Overview
Programs and Outreach Coordinator
Type: Full-time
Reporting Structure: The POC reports to the Development Director
Salary: Starting $55,000. Opportunity to grow. Bonus schedule can be discussed.
Compensation and Benefits: Benefits include paid vacation time, three paid holidays and paid sick leave.
Location: Lompoc Location-main Office & Sanctuary. Safaris in San Luis Obispo
Opening Date: June 25, 2024
Closing Date: July 25, 2024
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Return to Freedom (RTF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991. Return to Freedom is dedicated to the freedom and diversity of wild horses and burros through sanctuary, education, advocacy, and conservation, while enriching the human spirit through direct experience with the natural world.
We are looking for a creative, outgoing, organized, results driven self-starter to manage educational programs, lead tours, provide key support for events and provide other Development support as needed.
The POC is passionate about wildlife and wild horse conservation, the organization and its mission. The POC has a professional responsibility to represent the organization, the stories of the herds, individual animals, current advocacy and campaigns to the public and visiting media when needed.
This position will help raise the visibility and awareness of RTF to increase opportunities for financial support, increase donor and program participation to the local and international community.
The Program Outreach Coordinator communicates articulately and correctly to the public and media who visit the sanctuary for programs and events. The POC knows the horses, burros and herds, their stories and histories and is well versed on all conservation projects, special projects & campaigns to inform all guests and media. The POC communicates the organization’s mission, current affairs on the issues and Take Action items, and stories and details about the animals and herds.
The POC supervises the Volunteer Coordinator, provides outreach and marketing for all programs, manages and keeps current collateral materials to be distributed for all programs, tabling and events. The POC also provides support for the Development Director as needed for Sponsor A Horse and similar donor programs and Patreon.
The POC stays current and educated on current news about wild horses and horse slaughter, the organization and it’s mission, and the issues it represents.
The POC will respond or oversee responses to social media and inquiries regarding programs, events, merchandise, adoptions and sponsorship. The POC may be asked to respond to Advocacy and other questions on social media in coordination with Social Media Manager and/or Advocacy Team.
The POC will need to travel when necessary for programs, events, education, conferences and to sanctuary locations.
Programs:
Create and manage program calendar. Create press releases for programs & events and organize press for special events.
Document programs and events with photography, video and written word for reporting, social media, advertising and website. Create /gather and publish engaging content, including photographs, graphics, videos, for website, social media, e-newsletter and print materials for all program, volunteer and event outreach, media and documentation.
Tours and events: Lead public and private tours and Safaris. Point of Contact for events and clinics.
Create volunteer e-newsletter and build volunteer base locally for sanctuary, events and offsite volunteers including volunteer advocates.
· Create and manage Program Calendar
· Book tours, programs
· Lead tours and Safaris
· Manage webinar scheduling and production
· Manage all tracking and backend needs for Volunteer and Program activities
· Supervises Volunteer Coordinator
· Outreach & Communication, promotion for programs and volunteers including recruitment, projects, inkind donations
· Coordinate clinics (visiting clinicians)
· Execute monthly ENEWS for volunteers
· Create program content for ENewsletters
· Quarterly reports
Development Support: Provide support as directed by Development Director and/or Executive Director: stewardship for visiting donors. Assist as directed with Donor stewardship for all sponsors, members etc (regular updates on horses, burros, herds for sponsors).
· Provide admin support for Sponsor A Horse donor program: (i) current bios, photos and videos of horses and burros on website, (ii) regular contact with donors, (iii) interaction through various cultivation activities and events, and (iv) additional fundraising requests strategically made by Development Director.
· Gather and /or create footage / stories from sanctuary, updates on individual horses, burros and herds
· Maintain good communication with Equine Manager to maintain accurate tracking of any new births and deceased horses to add to website. Manage horses and burros on adoption page.
· Patreon management as directed by Development Director
· Provide content, photos etc for Direct Mail & ENewsletter as directed
Website:
Manage current content for website Pages for:
· Online Store- Shopify
· Programs Section, Calendar
· Sponsor A Horse/Burro/Herd
· Manage current all pages in Our Horses Section on website
o Adoption Page. Provide content and updates, maintain current.
o Gone But Not Forgotten (Move deceased horses to this page)
· Manage Donate related pages on Website as directed by Development Director
Social Media:
· Provide content and messaging for Social Media manager for Sponsor a Horse, Merchandise on Shopify, Programs (including Volunteer program), events
· Adoption Program: Promote horses available for adoption on social media platforms directing inquiries & applications to Sanctuary Director and Equine Manager.
· Promote online store through e-news, website and social media
· Provide content for Social Media related to the above
Other Duties As Assigned
Qualifications:
- A passion for animal welfare, the protection of wild life and wild horse preservation, conservation of natural habitat and resources.
- Must embrace the mission of Return to Freedom.
- Five or more years of experience as a professional fundraiser in the non-profit sector.
- Communications experience a PLUS
Key skills include writing, editing, press releases, speaking, events, research, grant writing, customer service, sales and marketing, fundraising, social media, some graphic design and video editing for online platforms, issue advocacy. Applicable educational background, experience or a combination of education and experience may include outdoor education / experiential learning, communications, non-profit management, public relations, animal science, conservation, marketing, journalism, history, environmental studies, natural resource management, public policy, agricultural economics. Writing and good grammar are important, along with basic photography skills. Should be fluent in Mac and PC, excel, internet-based programs and applications, social media platforms, wordpress, some html, database platforms, ability to create ENewsletters and/or willingness to learn.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience can include: Project management, Marketing, Programs, Tourism, Communications, Conservation Education, Event Planning, Photo Journalism
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information which engages people of all ages, and respond to questions from groups of managers, donors, media, and the general public.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume and distance.
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Current American Driver’s License.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
More than 2/3rd of work time includes the following physical requirements: Ability to stand, walk, sit, work with hands and handles, reaching, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, talking, and hearing. Regularly able to lift up to 50 lbs. and occasionally move up to 100 lbs. with help.
Vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth abilities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be able to be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Indoor office environment and outdoor ranch environment for tours and programs: hills, trails, uneven terrain and barns. At times, work includes the ability to climb to high places. On occasion, the work environment can include the following: windy, wet, humid, and moving mechanical parts. Overall, the work environment is moderate to quiet in nature.