Communications Director

Northeast Wilderness Trust’s (NEWT) mission is to conserve forever-wild landscapes for nature and people. We safeguard over 82,000 wild acres across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Northeast Wilderness Trust is the only regional land trust focused exclusively on rewilding through forever-wild conservation. We believe in the immense value of wilderness, both for its intrinsic value and for its unique role to reverse the biodiversity crisis, mitigate climate change, and provide solace to the human spirit. 

• Reports to: Vice President of Advancement
• Position Type: Full-time salaried
• Location: Montpelier, VT–an office/work-from-home hybrid system.  Remote from other locations in the Northeast, with required quarterly travel to Montpelier, will be considered. 
• Starting Salary: $90,000 - $95,000 D.O.E

Duties of the Communications Director

The Director of Communications will provide program and team leadership in designing and implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy. The goal is to ensure that Northeast Wilderness Trust is recognized as a premier practitioner in Forever Wild land protection and as a thought leader in the global rewilding movement. A key pillar of the Trust’s strategy is to champion the wilderness cause to a wide audience, including media, policy makers, donors, and the general public. Here is a unique opportunity to lead the creative direction and messaging of an eco-centric organization focused on conserving nature for nature’s sake, and to contribute to the good work and good health of a rapidly growing non-profit.

What You Will Do:

• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive marketing, communications, and outreach plans (web-based, digital, print, social, public relations) with the objective of elevating Northeast Wilderness Trust’s brand, reputation, profile, and work;
• Manage relationships with media across six states and national outlets, draft and coordinate press releases, and create regular opportunities for earned media;
• Manage internal communications in a dynamic, hybrid environment;
• Lead, inspire, and nurture the Communications Team;
• Ensure brand quality and consistency across all channels working with internal and external team members and contractors;
• Track and communicate industry trends to support brand positioning;
• Develop reporting tools and metrics to analyze and disseminate results from brand initiatives and campaigns;
• Manage and deliver the Annual Report and other printed communications;
• Identify exciting ways of using social media and other means to tell the story of NEWT’s work;
• Lead efforts to advertise, promote, and ensure the NEWT’s outreach programs and events are well-attended; 
• Proofread all NEWT communications for external audiences. 

What You Will Bring:

• A passionate commitment to wild nature;  
• At least seven years of communications, public relations, and/or marketing experience; 
• Extensive experience managing people and a communications program; 
• Exceptional writing skills; 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven, and team-oriented work environment. 
• An ambitious, self-starting, and can-do attitude. 
• Curiosity to learn and be engaged with multiple perspectives across New England and New York.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills to meet deadlines, manage multiple long-term and short-term tasks simultaneously, and be self-starting. 
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed across the region and carry a valid driver’s license. 
• Willingness to work outside of the position’s primary focus and collaborate with other NEWTs on other organizational priorities.  

Benefits:

Northeast Wilderness Trust offers competitive and progressive benefits including:

Comprehensive Health Coverage:

• 100% health insurance coverage to employees plus 80% of two-person/75% of family coverage
• Shared cost dental and vision insurance

Generous Vacation Time:

• 31 days of combined time off, plus sick leave
• 1-week annual holiday closure between Christmas and New Year’s

Other Benefits:

• 35-hour Work Week
• Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule
• 401k retirement plan with 4% employer match
• Employer-paid Life Insurance of $50,000
• Parental Leave - 12 weeks paid; option for additional 8 weeks part-time work; all with full benefits
• Sabbatical leave – Every seven years of employment, earn up to a two-month paid sabbatical with opportunity to extend to three months.
• Moving stipend to relocate to Montpelier, Vermont.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should click "Apply" below to submit a cover letter and resume with three professional references as a single combined PDF, with the subject “Communications Director.” Application deadline is April 12, 2024 with review and interviews happening on a rolling basis.

Northeast Wilderness Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a just and equitable world and workplace.  We recognize that diverse teams make the strongest teams and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.