Outdoor Leader Coordinator, External Relations

Wilderness Inquiry’s mission is to connect people of all ages, backgrounds, identities, and abilities through shared outdoor adventures so that all people can equitably experience the benefits of time spent in nature.

At Wilderness Inquiry, we believe that everyone belongs. We work to ensure this belief holds true in our workplace, in our community, and in the outdoors. We pursue this belief through our mission and shared values of paddling together, nurturing inclusion, seeking the exceptional, and finding a way.  

Position Summary & Dimensions

Summary

The Outdoor Leader Coordinator, External Relations supports the communications, marketing, partnership building, and legislative engagement activities of the External Relations team. This is a one-year, termed position, with potential for one-year renewal. Designed to be a pathway for professionals entering the outdoor industry, the Outdoor Leader Coordinator role will gain exposure to a number of different organizational responsibilities, including communications and storytelling; government relations; relationship building and partner engagement; peer mentorship; organizational systems and administration; and program facilitation as a mentor and leader among Wilderness Inquiry’s seasonal Outdoor Leader community. This position offers professional skill development and networking opportunities in the non-profit and outdoor sectors, equipping this person with transferable skills to build from and continue to grow. This position will be a member of the External Relations team, while also supporting the Programs & Adventures team by leading and guiding day and extended trips.

Dimensions

• Position Classification: Outdoor Leader Coordinator
• Employment Conditions: Exempt
• Department/Section: External Relations
• Classification Starting Range: $44,750 – $50,000
• Reports To: Sr. Manager of Marketing & Communications
• Supervisory Responsibilities: None
• Environment: Hybrid, with some days reporting to the Wilderness Inquiry office in Bloomington; additional days spent on trail

Essential Roles and Responsibilities

Responsibility 1: Communications and Marketing (35% time)

• Capture, organize, upload, and manage photos, videos, stories, and quotes from programs and adventures with external audiences, including gathering and compiling assets to meet requests from other teams
• Coordinate process for entering and tagging photos in image database / library
• Write and develop stories and content for blog, social, web, and printed materials in accordance with our overall content strategy and brand guidelines
• Support communications collateral requests by developing materials, flyers, slide decks, etc. using templates across our applications such as Canva, Hubspot, Mailchimp, etc.
• Liaise with, support, and direct summer Outdoor Leader Photographers

Responsibility 2: Partner and Government Relations (20% time) 

• Support national partnership development through research, creating and compiling materials, storytelling, and other means
• Support government relations, including: 
  • Coordinate outreach to Minnesota legislators, local elected officials, and government officials
  • Research and map state (non-MN) and federal legislative / agency contacts for outreach
  • Support reports and stories for government relations and partners

Responsibility 3: Outdoor Leader and Liaison (25% FTE)

• Facilitate Wilderness Inquiry programs and guide trips as an Outdoor Leader 
• When guiding trips, effectively lead Outdoor Leader teams, coordinate trip logistics, support participants, and ensure programs meet all Wilderness Inquiry policy, risk, documentation, and community agreement procedures
• Participate in Outdoor Leader training and development
• Work with the Programs and Adventures team to lead and execute on all aspects of trip guiding and program delivery
• Build positive community and working relationships with seasonal Outdoor Leaders and office staff, and represent the External Relations team with the Outdoor Leader Coordinator cohort

Responsibility 4: General Department Support (20% time)

• Staff and support outreach, sales, and recruitment events, as applicable 
• Support and attend special events and fundraising efforts, including Great River Race, Partner Paddle, Opportunity Fund, and others
• Engage in professional development, networking, and training opportunities 
• Support administrative functions of the External Relations department, including database and contact record clean-up and organizing data assets and folders within marketing and communications systems, including Filemaker Pro, ImageMaster, Canva, Hubspot, Mailchimp, and Google Drive folder

Responsibility 5: Embrace Values, Community Agreements and Other Roles/Responsibilities as Assigned.

Perform all job responsibilities in a manner that centers Wilderness Inquiry values and supports a healthy, safe, and productive work environment for all employees, adhering to our Workplace Community Agreements.

These are not intended to encompass all roles and responsibilities of this position; other duties may be assigned at the discretion of the supervisor.

Qualities we are looking for in this position:

• Excellent computer and database skills
• Outstanding written and communication skills, with interest in storytelling
• Experience with and interest in capturing and editing photos and videos for use in marketing materials
• Basic knowledge of and interest in working within digital marketing and communications platforms (e.g. Canva, Mailchimp, HubSpot)
• Interest in and willingness to learn new and/or custom systems such as FileMaker Pro, Wilderness Inquiry’s Google Workspace, etc.
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Willing to listen and learn 
• A self-starter who takes initiative
• Results-driven
• Flexible, persistent, and attentive to detail 
• Enjoys variety and is open to learning new roles
• Passion for Wilderness Inquiry’s mission

Minimum Requirements: 

• High school diploma
• Ability to acquire Wilderness Inquiry systems knowledge
• Demonstrated professional experience in communications, marketing, or external relations
• Ability to pass a background check
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be legally allowed to work in the United States

Applicants who may not meet all of the desired skills are encouraged to apply; training may be available for some job functions. 

Physical Requirements: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be 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 frequently required to sit, talk and hear, and use hands to handle or touch objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally be able to lift and carry heavy loads up to 50lbs over rough terrain for distances of up to 1,000 feet. On occasion the employee must be able to make loud verbal commands, sit and stand for significant periods of time while also directing vessels such as a canoe, use vision to directionally navigate safely, and endure a wide variety of temperatures and elements. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to see while using a standard computer screen, close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The above statements reflect the primary duties and functions of the position and are not intended to describe all of the work requirements that may be inherent in the role.

Note: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis before December 11, 2024.