Conservation Outreach Associate

Location: Cherokee/Clay County

Reports to: Conservation Outreach Director/Communications Director

Job Status: Full-time Salary Position 

Salary Range: $35,000 – 42,000

Mainspring Conservation Trust, Inc. (Mainspring) is a nationally accredited, nonprofit conservation land trust and is one of the leading environmental organizations in western North Carolina. Mainspring employs a staff of fifteen, with an annual operating budget exceeding $1.9 million. Mainspring’s service area encompasses 1.8 million acres and includes the six western-most counties in North Carolina – Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain – and northern Rabun County, Georgia.  

Mainspring has conserved more than 32,000 acres since its inception in 1997. From more traditional conservation methods like conservation easements to programs that teach youth about the importance of clean water to transforming contaminated brownfield sites into green community spaces, Mainspring is the driving force for conservation in the Southern Blue Ridge.

Headquartered in Franklin, North Carolina, Mainspring seeks to hire a Conservation Outreach Associate to support our efforts in public outreach throughout our service area. The Conservation Outreach Associate will work closely with the Communications Director and the Conservation Outreach Director and will provide support to those positions. The position will be based out of Mainspring’s new office in Cherokee or Clay County, with responsibilities requiring regular travel throughout the region. The position will be expected to work nights and weekends at times.

Position Summary

Mainspring seeks a positive, outgoing, and creative outdoor enthusiast to join our team as Conservation Outreach Associate. This position will provide essential support to all areas of Mainspring’s outreach program, including but not limited to volunteer recruitment and management, event development and management, philanthropic development, and education program implementation. The Conservation Outreach Associate will be heavily involved in both internal and external activities, with a strong focus on donor cultivation, donor stewardship events, and promoting organizational awareness in the western part of Mainspring’s service area.

Responsibilities Essential Functions

Events (50%)

• Responsible for managing timelines, budget, and strategic planning for assigned events and initiatives,
• Working with the Communications Director and Conservation Outreach Director to organize and lead outreach events, including recreational activities such as hiking and paddling,
• Lead the planning and coordination of stewardship and development events. From planning to execution, is engaged in the development of environmental education programs, workshops, socials, fundraisers, and other events.  
• Work to ensure excellent donor relations and a positive working relationship with vendors, community and business leaders, event sponsors/participants, volunteers, and donors.

• Work with the Donor Relations Manager to produce reports on income and event progress and assist with volunteer and donor list maintenance,
• Advertise and promote events through appropriate local channels including online platforms, print media, and community partners. 
• Provide all necessary communication with event attendees, including emails and phone calls, to ensure participants are informed of event details and any changes,
• Prepare materials for events in advance, and bring appropriate merchandise, newsletters, and other related materials to events,
• Expected to work all western-based events, and have a presence at select eastern-based events. 

Volunteer Management (25%)

• Ensure effective communication and consistent engagement with recruiting, training, and maintaining volunteers. Actively communicate with volunteers before, during and after events to ensure they feel valued and return to assist with future events,
• Foster relationships with upwards of 350 volunteers for various Mainspring events and initiatives.
• Manage tracking/reporting of all volunteer communications and activities in Little Green Light or similar program,
• Work with all Mainspring program managers to determine volunteer support needs.

Education and other (25%)

• Foster contacts with schools/teachers/camps within Mainspring’s service area,
• Develop and implement age/grade-appropriate programs,
• Manage education projects, including:
  • Budget
  • Grant writing & reporting
  • Evaluating effectiveness of programs and updating curricula,
  • Intern training
• Assist with our biannual publications, contributing information about events and other relevant news
• Engage and cultivate potential donors through outreach, education, and stewardship events,
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Related Functions

• Enjoy and value the outdoors. Authenticity is vital to the success of this position.
• Participate actively to ensure compliance in assigned areas of responsibilities.
• Regularly analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of all assigned projects.
• Proactively seek process improvement in a solution-focused manner.

Qualifications

• Experience in a combination of the following areas:
  • Event coordination and/or management.
  • Volunteer management and recruitment.
  • Adult and youth education.
• Working knowledge of outdoor recreation, including familiarity with local trails and public recreation areas, or serious willingness to learn. The ideal candidate will be comfortable leading groups of people in the woods and on the water, with experience in both hiking and basic kayaking. 
• Personal passion for nature, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, hiking, foraging, camping, birding, “herping,” etc.
• Experience managing social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. 
• Excellent time management and people skills. 
• Experience cultivating and securing event sponsors.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, especially related to science.
• Strong preference for candidates who live in or are willing to relocate to Cherokee or Clay County, NC, and who value involvement in their local community.
• Lift/carry equipment (up to 30#).
• Disciplined to work independently.
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in a related field including STEM, communications, psychology, education, etc.
• Ability to work weekends or weekday evenings.

To Apply:
Qualified candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references by Friday, November 15, 2024 to this email address.