Communications Manager

Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) is an accredited and well-respected land trust, having protected more than 22,000 acres in the rapidly growing Triangle region of North Carolina. Since 1983, TLC has conserved land to safeguard drinking water, support family farms and the local food economy, protect important natural habitat, and connect people with nature.

TLC is currently headquartered in vibrant downtown Durham, although most staff are working remotely. This is an exciting time to work at TLC as we are seeing a dramatic increase in use of our public nature preserves and growth in community support for our mission. TLC is doubling the pace of conservation in the Triangle and will conserve 25,000 acres by 2025 as outlined in our Strategic Action Plan.

TLC seeks to attract the candidates who support our mission and values as well as respect and promote excellence through diversity. To this end, TLC recruits, hires, trains, and promotes individuals without regard to color, race, religious belief, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, or age. www.triangleland.org

We strongly encourage applications from people who have a passion for the work outlined below, even if their professional experience does not align perfectly with the expectations listed. TLC has a generous support system that includes a mix of paid professional development opportunities as well as training and support from fellow staff members.

Position Summary

The Communications Manager reports to the Director of Advancement and is responsible for ensuring that TLC’s marketing, communications, and public engagement is tightly integrated in support of our mission of land protection, stewardship, community engagement, and fundraising. The Communications Manager, using industry best practices, will define the direction of TLC’s communications efforts to deepen ties with our community and to inspire increased engagement through volunteerism, events, membership, and financial support for TLC’s work to accelerate the pace of land protection. The Communications Manager supervises the Communications Associate, interns, contractors, volunteers, and works closely with staff from all departments.

The Communications Manager develops and implements creative and compelling marketing, communication, and public relations strategies to advance individual program initiatives and position TLC as a leader in the regional, statewide, and national land trust communities. This position requires an exceptional ability to identify and craft promotional campaigns around the unique elements of particular programs or projects while ensuring consistency of messaging and alignment with TLC’s mission and emerging brand as defined in TLC’s 2025 strategic action plan.

Key Responsibilities of the Communications Manager

Together, with the Communications Associate that you will help hire in the first six months of your tenure, you will:

1. Develop and implement TLC’s Communication Plan, internal and external communications strategies to increase community engagement and support for TLC’s mission.

2. Lead TLC’s online presence to ensure content is current, comprehensive, and compelling:
   1. Manage all aspects of TLC’s website and update website design/content when needed.
   2. Monitor, interpret, and report website and social media analytics. Administer Google Analytics and Ads account.
   3. Develop engagement strategies for all channels to achieve communication goals.
   4. Research and implement best practices for website management, social media and other digital communications and marketing strategies.
3. Create, design, and distribute regular content about TLC’s work and mission:
   1. Oversee production of electronic communications including the e-newsletters, social media, website articles, and occasional fundraising campaigns.
   2. Design and manage production of print communications including newsletter, kiosk signage, brochures, mailings, and maintain relationships with local printing companies and graphic designers who will assist with projects.
   3. Write compelling content and solicit/edit content from TLC staff, volunteers, board, and community members.
   4. Manage and grow TLC’s photography collection.
4. Build and maintain relationships with local media:
   1. Write ad copy, press releases, and media alerts.
   2. Pitch stories to local media to increase TLC’s profile in the community.
5. Market TLC events and initiatives:
   1. Develop and monitor strategies for promoting TLC events and initiatives inclusive of, but not limited to, print and electronic promotional materials.
   2. Develop and edit presentations; develop and distribute talking points.
   3. Lead TLC’s marketing and branding efforts to procure promotional materials.
6. Supervision & Management:
   1. “Own” the workflow between yourself, the Communications Associate, contractors, interns, and the rest of the team to meet strategic communication objectives are met.
   2. Supervise Communications Associate (Note: TLC is in the process of hiring this position as well – an emphasis will be placed on their digital skills.)

Qualifications

Essential Experience, Technical Skills, and Competencies:

• BA/BS and 4+ years communications related experience preferred.
• Experience supervising or managing employees – or transferrable experience such as teaching or volunteer coordination.
• Exceptional writer, proofreader, and storyteller.
• Proficient in the use of social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as well as analytics tools to shape engagement.
• Proficient using MailChimp (or similar), WordPress (or similar), Microsoft Office, and general experience with other online communications tools.
• Proficient using Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, or similar. Canva experience desired.
• Familiar with Google Analytics and Google Ads.
• Competent, passionate, and current in effective utilization of print materials and social media to galvanize support.
• Familiarity with conservation, the Triangle, and land trusts preferred

Attributes:

• Strong communicator: You demonstrate poise, diplomacy, and tact when appropriate, but have a natural tendency toward sharing joy, inspiration, excitement, and passion. You have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Has a strong understanding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a commitment to noticing how our work can be more equitable and supporting those efforts.
• Detail and deadline-oriented: You are attentive to details, generally get it right the first time, but invite input from other staff. You are accountable.
• Go getter: You are mature, supportive, and dependable, can easily shift back and forth from working autonomously to working collaboratively, and desire to undertake new and varied projects and responsibilities.
• Engager: You are skilled at bringing people into a community and at making the case (emotionally, politically, economically, and socially) for why a project is relevant to a community.
• Flexible and capable: You manage changing priorities with ease and get the job done. You take projects from start to finish and anticipate changes in schedules.
• Process-oriented: You are efficient with setting up and maintaining systems to create high quality work in collaboration with others.
• Team player: You actively support a culture where people encourage each other and work together to succeed and/or celebrate the successes of others. You ask for help when you need it and also pitch in to support others.
• Maintains high level of professional conduct when faced with challenging or difficult situations.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required (not a regular occurrence).

Benefits

This is a full-time permanent and exempt position with benefits; including employer paid health, dental and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability, paid time off and holiday observances.

How to Apply

Please click "Apply" below to email the following documents, as a single pdf, to with the subject line “Communications Manager Application.”

1. letter of interest;
2. maximum two-page resume;
3. three samples of work; and
4. three professional references. References will not be contacted without notifying you first.

All applicants shall receive a confirmation email and if you are selected for an interview HR will contact you. Please no phone calls, drop-ins, paper submissions or status updates.

Guidance on work samples: Please include a mix of creative content - written, graphic, audio, video, etc. If you have more than one file to send, please combine them as links in a PDF document or into 1 folder using a service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Please note: NO INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED!

We are actively seeking to recruit diverse candidates to this position that enable TLC to reflect the diversity of the Triangle region. We are seeking candidates that demonstrate diversity of perspective, experience, and culture. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color applicants as well as any applicants who are historically underrepresented in roles like this.