Job Title: Director of Communications

Department: Communications

Reports to: Vice President for Development  

Starting Salary: $60,000 - $72,000 ~ Full time, Permanent, Exempt

Position Summary: The Director of Communications leads all Forest Society’s communication activity, across platforms that include both print and digital, with the goal of advancing the mission and priorities of the organization. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic communications plan that weaves together the activities of many departments in pursuit of core mission objectives. This will be an exciting period in communications as the organization approaches its 125th anniversary in 2026, with associated outreach, branding, and communications efforts to be developed.

The Director sets strategic direction and creates coordinated content for use across multiple platforms, including website, e-newsletters, digital marketing, and social media, as well as print communications including the quarterly magazine, Forest Notes. This includes targeting multiple audiences, including members, donors, partners, landowners, public officials, and a diverse cross-section of the general public.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works with key staff across departments to develop a comprehensive communications strategy to advance the Forest Society’s long-term and short-term conservation, stewardship, advocacy, fundraising and engagement goals.
• Acts as the Forest Society’s webmaster, collaborating with staff and volunteers to provide appropriate content, drive traffic, increase engagement and track results. Coordinates with webhosting partner to ensure necessary programming and security updates are completed in a timely fashion.
• Manages, develops, and edits content about the Forest Society’s priorities, accomplishments, policies and mission for Forest Society websites, e-newsletters and social media outlets and collaborates with staff to update content, refine design elements and develop features. Tracks and evaluates open and click-through rates and other measures of engagement.
• Supervises the editor of Forest Notes and oversees editorial calendar, production, and overall thematic continuity to help maximize the impact of the publication.
• Works with staff located at The Rocks and Creek Farm to coordinate communications specific to activities at these sites.
• Responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Forest Society’s trails app, “Outerspatial,” with the primary goal to engage and provide information to people who are visiting Forest Society properties.
• Works closely with the development staff to drive membership, support land conservation fundraising campaigns, build communities around existing properties in support of stewardship goals, and engage other target audiences.
• Works with development and membership staff, and others, to continue building collaboration between digital outreach and fundraising functions using new digital marketing tools (Luminate) to manage event registration and tracking, expand digital fundraising capacity, and complement other communications initiatives.
• With VP for Development, administers and oversees strategic message development in support of the organization’s goals as well as record keeping systems for budgets, work plans, marketing plans, and correspondence.  Keeps abreast of changing tools and technologies. Works to repurpose Forest Notes and other content for use in the digital environment. 
• Represents Communications and Outreach at staff meetings, convenes department/team meetings, and participates with Board of Trustees Outreach Committee meetings.
• Plays a key role in the development, launch and implementation of the Forest Society’s 125th Anniversary communications and capital campaign, planned for 2026. Also plays a key role working with communications and development consultants that may play roles in preparing and executing this effort.
• In general, seeks to produce engaging, educational, energetic communications that reflect the priorities of the organization and appeals to existing audiences while keeping current with changing demographics, technology, and areas of interest.
• With outreach staff and others, participates in periodic community events, festivals, or celebrations (such as Farm, Forest, and Garden Expo; Forest Society’s Annual Meeting, partner events with agency and nonprofit partners, etc.). Includes strategic selection of which events, and making sure interpretive materials are current and effective.
• Supervises Communications Manager (50%FTE/Editor of Forest Notes); Communications Coordinator; and works with PR consultant on contract.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills Required:

• Minimum four-year college degree, preferably in communications, digital media, or related field.
• Five to seven years’ experience writing, creating, and editing lively content in multiple formats for a general/educated audience. Must create content (writing, photography, video) efficiently, creatively, and accurately about complex topics on deadline using input from many sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential to this position.
• Good ear for language and delivering relevant information to audiences that may range from professional and academic to general interest, some with deep knowledge of the Forest Society and some just getting to know the organization.
• Independent judgment and discretion in posting content on various electronic and social media platforms about the Forest Society’s mission and priorities.
• Advanced computing and digital media skills including web content management systems, blogware, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Excel, and Outlook, Mailchimp, Survey Monkey, Google Analytics, and familiarity with Adobe Photoshop and database software. Familiarity with Drupal and Blackbaud products including Luminate and Raiser’s Edge will be helpful.
• Knowledge, curiosity and interest in conservation and the Forest Society’s mission.
• Enthusiasm, flexibility, willingness to adapt. Able to work both independently and in a cooperative team approach.
• Must be friendly, outgoing, perceptive, and diplomatic. Good listening skills necessary. Able to actively develop and maintain good communications with other staff in all departments.
• Proven organizational, multi-tasking, and time-management skills.
• Valid NH driver’s license, proof of insurance and access to a reliable vehicle.

Working Conditions: Occasional night and weekend day duties required. Occasional use of personal transportation to visit Forest Society reservations and to interact with members and constituents.

Physical Requirements: Ability to sit and work at a computer for prolonged periods.  Ability to lift and move 20 lbs. to carry and set up information booth and pop-up tent.

Equity, Inclusion & Collaboration: The Forest Society is an equity-based employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.  We value staff that work for the good of the whole; that can effectively collaborate to achieve shared goals of their department, as well as the organization.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected status as required by applicable law.