Outreach & Events Specialist

Position Description

The Outreach & Events Specialist organizes community engagement, outreach, and educational events at Watershed’s Living Lab and in support of Watershed’s programs. They specialize in outreach and communications, including in-person engagement; written and video communication for lay audiences; experiential education activities; and fundraising content.

The Specialist supports life-long learning opportunities that focus on experiential, iterative learning to foster a culture of reciprocal relationships with the environment. They coordinate logistics for educational offerings at the Living Lab, including tours, classes, and events with families and youth. They also assist with coordinating logistics for off-site outreach events, including communicating regularly with docents who represent Watershed at these events. 

The Specialist will be an integral team member working across programs, participating in the Living Lab Education team, Communications team, and Fundraising Team.

Job Requirements

• Interest in and support of WMG’s mission and vision
• Knowledge of environmental issues in the Southwest U.S. and Sonoran Desert, including water harvesting and natural resource conservation
• Demonstrated interest and experience in experiential, active learning practices
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• 5+ years experience in outreach and communications, including creating educational content for lay audiences through written and video communication
• 5+ years of experience in event planning and program/project coordination
• 3+ years of experience in environmental education
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to balance diverse tasks
• Proficiency with digital tools: Google Docs and Sheets, MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Experience with social media outreach, including Youtube, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Ability to work evening and weekend hours regularly for educational and community events
• Cell phone that can be used for work calls
• Ability to work independently in a demanding environment while also collaborating effectively in a team setting

Routine Duties & Responsibilities

• Communications & Outreach
  • Create and edit weekly e-newsletters in coordination with other communications staff
  • Create regular written, graphic, and video content that supports Watershed’s River Run Network, Community Conservation, Cool Tucson, and Living Lab programs, with a focus on content for the website and YouTube
  • Work with other program staff to create a monthly educational video for YouTube
  • Edit newsletter articles, blogs, and other written content from staff
  • Conduct in-person outreach and educational activities at community events throughout Tucson
  • Respond to general email inquiries and online form requests
• Living Lab Community Engagement & Education
  • Engage visitors through the Living Lab’s Welcome Center, maintaining a space that is welcoming and educational 5 days/week. Assist the Co-Executive Director, Development and Operations, to coordinate and delegate work to other staff, docents, and apprentices working in the Welcome Center.
  • Staff the Welcome Center throughout the week: greet visitors, answer phone calls, coordinate with docents and interns working there, and care for the Living Lab grounds.
  • Co-teach and co-lead educational activities at the Living Lab with other staff, docents, interns, and apprentices, particularly on Saturdays and some weekday evenings. Educational topics will focus on stewardship actions, including hydro-local and sustainable desert living, creating cooling micro-climates, and caring for our river ecosystems.
  • Promote the Living Lab as a resource for neighborhoods within a two-mile radius as well as engaging Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and other underrepresented communities
  • Coordinate Sustainable Desert Living workshops, tours, and family activities: Manage internal calendars, schedule docents and instructors, create and update events on the WMG website, track and update registrations, and track metrics
  • Assist with school field trips to the Living Lab and building relationships with K-12 schools and colleges
  • Assist with coordinating logistics for docent-staffed off-site outreach events, including helping to ensure sufficient staffing at high-priority community events
• Fundraising & Events
  • Co-lead and assist with major events at the Living Lab including fundraising and donor and volunteer appreciation
  • Connect with local businesses to secure sponsorships for educational offerings at the Living Lab
  • Assist Fundraising team by creating and editing content for fundraising campaigns, including annual campaigns, legacy giving, and major giving.
  • Assist with annual fundraising campaigns, including participating in letter writing parties, phone banks, and thank you notes
  • Support Living Lab rentals, including staffing needs and logistics coordination
  • Coordinate merchandise in the Welcome Center and at events, including purchasing new merchandise and tracking inventory 

Preferred Experience

• Bilingual speaker and writer, fluency in both written and verbal communication in English and Spanish
• Experience in non-profit fundraising, including fundraising events and annual fundraising campaigns