Mountain Lion Foundation seeks Director of Communications (Remote)

The Mountain Lion Foundation is a national organization with a mission to ensure that America’s lion survives and flourishes in the wild. With decades of successes and a nationwide support base, the organization is well-positioned to expand the impact of its communications efforts. Our new Director of Communications will be a skilled, experienced, organized, creative, and enthusiastic professional who sets and guides the strategy for all communications-related programming, including online presence, media interactions, advocacy, information sharing and public messaging. The Director of Communications will work closely with our other staff as a partner on a variety of strategic and programmatic initiatives and will be a key member of the fundraising team. 

Job Responsibilities 

• Create a broad understanding among the public about the importance of mountain lions and their habitats and about the scope, value and impact of the mission-driven work of the Mountain Lion Foundation.  
• Develop and implement a strategic, aggressive, and visionary annual communications plan in collaboration with the Foundation’s team.  
• Work with the Director of Development to grow the organization’s membership and to ensure consistent organizational messaging on donor and member communications. Similarly, work with program staff to develop consistent messaging for policymakers, partners, and grassroots advocates. 
• Develop and distribute the Foundation’s outreach materials, including but not limited to press releases, electronic newsletters and action alerts, direct mail, an annual calendar, videos and webinars, program information, blogs, and brochures. Partner with other program staff in executing community outreach elements of the Foundation’s programs that create awareness, secure engagement, and achieve goals among target audiences. 
• Position key staff and volunteers as authoritative experts in their respective fields. Position the Foundation as a national thought leader on mountain lions, their protection, and coexistence. 
• Administer the Foundation website, either directly or via contractors, as a critical and proactive communications and engagement tool, coordinating regular content and design updates and maintenance. 
• Build strong, issue-specific media lists and relationships with local, national, and international media. Pitch journalists with evocative stories about the Foundation and mountain lions. Support journalists in their time-sensitive responses to events involving mountain lions. 
• Work with graphic artists, videographers, GIS specialists, and other outside contractors as needed to develop cogent, data-driven, visually appealing presentations that facilitate storytelling and engagement and that advance the organization’s goals. 
• Track and measure the effectiveness and engagement of communications efforts, in both print and electronic media. 
• Lead the creation and dissemination of online, multi-channel content that educates and engages target audiences (such as members, specific demographic groups, or local and state officials) and results in measurable action.  
• Work with the Foundation staff, board members, and other volunteers to plan and implement events for members and the community. 
• Perform other duties as needed to achieve our organizational goals, including occasional night and weekend responsibilities. 

The Director of Communications works closely with all members of the team, especially the Executive Director and the Director of Development. This position reports to the Executive Director. 

Qualifications 

• Commitment and passion for the mission of the Mountain Lion Foundation; preference for knowledge of healthy ecosystems and the beneficial roles of top carnivores in those systems.  
• At least five years of communications experience required, preferably in a communications leadership role within a nonprofit and covering areas such as website and social media content, newsletters, media relations, and donor outreach. An undergraduate and/or graduate degree in Communications may count toward experience.  
• Ability to center the principles of equity and inclusion in their work — see About the Mountain Lion Foundation below. 
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and proficiency with digital tools, particularly website administration and social media optimization.  
• Experience with event planning, promotion, and execution, including press conferences, webinars, petition drops and protests, and public-engagement activities. 
• The ability to take scientific data and technical information and transform it into communications that are clear, compelling, and useful for target audiences, and that motivate them to action. 
• A keen eye for design and a strong skill set in narrative storytelling. 

Salary: $70,000 to $85,000, depending on experience, plus benefits for full-time employment 

The Foundation’s benefits package for all salaried staff includes a strong health-care plan, dental and vision coverage, leave time, and flexibility in employee work schedules.  

Location 

This is a remote position, with a preference for applicants who live in the Western U.S. The office of the Mountain Lion Foundation is in Sacramento, California, and the Director of Communications will occasionally be asked to travel to Sacramento or other locations for in-person meetings and programs.  

To Apply 

Applicants should submit a cover letter and a resume in one PDF to Leslie Jones, lajoneshr@gmail.com. For candidates who are selected to move forward, three professional references, three work samples, and an initial interview via video will be requested.  

Application Timeline 

The position is open until filled and we will review applications on an ongoing basis. The initial selection of first round interviewees will likely occur no earlier than October 23rd. There will likely be at least two rounds of interviews, taking place via videoconference. These interviews will likely be recorded, for internal use only by the Mountain Lion Foundation. If an in-person interview is deemed necessary, travel arrangements will be made and paid for by the Mountain Lion Foundation. 

Please direct your questions about the position or the application process to Leslie Jones, lajoneshr@gmail.com.  

About The Mountain Lion Foundation 

Formed in 1986 as a volunteer coalition that focused on conserving mountain lions in California, the organization has grown significantly and now addresses lion protection across the United States. The Mountain Lion Foundation’s mission is to ensure that America’s lion survives and flourishes in the wild. 

The organization’s programming focuses on public education, policies and management strategies that support thriving mountain lion populations, and peaceful coexistence with these amazing and ecologically important animals. The Mountain Lion Foundation relies on the best consensus-based science to inform the decisions that guide lion protection. More information about the organization’s programs is available at mountainlion.org. 

The Mountain Lion Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with a staff of 8 people, including the Director of Communications. In 2023, the organization’s board and staff worked together to identify the following key organizational priorities that will guide our work for the next several years: 

? Champion broad protections for mountain lions and their habitats across the United States.  

? Cultivate proactive, community-based coexistence for people and lions.  

? Foster appreciation of mountain lions and their ecological significance.  

? Keep our organization’s operations as lean and strong as a mountain lion. 

The Mountain Lion Foundation strives to center the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in our work and in our organization’s culture. Preferred candidates for this position will: demonstrate a commitment that equity is a necessary prerequisite to building a more just and sustainable world; contribute to equity and inclusion work within the organization, including participation in relevant committees and trainings; demonstrate a deep understanding of their own race, culture, and identity, and how it relates to the staff and community landscape, as well as the world at large; model vulnerability and accountability; be comfortable giving and receiving feedback; model sensitivity toward the needs and priorities of diverse communities and individuals with a variety of backgrounds and identities; demonstrate the ability to communicate across power dynamics in a way that fosters learning, understanding, and mutual respect. 

Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to performing the duties of the position. Note that our current office in Sacramento has an elevator and is ADA accessible.