45-22 Senior Communications and Special Projects Specialist, Salazar Center for North American Conservation

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Location: Denver, COLORADO
Deadline: 03 Jul 2022

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title 45-22 Senior Communications and Special Projects Specialist, Salazar Center for North American Conservation
Position Location Denver, CO
Research Professional Position No
Posting Number 202200747AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Prof/Indiv Contrib II
Number of Vacancies 1
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range The salary range for this position is $60,000-$70,000. Starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date 09/01/2022
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 07/03/2022
Description of Work Unit
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. We invite you to review Colorado State University’s Board of Governors-approved Mission, Values, and Guiding Principles as well as our Principles of Community , which together inform our teaching, research, service, and engagement. Colorado State University is a land-grant institution committed to a 150-year-old mission of access to higher education for the citizens of Colorado and to excellence in teaching, research, and outreach.
The Salazar Center for North American Conservation honors the legacy of former U.S. Secretary of Interior, U.S. Senator and Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar. Announced in 2016, the Center began operation in 2018 and works to accelerate the pace and scale of equitable, innovative, and durable solutions for nature and all people by connecting diverse leaders, communities, and resources across the North American continent. Its efforts focus on both large landscapes and cities, with an emphasis on biodiversity protection, climate resilience and racial equity woven throughout. The Salazar Center is housed within the Office of Engagement and Extension (OEE) at Colorado State University, with offices in both Denver and Fort Collins, and its headquarters will be at the CSU Spur campus in Denver, starting in the fall of 2022.
Position Summary
The Senior Communications and Special Projects Specialist is a member of the Salazar Center team and reports to the Salazar Center Communications and Engagement Manager. This position oversees the Center’s communications program, with a focus on implementing strategic multimedia communications campaigns that increase audience engagement, overall awareness, and content accessibility.
The specialist creates and manages content for—and maintenance and growth of—a variety of communications platforms, including social media, web, email marketing, and media outreach. A key goal of this position is to help increase the Center’s communications strategies around reaching diverse audiences across North America. With support from the Communications and Engagement Manager, the specialist also develops and implements short- and long-term communication, branding, and fundraising strategies.
The specialist will also provide project management support to the manager and the Center team as needed, such as scheduling, partner outreach, deadline and deliverable tracking, vendor coordination, and grant writing and reporting.
Required Job Qualifications
  • Completed bachelor’s degree in communication, English, journalism, public relations, marketing, or closely related field with at least five years of professional experience; OR completed bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, natural resources, or another discipline relevant to conservation with at least five years of professional communications-focused experience.
  • Interest in and willingness to learn the issues and challenges associated with conservation efforts in North America, and the intersection of these issues with social equity and global environmental change and sustainability.
  • Experience developing and delivering content for multiple audiences and across multiple platforms (including traditional, social, web, and email)..
  • Understanding of and experience with social media strategy, planning, and reporting tools and metrics.
  • Demonstrable understanding of demographic and professional audiences, commitment to include diverse voices in program prioritization and planning, and a commitment to developing and delivering both inclusive and targeted programming.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in WordPress.
  • Demonstrated working knowledge Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop).
  • Demonstrated proficiency in MailChimp or similar email marketing platforms.
  • Detail-oriented, with the ability to independently manage and prioritize multiple different projects simultaneously.
  • Capacity to work well independently and as part of a team, often under tight deadlines.
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Demonstrated initiative and creative problem-solving skills in performance of job responsibilities.
  • Demonstrated experience using a broad range of communications platforms to reach and engage a broad array of audiences.
  • Demonstrated commitment to inclusive design and language.
  • Understanding of the issues and challenges associated with conservation efforts in North America and global environmental change and sustainability, or a strong willingness to learn.
  • Experience and proficiency in developing presentations.
  • Experience with Google Analytics and internal reporting tools to collect and analyze relevant data, and to determine the effectiveness of communications and collateral in meeting the identified communication goals and objectives.
  • Fundraising and/or grant writing experience.
  • Fluency in Spanish.
Diversity Statement
Personal or professional commitment to diversity and inclusion as demonstrated by persistent effort, active planning, allocation of resources and/or accountability for diversity and inclusion outcomes.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Communications Strategy
Duty/Responsibility
  • Develop and implement multi-year communications strategy that supports the Center’s strategic vision.
  • Support website redesign process, including content development and design template updates.
  • Develop annual communications plan in alignment with brand strategy and target audiences.
  • Develop multi-channel communications campaigns that communicate key Center programs and values and drive increase audience engagement.
  • Work with OEE Communications team on all of the above, as appropriate.


Note: percentage of job assigned to these duties may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 35%
Job Duty Category Social Media
Duty/Responsibility
  • Develop and implement content plan aligned with overall communications and brand strategy.
  • Create engaging social media posts and content for multiple channels including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; manage timeline and scheduling of posts.
  • Monitor channel engagement to increase connection to content; support channel reporting.


Note: percentage of job assigned to these duties may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 20%
Job Duty Category Website and E-News Content Management
Duty/Responsibility
  • Manage and maintain Center website, with focus on user accessibility and cross-channel integration.
  • Gather, organize, and write content for informational emails and e-newsletters; manage and grow distribution lists.


Note: percentage of job assigned to these duties may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 20%
Job Duty Category Other Project Management Support
Duty/Responsibility
  • Provide project management support, such as scheduling, partner outreach, deadline and deliverable tracking, vendor coordination, and grant writing and reporting, across a variety of Center programs as needed.
  • Provide logistical support for events and convenings.
  • Support the Communications and Engagement Manager in management of Center operations and administration as needed.


Note: percentage of job assigned to these duties may be changed as the program develops.
Percentage Of Time 25%

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, all materials must be RECEIVED no later than 11:59 PM Mountain Time on Sunday, July 3, 2022. Please submit the following to apply:
  • Resume
  • Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred job qualifications.
  • Transcript of college(s) course work showing degrees conferred. Please remove all references to birth date or social security number.


All applicants will be contacted approximately 15 working days after the deadline regarding their status. Next steps and interview dates will be shared to those moving forward. Four professional references will be requested of applicants that advance in the interview process.
For questions regarding the application process, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at (970) 491-5836 or email [email protected] . For questions regarding the job vacancy, responsibilities, and salary, please contact Catie Boehmer at [email protected] .
Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires), Valid Driver’s License, Travel
Search Contact Catie Boehmer at [email protected]
EEO Statement
Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, [email protected] .
The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, [email protected] .
Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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