Colorado Trout Unlimited Position: Outreach Director
Colorado Trout Unlimited is Colorado’s leading fisheries conservation organization with a mission to conserve, protect, and restore coldwater streams and their watersheds. CTU has state offices located in Boulder and 22 chapters throughout Colorado. CTU’s focus is on effective grassroots advocacy for river conservation, coupled with on-the-ground volunteer efforts that directly contribute to stream habitat improvement and native trout restoration.
Position Summary: The Outreach Director position is a full-time position organizing membership and citizens in support of Colorado rivers conservation. As Outreach Director, you will meet many different people and help promote conservation values at a grassroots level, working closely with Colorado chapters, Trout Unlimited’s national staff, and with other conservation groups and local governments to build awareness of our programs and campaigns, to mobilize activist/volunteer involvement, and to spearhead CTU’s main online and print communications.
Initial campaign focus is on protecting watersheds in the Colorado River headwaters that are facing new proposed transbasin diversions. Specific duties include: (1) mobilizing citizen involvement in public processes for water projects affecting the Colorado River headwaters including the proposed Moffat Expansion, (2) mobilizing citizens and recruiting diverse allies to support statewide water quality protection, (3) engaging CTU members and other stakeholders, and coordinating with other conservation groups, on key watershed protection campaigns such as the Roan Plateau, (4) facilitating development of on-the-ground volunteer projects and campaigns to protect and enhance rivers, (5) supporting CTU members and other conservation activists in their contacts with public officials and the press, and (6) developing content and maintaining CTU’s website, electronic newsletter, and print publications (Currents and High Country Angler). The Outreach Director will help recruit new volunteers and members for CTU, make presentations and participate in public events, and provide project and campaign organizing and communications assistance to local CTU chapters. As with all CTU employees, the Outreach Director is expected to assist in fundraising and donor development in the course of their duties – assisting in securing funds through individual or organizational contacts made in outreach efforts; helping with grantwriting related to projects and programs with which he/she is working; and incorporating fundraising opportunities into outreach events – with a goal of helping to raise $30,000 within the second year. The position requires regular travel and flexible work hours including some weekend and evening hours.
Qualifications: Previous experience or demonstrated ability in coordinating grassroots campaigns, media relations, community and/or political field organizing. Dedicated commitment to conservation. Excellent people and organizational skills. Strong speaking, writing and editing skills. Ability to recruit and manage volunteers. Background knowledge of water resource and fishery issues. Ability to travel statewide and to work weekend and evening hours when needed. Solid computer skills including basic website management. Also helpful: general familiarity with the workings of NEPA; experience coordinating special events; grantwriting and/or other development experience.
Salary Range: $39 – 41K plus excellent benefits, depending upon experience.
To apply, please email cover letter and resume by November 20 to: David Nickum, Executive Director, Colorado Trout Unlimited, at dnickum@tu.org. No phone calls please.