Website Occidental Arts & Ecology Center

Community Alliance With Family Farmers • Occidental, CA

259d • $85,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center (OAEC) is an 80-acre demonstration, education and advocacy center located in western Sonoma County, California. OAEC's work focuses on cultivating ecological literacy and building the capacity of civic and social movement leaders and organizations to guide their communities toward an ecologically regenerative, economically viable, and socially just future. Founded in 2004, the OAEC WATER Institute develops innovative science-based solutions for communities to address the legacy of hydrologically destructive land-use practices and policies on California's watersheds. In response to the climate and biodiversity crisis, the WATER Institute has been leading strategic initiatives such as the Bring Back the Beaver and Fuels to Flows campaigns to restore watersheds, recover imperiled species and build climate change resilience in communities across the arid west. OAEC seeks a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our experienced and highly effective WATER Institute team. The WATER Institute Associate Director of Development and Communications (WATER AD) is responsible for overseeing and supporting all of WATER's fundraising, communication, and select project management activities. Primary duties include tracking major gifts and donor cultivation, preparing appeals and other fundraising materials, conducting foundation research and solicitation, and collaborating on grant proposals and reports with WATER staff. This position manages the production of all WATER communications, contributing effective writing and technical skills towards the success of its diverse projects. The WATER AD will manage select projects through completion. This position reports to and assists WATER Co-Directors, while working in collaboration with the Beaver Coexistence Program Manager and OAEC's core development and communications teams. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about social justice and protecting and restoring biological diversity, and is excited to help sustain and grow WATER's impact in the world.

Requirements

• At least 5 years experience in fundraising/development, communications and project management at a mission-based non-profit organization.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Exceptional writing skills, with demonstrable experience in grant writing and/or expansive program descriptions (goals, strategies, timelines, etc).
• Capacity to create beautiful and compelling written and visual content that effectively communicates our programs' mission and branding to the public and funders.
• Backend website management experience is required.
• Comfortable with and have a strong appetite for learning and mastering rapidly changing web-based technologies.
• Excellent spreadsheet hygiene, ability to show complex information in a beautiful and easy to read manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a sense of humor, a positive attitude, and an interest in and ability to help resolve conflicts within organizational relationships.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work, and to be self-motivated and self-managing.

Nice To Haves

• Great enthusiasm for OAEC's broader mission and programs that work to create just and sustainable communities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and Support the WATER Institute's Development in Coordination with OAEC Development Manager
• Manage projections and tracking of WATER donations and grants.
• Take lead on Letters of Inquiry (LOIs), grant proposals and grant reports, or edit others when written by WATER staff.
• Oversee the timely compilation of the elements of grant proposals and reports (narrative, financials, attachments, etc.) in preparation for submission.
• Support WATER Co-Directors in donor and foundation outreach, and maintain the system for tracking WATER's communications with donors and foundations.
• Manage all files, tracking systems, spreadsheets, and calendars for WATER's foundation and government grants, including deadlines for proposals, reports and invoices.
• Support the development and tracking of WATER consulting contracts and oversee timely submission of invoices.
• Track WATER's public engagements and maintain its Outreach Document (for use in foundation grant proposals and reports).
• Manage the WATER Institute's Communications and Outreach
• Co-create and implement outreach strategies to build awareness and acceptance of program initiatives (ie. Bring Back the Beaver and the Fuels to Flows campaigns).
• With Co-Director input, lead content creation (brochures, videos, etc.) highlighting the programs' innovative practices and hire/manage subcontractors as needed.
• Manage WATER's web, blog, newsletter and social media communications in coordination with OAEC's Communications Manager.
• Regularly review and edit our existing WATER pages on the website and develop new content.
• Manage updating, reprinting and distribution of educational guidebooks.
• Manage production of new and existing merchandise (stickers, hats, flags, t-shirts, etc.) in coordination with OAEC Communications Manager.
• Manage WATER photo database.
• Provide project management for planning, development and implementation of our Fuels to Flows Campaign and other initiatives as needed.
• Administer contracts for Beaver Coexistence program.
• Coordinate events and convenings related to WATER projects.
• Provide project support including partner communications, scheduling, hour tracking, and reporting.
• Respond to general inquiries and serve as key point of contact for partners as needed.
• Participate in weekly WATER meetings, OAEC staff meetings and serve on appropriate committees.
• Maintain and improve WATER Google Drive filing systems.
• Manage waterinstituteoaec.org email.
• Provide additional support to WATER staff as needed.
• Participate in the annual staff Performance Evaluation Process.

Benefits

• Annual salary of $85,000 per year at 40 hours/week.
• Paid health and wellness benefit, currently set at 100% of the value of a Kaiser Permanente Silver HMO Plan for each employee.
• Employee-only contribution 401(k) option.
• Cell phone plan stipend of $50/month.
• Generous paid time off: a total of 5 weeks and 3 days per year of vacation and floating holidays combined, as well as 80 hrs of paid sick time off.
• Access to OAEC's facilities, including swimming pond, hot tub, sauna, and organic produce from the Mother Garden and orchards.
• Participation in organic meals prepared for retreats and residents by OAEC's kitchen staff.
• Free access to OAEC courses and events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
• Education Level: No Education Listed