Bayou Land Conservancy Seeks Communications and Development Assistant – Civic Ecological Coalition

Bayou Land Conservancy is looking for a Communications and Development Assistant

Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) is a non-profit organization that protects lands along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife. For over 25 years, BLC has been at the forefront of land conservation in Houston. With over 14,000 acres of protected area in southeast Texas, our land protection activities are focused on the Lake Houston watershed, an area that provides drinking water to millions of people every day. We also host thousands of people every year on our 14-mile Spring Creek Nature Trail, near the Woodlands. Our ambassador program provides environmental education for adults in our community and helps support our land conservation projects. Our office is located in the Forest. To learn more about BLC, visit www.bayouland.org or find us on social media.

BLC is looking for an motivated team member to strengthen our donor programs and engage the community in our mission to save land.

Job title: Communications and development specialist
Reporting to: Executive Director (ED)
Classification: Full employment, release
Compensation: $33,000-$38,000 per year, depending on experience. Benefits package includes paid vacation, sick leave and holidays, company sponsored medical, dental and vision plans, SIMPLE-IRA eligibility up to 3%, flexible working hours.

Summary:
The Communications and Development Specialist (CDA) will help develop and support BLC membership and donor programs. The CDA oversees the management of the BLC (Salesforce) member and donor database and its strategic use in donor relationship building, membership recruitment, volunteer programs, and other campaigns and initiatives.

Key duties and responsibilities:
• Maintain and administer the database of BLC founders and donors, including the timely entry and confirmation of gifts, reports, mailing list exports, and other related tasks.
• Recommend database, process and technology improvements that will benefit BLC and its fundraising programs.
• Oversee the distribution of annual membership updates throughout the year and follow up with members during renewals.
• Assistance with annual appeals and campaigns to attract new members
• Assistance in the production of a printed donor newsletter and other donor communications as needed.
• Create and implement an overall annual donation strategy and set short and long term fundraising goals for the program in conjunction with the Executive Director (ED).
• Assistance with planning and hosting special events such as the Land Lover Gala, the Society of Trustees Annual Dinner, and Brews and Bayous.
• Support ED, program staff and board members in developing and maintaining successful relationships with donors.
• Ensuring that the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEI&A) goals of the BLC are properly reflected in donor programs and communication with members and the public; and support the DEI&A BLC plan and strategies, as well as the accompanying implementation work plan, where applicable.
• Maintain BLC’s website and social media presence, including creating posts, advertisements and reviews, tracking related metrics, and maintaining an online calendar of events. Monitor and participate in online conversations to increase brand awareness and attract supporters.
• Coordinate annual applications for EarthShare of TX, Guidestar and others as needed.
• First point of contact for telephone and email contact with BLC.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Features:
• Passion for nature and the mission of BLC.
• Be able to use the skills of Salesforce or other similar customer relationship management platforms to manage a complex database of donors. Experience with Salesforce preferred.
• A highly energetic and motivated individual who is able to identify and respond to operational issues, especially in data entry scenarios.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and quality control are required, as well as the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Commitment to customer service, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Excellent computer skills, especially in Microsoft Office. Basic graphic design skills using Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and Email Octopus (or equivalent platform).
• Professional and friendly phone and email skills.
• Demonstrated success in working in a team environment, as well as the ability to work independently after training.
• Ability to communicate with different communities and stakeholders with different backgrounds and perspectives.
• Ability to work with confidential information and maintain confidentiality.
• Desired bachelor’s degree.

Applicant must be willing to work after hours and on weekends as needed to support special events and programs. Must be able to physically lift, carry and handle equipment, supplies and other supplies. Requires sitting, standing, climbing stairs and walking for moderate periods of time. Good hearing is essential for obtaining detailed information through oral communication. Visual acuity is essential for the production of a work product and for checking the accuracy of written materials. Must be able to adapt to different workloads and work tasks.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work that the person holding this position must perform. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of this person and position.

How to apply:
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. No phone calls please. If possible, remove all identifying information (photos, LinkedIn, etc.) from your resume to help us reduce unconscious bias in the resume review process. We strive to create an inclusive environment where diverse groups of people can and want to perform at their best, and that starts with our hiring practices.

Bayou Land Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair and equal treatment of its employees and constituents regardless of distinctions based on race, color, religion, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristic. We value people of all backgrounds, backgrounds and views, and we understand that different perspectives are critical to the success of an organization.