Communications and Relationships Manager

We are seeking an expert storyteller who will provide a consistently high level of communication to EENC’s members, donors, and community and who understands how strong communications and relationships will help advance every aspect of EENC’s work. Our goals for this position are to strengthen communications and relationships with our members and donors, cultivate positive relationships for future growth, increase organizational capacity, and grow EENC’s network to increase our impact, reach, and representation across North Carolina.

Communications and Relationships Manager

The Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) grew from the desire of environmental educators across North Carolina to meet and share their experiences, aspirations, and tools. Since its inception in 1990, EENC has grown into something much greater. Our organization represents a network of outstanding environmental educators, individuals, and organizations who work together to accomplish our core mission: to build connections, provide professional development, and promote excellence in environmental education. We provide the forum to bring people together, leverage resources, and unite our voices across the state.

The Communications and Relationships Manager will serve full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Our goals for this position are to strengthen communications and relationships with our members and donors, cultivate positive relationships for future growth, increase organizational capacity, and grow EENC’s network to increase our impact, reach, and representation across North Carolina.

The employee will work remotely/predominately from home. Travel within the state of North Carolina is required.

Roles/Responsibilities:

Communications

• Create content for and maintain social media accounts, monthly member newsletter, quarterly donor newsletter, and website. 

• Design graphics (e.g. infographics, fliers, social media banners, etc.) as needed.

• Assist in planning and implementing targeted campaigns (ex: seasonal fundraising campaigns, anticipated 2023 NC science standards announcement, conference communications campaign). Track campaign progress in EENC’s project management platform (Monday.com).

• Support EENC Leadership Team in drafting talking points, press releases, and other communications for projects and programs.

• Design and develop marketing plans, outreach materials and exhibits for the organization.

Relationships

• Work with EENC Staff Leadership Team to co-create an annual Development and Communications Plan.

• Support and steward EENC’s current members and donors through membership renewal/confirmation emails, responding to member emails and phone calls, writing and ensuring timely delivery of thank-you letters, and other strategies to increase member and donor engagement.

• Expand membership and donor network, including assisting in identifying prospects, recruiting by exhibiting/tabling at other organizations’ events and conferences, and other cultivation and solicitation strategies.

• Assist with sponsor solicitation, recognition, and stewardship for EENC events.

• Maintain a member database in Wild Apricot. Maintain a donor database in Bloomerang.

• Coordinate volunteer opportunities for members and donors to become more engaged in our work.

This position will also have allocated time for internal administrative work, such as responding to general emails, staff meetings, submitting personnel reports, participating in professional development, etc. The Communications and Relationships Manager will report to the Executive Director.

Who We’re Looking For:

We are seeking an expert storyteller who will provide a consistently high level of communication to EENC’s members, donors, and community and who understands how strong communications and relationships will help advance every aspect of EENC’s work. The ideal candidate for this new position will be excited to have shared leadership in EENC’s staff team.

Requirements

• Ability to manage multiple projects independently and as part of a team 

• Strong networking and interpersonal skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to communicate with diverse audiences

• Tech Savvy: Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Zoom, Canva, and other online tools - or ability to quickly become proficient

• Strong aptitude for visual design

• Experience developing newsletters and use of social media for business

• North Carolina residency or commitment to move to North Carolina within 30 days of hire

• North Carolina driver’s license or ability to acquire one within 90 days of hire

  • This position requires independent travel to various locations within and beyond North Carolina for EENC events, recruiting members at other organizations’ events, etc.  

• Ability to work some weekdays, evenings, and weekends to accommodate special programming and events

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing, implementing, and evaluating communications campaigns

• Experience with website design and/or content management

• Experience with database management

• Experience recruiting and managing volunteers

• Familiarity with the field of environmental education, or related fields such as nonprofit management, conservation, outdoor education, etc.

This job description is a general overview, not a mandatory comprehensive list. If you feel passionate about our efforts and believe that you have the skills to accomplish the job, we want to hear from you!

How To Apply:

Apply online through our application portal. Resumes and cover letters will NOT be accepted via email.  If you have questions, please contact Lauren Pyle at director@eenc.org.  

To apply, you will need to submit:

• Resume

• Cover letter that addresses the following (maximum 2 pages):

  • How does communication relate to programming, development, and operations in a small nonprofit?

  • Tell us about your previous communications experience and expertise (newsletters, social media for business, etc.).  What types of communication have you developed, how often, and in what context? 

  • If not already clearly listed in your resume, tell us about your experience and expertise with various software applications.  What platforms are you most familiar with and how have you used them?

  • Any additional information you wish to provide about how you meet any of the preferred qualifications.

• Examples of previous work (email to director@eenc.org after submitting your resume and cover letter through the application portal)

  • 1 visual design piece such as a social media graphic, postcard, flyer, custom logo, etc.

  • 1 short written piece such as a newsletter article, appeal letter, blog post, etc. (ideally one page or less)

  • 1 additional submission of your choice

Applications will be accepted through the end of the day on January 29, 2023. We anticipate conducting interviews from February 13-24, with a target start date to be determined in March-April 2023. We will ask for references after interviews have been conducted.

We believe environmental literacy and mutual respect are inherently linked with environmental and social justice, environmental education and resources should be accessible to all communities, biodiversity is critical to the success of natural spaces and the diversity of humanity is what makes us stronger, and we are never done learning and growing as an organization and as individuals. We strongly encourage applications from People of Color, LGBTQ+ people, and those who are members of other marginalized communities.

EENC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate of race, color, religious creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, or disability.