About us:

Ag Innovations is a nonprofit based in Sebastopol that facilitates systems leadership and collaborative action in California. Ag Innovations focuses on agricultural viability, fire and forest resiliency, water stewardship, and food systems. We serve our community by facilitating transformational collaboratives that help leaders think beyond their disciplines and unlock new ideas. Our methods have proven effective in stakeholder engagement, public input, and planning. Our work helps improve public plans and policies that allow for a better future. We are dedicated to serving the public interest by helping people think and work better together to solve the complex issues facing all of us who depend on our natural and working lands.

Grow your talents to facilitate collaboration, positive change, and community engagement. We look forward to hearing from you.

Position summary:

We are growing and searching for a skilled Communications and Engagement Manager (CEM). The Communications and Engagement Manager will support the organization by creating engaging, creative, and clear communications plans and campaigns that focus on organizational and project needs.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the CEM will set and guide the strategy for organization communications, website, and social media messages and material to consistently articulate Ag Innovations’s mission. In addition, the CEM will support the smooth preparation, integration, packaging and delivery of all communications for Ag Innovation’s identity.

The Communications and Engagement Manager will also work closely with project teams to develop stakeholder engagement plans, help teams develop strategies to reach specific stakeholders, and develop or support development of outreach tools and materials.

If you are eager to apply and grow your talents to reach and connect people, then we look forward to hearing from you. A brief description of the job’s responsibilities and requirements are listed below. Visit aginnovations.org to learn more about us.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Communications:

• Develop, implement and evaluate the annual communications plan in collaboration with the ED, Board, and Staff.
• Develop annual goals and objectives to communicate with Ag Innovations constituencies, funders, and partners
• Implement cost-effective promotion strategies and tools to communicate with constituencies through printed and electronic media
• Develop, distribute, and update all print and electronic materials including newsletters, posters, and brochures
• Update and maintain organization’s website, on-line publications, and social media
• Ensure electronic and print materials have cohesive branding and professional appeal.
• Ensure all engagement contacts, events, and results are tracked and evaluated.

Project-Focused Engagement:

• Develop appropriate engagement and communications plans, working closely with project team, clients or stakeholders to develop engagement scope to meet project needs
• Support project teams to develop appropriate engagement strategies and communication tools based on understanding audiences and outcomes
• Work with project teams to communicate project plans, activities, and results including project websites, blogs, flyers, posters, social media tool kits, and newsletters.
• Work with social and traditional media to support outreach including working with advertising, traditional media, community media, and event organizers.
• Provide and maintain cohesive organizational branding across projects as is possible within project guidelines.
• Develop metrics to evaluate success of engagement and monitor project goals and objectives, evaluate and report on engagement results.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Work with project teams to develop, implement survey stakeholder to provide input for engagement plans and public policies
• Support visual communications, through graphic design and layout
• Support the development of story maps

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in a communication or related field, or equivalent. Demonstrated passion for and interest in collaboration, agriculture, climate change, the environment, or natural resources in California.
• Experience identifying and communicating with and reaching out to diverse partners and stakeholders
• Experience managing and executing across several communications media
  Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills. Strong attention to detail, including proofing own work and that of others.
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated working proficiency in engagement and communications including writing blogs, articles, press releases, and social media.
• Demonstrated results in engagement and communications campaigns
• Demonstrated working proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft suite, collaboration tools, layout and design, and basic web editing.
• Ability to manage several tasks/projects concurrently, with poise and professionalism.
• Ability to focus and complete job duties in a fast-paced, complex environment.
• Ability to communicate professionally, clearly, and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Values and practices teamwork and emotional intelligence with other staff, and has a commitment to a respectful workplace.
• Collaborates effectively and with discernment with clients and partners to support project outcomes and maintain AI mission and contracted role. Excellent interpersonal skills, teamwork skills, customer service skills
• Maintains the personal flexibility and adaptability to function in an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization.

OUR CORE VALUES

• We believe that effective process yields effective collaboration
• Holistic: We acknowledge and operate in complex systems, and seek to help people understand themselves, each other, and the patterns and systems they operate in.
• Neutrality: We are solutions-neutral, but process advocates.
• Humility: We show up every day knowing that we don’t have all the answers.
• Inclusive: We facilitate to raise up voices that can go unheard without the invitation to participate
• Diverse: We celebrate diversity of background, race, economic status, and perspective by bringing it “into the rooms” that we facilitate.

SALARY RANGE

$65,000 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Full time positions include health benefits via a group plan with Kaiser, an employer match for simple-IRA contributions, and professional development. Flexible work hours and location are available as the job allows.

Apply today!

Ag Innovations values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

We invite you to submit a resume and cover letter to us at hr@aginnovations.org, explaining why you would be an excellent fit for our Communications and Engagement Manager position. If your submitted materials indicate a potential match, we will contact you directly.

Visit https://aginnovations.org/current-work/ to learn more about our work and join our team.