Communications Manager 

The Cornucopia Institute is looking for a Communications Manager to join our dynamic team of organic advocates. If you are a creative and confident communicator who is inspired to engage people in the food system, please apply by August 18, 2022. (Scroll down for application instructions; please do not call or email.)

ABOUT THE CORNUCOPIA INSTITUTE

The Cornucopia Institute is a nonprofit watchdog organization that champions authentic organic food and farms as essential alternatives to industrialized agriculture.

Cornucopia is a fully remote organization with a highly collaborative work culture and collective governance model. Our staff have worked from home offices since Cornucopia was founded in 2004. We are looking for a full-time team member who is passionate about changing the food system, excited to take initiative, and able to integrate feedback on the fly. Our eight-person team depends on strong communication skills, accountability, and coordinated work flow across departments.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER POSITION OVERVIEW 

Primary responsibilities include: managing communications strategy, overseeing Cornucopia’s editorial calendar, shaping our evolving voice, building media relations, writing, and editing. This position reports to and collaborates with the four-person Leadership Team and works most closely with the Deputy Director.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Any combination of formal education, paid work experience, unpaid/volunteer experience, and life experience will be considered to meet all or most of the following needs:

• Program and project management experience (at least 3 years): Work with team members and contractors to keep simultaneous projects on deadline
• Demonstrated track record of managing projects that deliver results
• Must be able to work independently, as well as on a team
• Excellent storytelling, reporting, and research skills
• Ability to make the nuances of organic farming and policy accessible to a general audience
• Proficiency in digital communication tools, such as AirTable, InDesign, PhotoShop, Mailchimp, Cision, PR Newswire, and social media listening tools (applicants are not expected to be proficient in every tool listed; training will be provided)
• A resilience mindset: You are inspired and motivated by people and communities creating alternatives to the industrialized food system
• Curiosity that leads you to seek out answers to your questions
• Collaborative and comfortable with disagreement

Bonus skills:

• Technical capacity around multimedia production, especially video
• Ability to step in front of the camera or microphone with poise

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management

• Act as the managing editor of Cornucopia’s editorial calendar
• Conceptualize and coordinate all pieces of new project roll-out
• Work with designers to create design assets

Writing, Reporting, and Content Creation

• Act as the managing editor of the Cultivator, Cornucopia’s print newsletter (work directly with the designer and printer, pre- and post-production; oversee design elements, including photo research and illustrations)
• Write and edit articles for various communications channels
• Interview outside experts and Cornucopia staff to stay abreast of issues in the organic sector
• Coordinate the biweekly eNews schedule
• Work with Cornucopia’s social media contractor to maintain social media presence, including YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
• Manage website

Communications Strategy

• Work with leadership team on creation and implementation of a co-aligned communications and development plan
• Routinely analyze communication performance, set goals, and track KPIs

Media Relations 

• Write press releases and improve media outreach
• Track media mentions and create monthly reports

General

• Travel occasionally for farm visits, conferences, and events

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

$65,000 annual compensation, 3 weeks’ vacation, 10 holidays, 12 sick days, and QSEHRA healthcare reimbursement.

TIME COMMITMENT

40 hours/week – generally Monday through Friday during business hours, but job duties may occasionally require evening or weekend hours and travel. Start date: Mid-October.

WORK CULTURE

Your humanity is respected at Cornucopia; we believe that one’s work should contribute to a well-rounded life but should not define it. We encourage personal work plans that allow staff to use all of their vacation and wellness time, including mental health days, as needed. We value having a diversity of life experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives on our team. We are eager for applications from people with non-traditional backgrounds.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process will not include a traditional cover letter or resume. We will evaluate you only on the skills you demonstrate during the four-stage application process. Throughout this multi-step process, applicants will be asked to answer questions, perform brief writing and editing exercises, and participate in an interview on Zoom. Work submitted will only be used to help us select the best candidate. Evaluators will not have access to your name until Round 3 of this process. We invite all candidates to inquire about accommodations needed for any piece of the job application process.

Please fill out this Round 1 Questionnaire to apply. Direct any questions about the position or Cornucopia to the appropriate place in the questionnaire.

A select group of applicants will be invited to participate in Round 2 of the application process which mirrors one of the important, routine tasks of the Communications Manager. A small number of applicants will then be invited to a Zoom interview and to perform a Cornucopia-specific writing exercise. Then we will make a formal job offer to one applicant.

Cornucopia is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, uniform service member status, or disability. Women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ persons, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.