Communications Manager & Designer

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) seeks a Communications Coordinator & Designer to facilitate all aspects of the organization's marketing and public relations. The position is responsible for developing integrated marketing campaigns including social media, traditional advertising, digital marketing, and media placement. The role collaborates with program staff and contractors to develop, execute, and improve all aspects of ACES' communication, enhancing engagement, maintaining brand integrity and affinity, and increasing community and donor support.
ACES works to contribute to a national agenda for increased environmental awareness. Our programs reach over 140,000 individuals every year. We teach daily in schools from Aspen to Rifle, and provide kids' camps, adult classes, guided hikes, and field programs for all ages. ACES works diligently to directly affect climate change education, awareness, and action, as well as action on other current environmental issues. Leading communication on the above is a critical element of the position. We also engage our community by hosting public lectures and events, which require promotion and marketing. ACES collaborates with land trusts, public agencies, and other nonprofits to achieve our mission.
Ideal candidates are creative with exceptional communication skills, a talent for the written word, eager to learn and collaborate with co-workers and other stakeholders, and driven to make an impact in the environmental education field. They have demonstrated effectiveness in communications, marketing, and public relations, ideally with an environmental organization or nonprofit. They are committed to upholding ACES' brand identity and organizational authenticity.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinate development and design of marketing materials, maintaining brand identity and organizational authenticity.
• Maintain ACES' website, blog, and social media platforms.
• Provide in-house graphic design services for diverse organizational needs.
• Coordinate public relations initiatives alongside contract support.
• Coordinate, organize, and curate all photo and video assets.
• Coordinate content producers, including photo and video professionals, influencers, and brand ambassadors to produce relevant and engaging content for ACES' social and marketing channels.
• Assists in gathering information, fact checking, and copywriting for collateral materials.

Communications/Marketing & Public Relations

• Help coordinate annual report data and design concept and execution.
• Design and produce organizational email marketing communications.
• Coordinate paid advertising contracts, media sponsorships and trade agreements.
• Execute event marketing and support event production.
• Support and develop impactful messaging and outreach that reflect ACES' mission and results in increased community engagement.
• Create original educational content to support ACES' brand and mission, working with ghostwriters and freelance graphic designers.
• Streamline communications between ACES' three different site locations: Hallam Lake, Rock Bottom Ranch, and the Catto Center at Toklat.
• Help facilitate translation to Spanish across all media platforms.
• Write radio scripts and brainstorm unique external communication concepts.

Email, Website, Blog, and Social Media Oversight and Design

• Maintain and enhance ACES' website through the production of new content and refresh of existing content.
• Manage and coordinate blog, including creating editorial calendar, writing and editing content and curating visuals.
• Manage social media networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
• Create and coordinate digital and printed educational and interpretive original content.
• Design and produce marketing materials for development campaigns, special events, community programs, regenerative agriculture, Naturalist programs, forest programs, and general awareness.
• Capture program content and at events as needed; track and report engagement and other relevant KPIs.
• Build and coordinate distribution of prospect emails, including copywriting, images and graphics.
• Create stakeholder email, weekly flyers, event invites, and one-offs.
• Assist with email strategy and analysis.
• Conceive and create a monthly opinion newsletter.

Environmental Action Communication

• Initiate and create communication through various multi-media avenues, including original content, as well as curating content from other departments, consultants, and external partners.

Secondary Duties and Responsibilities

• Support visitor experience at all sites.
• Coordinate office supplies.
• Keep staff photo boards up to date.
• Assist with ACES events.
• Participate in database, website, and technology changes, upgrades, and improvements.
• Communicate events and attend local chamber gatherings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in relevant field, plus minimum three years relevant professional experience. Ideal candidates will have experience with an environmental organization or nonprofit. The role between Coordinator and Manager will depend on experience.
• While a pertinent college degree is preferred, individual reputation, knowledge, and experience in marketing and public relations will be the key criteria.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom), social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr), Google Apps, Mac OS, Microsoft Office. Experience in email marketing software such as Mailchimp/Constant Contact, as well as website editing software such as Wordpress is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience and comfort with presenting.
• Experience utilizing social media management/measurement platforms such as Sprout is a plus.
• Digital marketing and ad campaign planning experience is a plus (working with any third party qualifies).
• Ability to multitask, establish priorities based on department priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional time management skills, overseeing projects on a tight timeline with a high level of attention to detail, quality, and professionalism.
• Facilitate effective input from colleagues and program managers, delegate tasks, and contribute to organization-wide team-building and collaborative efforts and be an effective team player, while also carefully introducing, promoting, and driving change.
• Self-motivated, internally driven, and able to problem solve and make decisions that balance input from the senior management team with moving tasks forward efficiently.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external staff, partners, and stakeholders.

Start Date

August 1, 2024 or sooner

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Communications Director. The role between Coordinator and Manager will depend on experience.

Location

This is a full-time, year-round position based at Hallam Lake in Aspen, Colorado with travel to other sites for work days.

Benefits and Compensation

Salary begins at $50,000 with room for promotion and growth. ACES' benefit package includes a health insurance plan, dental insurance plan, matching retirement savings plan, health reimbursement account, flexible spending account, paid time off, a recreation benefit, and a discount on items in the ACES gift shops and on ACES classes.

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday with occasional evening/weekend events throughout the season.

Housing

Housing is not provided. Applicants who do not already have housing in the Roaring Fork Valley should be aware that securing housing here can be extremely difficult.

Application Submission

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. No phone calls please. ACES is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ACES does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.