Job Title: Communications Director

Reports to: Executive Director

Type of Work: Full-time, Salaried

Classification: Exempt

Start Date: early May

Location: Negotiable within Wyoming

Deadline to Apply: March 9, 2025. Applications accepted until position is filled

Starting salary: Competitive and comprehensive benefits, time off, and compensation package, and a salary range of $70,000 - $77,000.

About the Organization

The Wyoming Outdoor Council is the state’s oldest independent conservation organization. We advocate for Wyoming's environment and communities using multiple knowledge systems and evidence-based practices to ensure comprehensive and long-term solutions.

We seek to enact lasting change that protects the land, wildlife, clean air and water we depend on, meet people where they are, ensure diverse perspectives are part of the conversation, build coalitions, and practice reciprocity.

The Wyoming Outdoor Council offers a flexible workplace with competitive compensation and benefits. Benefits include:

• Health insurance premium covered at 100% for employees and 50% for dependents, spouses, and domestic partners
• 100% of employee vision, dental, and disability premiums paid by WOC
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 5% match
• 12 days of paid wellness/sick leave per year
• Vacation accrual starts at 15 days per year
• 2 paid discretionary days per year
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid religious observance leave upon approval by the executive director
• A cell phone stipend
• 12 weeks of paid family leave (available twice, after 18 months of employment)
• 8 weeks of paid sabbatical leave (available every five years with approval by the executive director)

The Outdoor Council is an equal opportunity employer. We prioritize fairness in salaries across the organization. We are committed to building a diverse staff, board of directors, and an organizational culture of equity & belonging where we live our values.

The scope of this position's responsibilities may change depending upon experience. 

Our Values

• We are dedicated to protecting Wyoming’s environment and quality of life now and for future generations. 
• In our conservation work, we lead with humility. We value diverse perspectives. We are solutions oriented. 
• In our words and actions, we contribute to a respectful and equitable workplace where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging. 
• We seek creative solutions to tough problems. We are flexible and willing to change course if something isn’t working. 
• With kindness and honesty, we communicate directly. We respond to feedback with openness and a growth mindset.

About Your Role

In this reenvisioned role, you will lead our communications and marketing efforts to support the overall conservation work at the Outdoor Council. As a member of the leadership team, you will support organizational decision-making, and through collaboration with cross-functional teams, you will foster a positive work culture at the Outdoor Council. 

The communications team currently consists of a communications manager, graphic designer, and digital communications coordinator, who you will supervise and mentor. In addition, you will have the opportunity to mentor other staff who support the communications team.

You will:

• Oversee all communications and marketing related to WOC’s mission, ensuring alignment with the overall communications and marketing strategy, as well as WOC’s brand.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure cohesive messaging and align communication strategies around proactive communications opportunities, events, and thought leadership.
• Be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a strategic communications and marketing plan that strengthens the Outdoor Council’s brand, reflects our commitment to equity and belonging, and helps achieve our strategic goals.
• Ensure WOC maintains a positive public presence through earned and owned media channels. 
• Proactively recognize, prepare for, and develop external communication opportunities for diverse audiences. 
• Collaborate with the Tribal Conservation team to create and implement high-impact communications strategies, ensuring culturally resonant and consistent messaging for Tribal communities.
• Coordinate with the Tribal Conservation team to manage and implement ongoing website updates to reflect Tribal Conservation work that is user-friendly and designed specifically for Tribal communities.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and measurement of media relations strategies; cultivate and maintain contacts with local and regional media; identify and pitch stories; connect journalists with staff for interviews; and respond to inquiries from reporters.
• Manage requests, tasks, and projects assigned to WOC’s communications team. 
• Support WOC’s development team by understanding fundraising-specific writing techniques and providing editorial support.
• Train and provide consultation for staff on communications tactics and techniques.
• Assist partners/coalitions with communication strategies as needed.
• Be part of WOC’s highly functioning leadership team that supports the mission, vision, and values of the Outdoor Council.
• Manage the communications team budget.
• Support the work of equity and belonging at the Outdoor Council.
• Attend and participate in annual staff retreats and in-person staff days.
• Other duties as assigned.

About You

While we do not expect any one candidate to possess all of these qualifications, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal skills and qualities.

You have exceptional writing and editing skills with several years of professional communications experience in a leadership role, with a focus on environmental, social impact, or nonprofit sectors. You thrive in collaborative work environments, and you enjoy teaching others about communications and marketing strategies whether your coworkers or citizen spokespeople. 

You are able to take complex scientific, policy, or legal information and communicate it clearly and compellingly to Outdoor Council members. You recognize and can replicate the tone of Outdoor Council publications. You’ll bring a familiarity with multiple communications products, including: press releases, opinion media, blog posts, newsletters, etc. You are able to manage multiple time-sensitive projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

You have experience in and are very familiar with the ever-evolving digital communications and marketing landscape. You are familiar with all social media platforms, have experience executing digital campaigns, and translating programmatic campaigns into the digital landscape.

You recognize the diverse communities in Wyoming require different communication styles and can adapt our publications to their specific needs. You appreciate and acknowledge Tribal sovereignty, histories, and environmental justice issues faced by Tribal communities. You’ll maintain positive relationships, as well as be actively engaged in building relationships and opportunities with Tribal communities, Native organizations, Tribal programs, and governments.

You have a proven track record of developing and executing successful communications and marketing strategies that drive engagement and achieve organizational goals. And you also stay attuned to current and evolving trends in media relations, communications, and marketing. You are excited to adapt these trends to work for our campaigns.

Your strong leadership, interpersonal, and project management skills will help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and oversee multiple priorities. In your leadership, you bring a clear vision and recognize the value of divergent perspectives. You approach leadership with a mindset of “power with” rather than “power over” and regularly include others in decision-making. You are able to make and communicate difficult decisions in the Outdoor Council’s best interest. 

You have excellent oral communication skills and are comfortable providing interviews to journalists along with other WOC staff. You are familiar with the geography, natural resources, and cultures of Wyoming—or are willing to learn quickly.

You demonstrate commitment to equity and community-driven change in order for all Wyoming communities to have a voice. You are a service leader who centers listening, humility, and relationships to achieve community goals. You are committed to contributing to WOC’s equity and belonging work to ensure the organization is a welcoming place for all staff, board, volunteers, members, and organizational partners. You are a collaborative team player who thrives in a culture of learning, feedback, and reciprocal support among WOC's teams.

You are experienced working on Macs and with the standard suite of office tools and technology. You aren’t afraid to learn new systems. You are either comfortable with, or comfortable learning, how to share documents and other files in the Google Suite collaborative work environment.

You have a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.

And, you are committed to the mission of the Wyoming Outdoor Council.

We strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups to apply.

Email Misti Haase at misti@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org with any questions or if you need any accommodations in the application or interview processes (please put “Communications Director” in the subject.). 

Physical Demands

These physical demands are representative of those met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to hold objects, writing instruments, the telephone, or other materials. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and use a keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.