share their love of the outdoors and to build skills working for a conservation non-profit in one of the most ecologically captivating areas of Maine: the communities of Merrymeeting Bay and the Lower Kennebec River.

TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three professional references in one PDF file to applications@kennebecestuary.org with the subject line “C&O Coordinator.”

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interested parties are recommended to apply early. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Questions can be directed to KELT’s Executive Director, Becky Kolak, at 207-442-8400.

Application deadline: Monday, June 22 at 5:00 pm EST.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

This position’s primary objective is to chronicle and broadcast the wide-ranging news and narratives of KELT’s work to a variety of audiences, including donors, volunteers, residents, visitors, and other stakeholders. The C&O Coordinator will apply their attention and skills to the land trust’s efforts in communications (50%) and operations (comprised of development 25% and administration 25%). Duties include creation and dissemination of digital and print pieces in cooperation with staff in other land trust departments (land acquisition, stewardship, restoration, education, and community resilience), management of donor/volunteer databases, and finding creative approaches to publicize KELT’s mission, engage our donor base, and reach our strategic plan goals. The C&O Coordinator will be a part of the staff development team (with the Executive Director and Community Engagement Manager) working collaboratively to fulfill annual and multi-year goals in KELT’s strategic fundraising plan.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES

  • Bachelor’s degree or relevant work experience in a related field (e.g. communications, environmental studies, environmental science, nonprofit management, recreation and tourism, creative writing, graphic design).

  • Passion for protecting Maine’s natural resources and connecting people to the outdoors.

  • Exceptional writing, speaking, and listening skills with an aptitude for public relations and an eye for design and layout of informational pieces (print and digital) for a range of audiences.

  • Experience using design software (Adobe Design Suite and/or Canva, preferred) for layout and design of publications.

  • Practical problem solving with the ability to work with diverse people and develop positive working relationships, especially with co-workers, donors, volunteers, and other local stakeholders.

  • Self-motivated professional with excellent attention to detail, demonstrated skills in managing multiple projects, and consistently hitting deadlines.

  • Experience working in an office, academic, non-profit, or retail environment with tasks that included using database programs (e.g. donor/customer, scientific, or sales databases).

  • Competent with standard computer software and programs, including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, online email and website builders (e.g. MailChimp, Constant Contact, Squarespace), and basic social media (e.g. Facebook and Instagram).

  • Valid Driver’s License in good standing, access to a reliable automobile, and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.

  • Willingness to take on work outside of the immediate job description to support KELT’s mission driven work.

LOCATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The KELT office is located in Bath, Maine. The C&O Coordinator Position is chiefly office based, with sporadic fieldwork required throughout the nine towns in KELT’s service area (Bath, West Bath, Arrowsic, Georgetown, Woolwich, Bowdoinham, Dresden, Richmond, and Westport Island). Occasional travel may be necessary outside of the KELT service area. Our office can be bustling with staff, contactors, volunteers, and visitors. Options to work up to 2 days of the week from home, including computer equipment, are available.

COMPENSATION

Full time position with benefits including health/dental/vision insurance, retirement savings plan, paid vacation time/holidays, and a flexible work schedule. Commensurate with experience, $50,000 - $54,000 annually.


DUTIES

 

Communications

  • Lead content gathering and creation to tell the stories of KELT’s work across programmatic areas. This includes brainstorming story ideas, writing long form and short form content for print and digital platforms, and coordinating with staff, volunteers, and/or stakeholders to produce written and visual content.

  • Design, layout, and manage the production and distribution of promotional materials including KELT’s newsletter, event press releases and flyers, postcards, organizational brochures, solicitation materials, annual reports, etc.

  • Produce biweekly e-newsletters on MailChimp broadcasting upcoming events, updates on projects, educational resources, donation solicitations, and announcements from land trust staff, Board, or partners.

  • Update content on KELT’s website (Squarespace) and social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram).

Operations: Administration & Development

  • Maintain donor database (Salesforce) to track information about KELT’s contacts, donations, grants, and volunteers, and run reports to pull information from the database for use in outreach and fundraising.

  • Support KELT’s development team with campaigns to solicit donations using email and printed mail. This includes assisting with the production of materials to appeal for donations, the acknowledgement of donations received, and the tracking and analysis of fundraising progress, results, and trends.

  • Assist to identify funding strategies for the land trust’s general operations, which can include private donations as well as grants from private, state and federal sources. Then write and/or assist with writing proposals. 

  • Assist the Executive Director with financial tasks and recordkeeping.

  • Support our sister organization, the Phippsburg Land Trust, with administrative tasks including donor database maintenance, gift acknowledgements, and bank deposit preparation.

  • As needed, coordinate with staff to represent KELT at public events.

 

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job. The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required. The omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

 

NOT REQUISITE BUT GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT

  • Experience working for or extensive volunteer experience at a non-profit organization.

  • Experience writing grants, policy and procedure, or other technical documents.

  • Experience using Quickbooks or bookkeeping.

  • Experience with Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack platform or other donor tracking software.

  • Experience with video or audio media creation and development.

  • Experience organizing, leading, and/or teaching audiences of various ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

  • Experience presenting educational programs to groups or training/certification in public interpretation and/or environmental education.

  • Experience with ESRI ArcMap or similar software for mapping.

  • Prior work with a land trust or similar conservation organization and/or familiarity with the Land Trust Alliances Standards and Practices for Stewardship and Land Protection.

  • Certification in first aid or wilderness first response.

  • Rich baseline of knowledge about plants, animals, or natural features of the Northeast.

  • Experience with event planning and coordination.