Director of Communications

~ Bat Conservation International (BCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the enduring protection of the world's 1,300+ species of bats and their habitats to ensure a healthy planet. ~

Based in Austin, Texas and with offices in Washington, DC, BCI is devoted to conservation, education, and research initiatives involving bats and the ecosystems they serve. BCI was founded in 1982, as scientists around the world became concerned that bats, which are crucial for maintaining the balance of nature and the health of many human economies, were in alarming decline. 

Position Overview

Bat Conservation International seeks a Director of Communications. This position can be based in either Washington, DC or Austin, TX.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Communications will set and guide strategy for all communications, including digital strategy, digital marketing, and public relations messaging to consistently articulate BCI’s mission to key target audiences. The Director of Communications is primarily responsible for creating a pipeline of engaged constituents, working collaboratively with fundraising staff to support successful cultivation and conversion of constituents to donors. The mission of BCI’s communications team is to explode BCI’s base of support and make those people love us.

The Director of Communications helps ensure, as one of his or her highest priorities, that BCI’s public communications are effective, well-coordinated, delivered according to plan, and that current and new audiences are further engaged in BCI’s mission. S/he helps ensure that BCI effectively repurposes content across its media channels.

The Director of Communications supervises the Content Producer.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the marketing and communications strategy for BCI.
• Oversee the creation of online content that recruits and engages targeted audience segments and leads to measurable action.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate a dashboard of outcome-oriented metrics to measure BCI’s recruitment, engagement, and conversion of members and supporters.
• Coordinate communications activities across multiple channels to create attention, engagement, and mind-share in target audiences.
• Assist in the implementation of online campaigns to recruit new supporters, engage target audiences, and convert supporters to donate, and take other priority actions that support BCI’s mission.
• Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of BCI’s print and electronic collateral including, but not limited to, newsletters, brochures, and BCI’s website and digital channels.
• Supervise the Content Producer, who is responsible for online development, video production and Bats Magazine.
• Ensure a strong brand identity for BCI, providing content with highly attractive design and marketing appeal.
• Consistently generate creative ideas for new content and new marketing campaigns.
• Manage BCI’s communications calendar to optimize recruitment, engagement and conversion of constituents.
• Interface with BCI senior staff and program staff members to produce communications content.
• Oversee website revisions, updates, and content.
• Serve as primary contact for Bat Week and oversee BCI’s representation in this annual event.
• Manage media and PR contacts.

Qualifications

• A 4-year undergraduate degree, plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible communications experience required, ideally in a non-profit setting, covering such areas as digital strategy, digital marketing, and donor communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write quickly and accurately on deadline are a must.
• Experience in communicating conservation or scientific/technical information preferred.
• Ability to communicate and work well with all levels of staff, vendors, members, donors, conservation partners and others.
• Superior organizational and management skills and ability to handle a multitude of tasks, including experience in project management and setting and adhering to deadlines.
• Working knowledge of graphic design; Photoshop and digital design skills are a plus; strong social media and computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel).
• Actively follows best practices in nonprofit communications and is highly collaborative and team-oriented.
• Has experience identifying, analyzing and engaging target audiences, and is data-driven and results-oriented.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and high motivation.
• Good reasoning abilities and sound judgment, and is a thoughtful, smart risk-taker.

~ Bat Conservation International is an Equal Opportunity Employer ~