Goshen College seeks an Associate Director of Communications and Marketing for its Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. This position leads efforts to develop, unify, and periodically assess strategic messaging and approaches to marketing for all program areas that comprise the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, including Environmental Education Outreach, Merry Lea Sustainable Farm, Land Management, and the Sustainability and Environmental Education Department of Goshen College, as well as the organization as a whole.

This work, which involves significant coordination of and interaction with Merry Lea staff and faculty, as well as between Merry Lea and the Goshen College Communications and Marketing Office, involves the development and management of content and communications that increase public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of Merry Lea, its mission, and its programmatic offerings while adhering to the brands and core values of both Merry Lea and Goshen College.

The Associate Director is responsible for designing and implementing strategies for increasing awareness of the Merry Lea organization and its various programs to a variety of external audiences through the production of well-written communications, online content, and in-person interactions; therefore, this position plays a critical role in both organizational advancement and the recruitment of participants for preK-12, family, public, and collegiate programs.

The Associate Director must be an initiative taker, collaborative, adaptable, detail-oriented, and able to set and manage priorities to meet strategic objectives. The Associate Director must also be proficient in a broad set of relevant skills, including written/verbal communication, website development and management, social media management, photo/video editing, graphic design, customer relationship management, and effective approaches to recruitment and marketing.

This is a full-time position with a salary of $44,670 and eligibility for full benefits.

Benefits include:

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long term disability insurances
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Plan(s)
• Tuition discounts
• Paid Holidays, Vacation/Sick Leave
• Free employee membership to Recreation-Fitness Center (discounted family membership)

Essential Functions:

• Develop, coordinate, and maintain overall organizational messaging, develop and implement strategic messaging campaigns, and lead/coordinate communications, marketing, and participant/student recruitment efforts for individual Merry Lea departments and programs, including periodically assessing and updating overall organizational communications strategies.
• Research and write news releases, feature stories, and other content for print, electronic, and online publications, including the Merry Lea website and social media platforms, and solicit/edit content written by staff, faculty, and students, targeting internal and/or external audiences.
• Manage production of Merry Lea newsletter, including writing content, soliciting content from Merry Lea staff, faculty, and students, editing, general layout, coordination of printing, and distribution of print and electronic versions.
• Manage Merry Lea website and social media accounts.
• Create new and update existing brochures, trail maps, and interpretive signs as needed.
• Assist Executive Director with donor communications and donation procurement efforts.
• Maintain email and other distribution lists.
• Attend Merry Lea staff meetings and complete other tasks as assigned in support of implementation of the Merry Lea Mission and Strategic Plan.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, Marketing or related field or equivalent education and experience.

Skills & Competencies:

• Demonstrated proficiency in writing for multiple audiences and in multiple mediums (print, online, and social media).
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• High level of commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
• Strong command of grammar.
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong Internet usage skills and excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and successfully meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with the use of popular social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
• Basic knowledge of ecosystems of northern Indiana and relevant ecological principles.
• Proficiency with a point-and-shoot digital camera and video camera.
• Working knowledge of photo and video editing software.
• Working knowledge of graphic design software, such as InDesign.
• Working knowledge of Customer Relationship Management systems, such as DoubleKnot.
• Working knowledge of website content management systems, such as WordPress.
• Working knowledge of email marketing services, such as MailChimp.