• Location: Flexible. East-coast time zone preferred.
• Reports to: CEO
• Commitment: Approx. 15 to 22.5 hours per week
• Type: Casual
• Commencement Date: June 2022

Purpose of the Position

The Communications Manager is responsible for overseeing and enhancing Rainforest Rescue’s brand across all channels, with a strong focus on creating effective communications strategies to amplify the importance of the Daintree rainforest as one of the most vital and important ecological areas in the world and to garner support for our work in protecting it forever.

Core Responsibilities

Working across the organisation, the Communications Manager will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organisation’s strategic communications. This includes:

• Media
  • Developing and implementing an effective media plan to highlight Rainforest Rescue’s work.
  • Briefing team members on any incoming media opportunities, ensuring spokespeople are across key messages and supplying media with background information, additional content, and introductions to relevant partner organisations.
  • Tracking all media mentions and sharing clips across appropriate channels.
• Brand Custodianship
  • Ensuring the Rainforest Rescue implementation of the Rainforest Rescue brand reflects the organisation’s values, purpose and identified brand voice.
  • Collaborating with the CEO and Partnerships Director to develop and deliver an effective marketing and communications strategy to obtain and retain business partners, including identifying and managing effective brand alignments and overseeing any related media requests.
  • Supporting the Partnership Director to track and report on sponsorship outcomes including shared audience data and media mentions.

• Digital Communications
  • In collaboration with the CEO and Engagement Coordinator, developing and implementing an effective EDM strategy communicating the work of Rainforest Rescue to drive donations and advocacy.
  • Working with the HQ & Social Media Manager to oversee the Rainforest Rescue website to ensure all content is accurate, supports our position as the leading organisation protecting the Daintree lowland rainforest and prioritises user experience.
  • Working with the HQ & Social Media Manager to develop an engaging social media strategy, including reviewing, and approving a monthly social media content plan.

• Campaigns
  • Working in collaboration with the Board, CEO, Partnerships Director, and pro-bono partners to develop and implement annual fundraising campaigns across digital and traditional channels.
  • Developing and implementing other fundraising and advocacy campaigns as identified.
• Publications
  • Supporting the production of key organisational publications including the annual impact report.
• Reporting
  • Reporting on all marketing and communications outcomes against identified channels.
  • Providing regular analysis and reporting narratives to the board and identified stakeholders.

Key Result Areas and Accountabilities

• PR support
  • Producing outward-bound and external-facing content
  • Pitching our stories to the media for inclusion and ongoing media relations as stories available
  • Assist with content marketing strategy development, leveraging partners

• Develop and implement a marketing and communications strategy to engage donors and sponsors with the objective of increasing the organisational fundraising.
  • Working with the CEO, Partnerships Director and Engagement Coordinator to deliver an effective donor and sponsor engagement strategy
  • Ensure all communications and marketing material optimise the audience experience to improve conversion through donation

• Manage, update, and improve our external communications
  • Develop communications strategy with support from CEO
  • Manage communications calendar
  • Update, edit and align website messaging
  • Write and review blog posts
  • Prioritise content development and deployment with analytics.
• Provide a tone / voice guide for dissemination alongside our branding guidelines
  • Update our style guide and help staff improve their expression accordingly
• Help drive our ambassador program
  • Content delivered for ambassador use
  • Targeted PR

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Significant experience in marketing and communications with an emphasis on digital communications and campaigns.
• Proven track record in marketing and communications, including project and team management.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to craft engaging audience specific communications that promote the Rainforest Rescue story and objectives.
• Strong media liaison and management.
• Willingness to learn and form respectful partnerships, particularly in a First Nations context.
• Proficiency with MS Office, social media, website CMS, AdWords and Google Analytics.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, willingness to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.

Desirable

• Previous experience in and/or an understanding and appreciation of not-for-profit environment sector.

About Rainforest Rescue

Rainforest Rescue is a not-for-profit organisation that has been protecting and restoring rainforests since 1999 by providing opportunities for individuals and businesses to Protect Rainforests Forever.

Our Vision:

To Protect Rainforests Forever

Our Mission:

To achieve our vision to protect rainforests forever by preservation, restoration, biodiversity conservation, research and education.

Our Values:

Ethical – Working to the highest ethical standards both internally and with external stakeholders

Sustainable – Ensuring Rainforest Rescue has a light footprint on the planet

Professional – Working in a transparent, innovative, and agile way to get the best value for money

Engaging – Proactively listening to our audiences and actively contributing to Rainforest conversations

Respectful – Leading by example and ensuring our work reflects the special sense of place of rainforests

Collaborative – Working in partnership to maximise synergies and impact to Protect Rainforest Forever.

Rainforest Rescue acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which our organisation is located, where we work, and where we live. We respect ancestors and Elders past, present, and emerging.

About the team

Rainforest Rescue’s work and staff are located within Eastern Kuku Yalanji country (Daintree area), on Arakwal (Byron Bay), Minjungbal (Tweed Heads) and Widjabul (Lismore) country within Bundjalung Nation, and Meanjin country (Brisbane) within Turrbal Nation.

We are a small organisation of 10 people, supported by a group of passionate volunteers, expert advisors and an experienced board. Our land management and nursery team are based in the Daintree rainforest (Julay Madja). While our operations team is based in Byron Bay, NSW. We also have staff in Brisbane and pro-bono partners in NSW and QLD. The Communications Manager reports to the CEO while collaborating closely with all members of the team.

Working with Traditional Owners

Rainforest Rescue is very supportive of Traditional Owners and their stewardship of the land and working respectfully with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji and Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation is very important to Rainforest Rescue.

Our key stakeholders

• Supporters: Volunteers and subscribers
• Funders: Philanthropic trusts and foundations
• Sponsors and donors: Business partners, individual donors
• Conservation partners: Traditional Owners, Wet tropics conservation partners, local community