The national staff of the Izaak Walton League of America includes a great team of professionals who work in the areas of volunteer science, environmental policy, grassroots advocacy and communications. Most staff work from our headquarters building, which is located on 30 acres of forest in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
We are currently recruiting a Digital Communications Manager.
Digital Communications Manager
Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League of America created the template for the modern environmental movement by combining grassroots activism, media savvy and powerful messages that helped form the nation’s bedrock conservation laws and policies. The League’s mission is to conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
This position is responsible to day-to-day management of the League’s email, social media and website and provides writing, proofreading, research, fact-checking and other editorial support for the League’s digital and print communications, adhering to the League’s mission and strategic goals. Under strategic direction of Communications Director, the Digital Communications Manager will design, execute, and analyze digital advocacy campaigns to support specific initiatives, ensuring consistency with organizational objectives. This position allows for telework up to two days per week.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Serve as the primary manager of the League’s website, which includes but is not limited todeveloping and updating content across the site; collaborating with League program managers to ensure program-specific content is current, relevant and meets program-specific objectives; using analytics and other tools within the website CMS and email communications system to target content for specific visitors; and facilitating volunteer engagement, policy advocacy and online donations.
- Manage day-to-day production and distribution of the League’s email, social media and electronic newsletters.
- Create, execute and analyze digital advocacy campaigns supporting specific priorities consistent with the League’s mission and values.
- Develop and implement effective, interactive digital communications through the League’s social media channels (e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Youtube), website, video and electronic newsletters.
- Collaborate with the Director of Member Programs regarding on-going integration between CRM database and email and other electronic communication systems to ensure data integrity, facilitate segmented communication and address any technical issues affecting on-going integration of these systems.
- Write and edit content for League members, supporters and volunteers including for digital media and the League’s quarterly magazine, Outdoor America.
- Track and analyze metrics from digital communications and campaigns to assess and improve the effectiveness of League communications.
- Provide support to volunteer leaders at chapters and state divisions related to digital communications, social media and websites.
- With assistance from other staff members, develop a substantive understanding of conservation and outdoor recreation issues relevant to the League to effectively communicate with members and external audiences such as lawmakers and the media.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated experience managing social media (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).
- Demonstrated experience with website content management systems (such as WordPress, Drupal) and email communication systems (such as HubSpot). Experience using HubSpot is strongly preferred.
- Ability to integrate information in a membership database (such as iMIS) with email and other electronic communications systems for the purpose of audience segmentation, audience-specific communication, and list management and data integrity.
- Experience with video creation is preferred.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing or relevant field of study and 3 to 5 years of experience working on digital communications campaigns, social media and websites.
- Understanding of conservation and outdoor recreation issues preferred.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with League staff and members/volunteers.
- Well organized and detail oriented.
- A positive, professional, and solutions-oriented attitude.
- Ability to travel (estimated to be not more than five percent of total time annually). Some meetings and events will require overnight stays and work during the evening and on weekends.
SALARY RANGE
$62,000 to $72,000, commensurate with experience.
TO APPLY
Send resume, cover letter and work samples of digital campaigns to info@iwla.org by May 15, 2025.
The Izaak Walton League of America is an equal opportunity employer.
707 Conservation Lane
Gaithersburg, Md 20878
April 29, 2025
The Izaak Walton League is currently searching for a Mid-Atlantic Save Our Streams Coordinator. Come and work with us!
Policy Campaigns Manager
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), founded in 1922, is to conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Policy Campaigns Manager’s primary responsibility is leading development and implementation of grassroots advocacy campaigns in support of the League’s public policy priorities at the federal, state and local levels. The Manager, as a member of the larger conservation policy team, will also directly advocate on behalf of League priorities with federal agencies and the U.S. Congress. This position offers a unique opportunity to combine grassroots campaign management with direct advocacy to achieve conservation and environmental policy milestones. The Policy Campaigns Manager will support programs focused on clean water, sustainable agriculture and regional conservation by developing advocacy campaigns centered around each program’s needs and objectives. This is a full-time position based in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Grassroots Advocacy
- Coordinate the development and implementation of grassroots advocacy campaigns for League policy priorities.
- Lead a proactive strategy to engage League members and leaders, and new and existing non-member volunteers, as advocates across a range of policy priorities.
- Work with Conservation Program Directors to ensure grassroots advocacy strategies are components of citizen science campaigns, such as Salt Watch and Nitrate Watch.
Direct Advocacy
- Advocate for legislation and regulations supporting League policy priority areas, including but not limited to agriculture conservation, ecological restoration, clean water protections, outdoor recreation, and climate change.
- Working with Conservation Program staff, develop and maintain relationships with the legislative and executive branches, and serve as a liaison for the League’s conservation programs.
- Represent the League in coalitions as identified by the Conservation Director.
Communications
- Develop content for IWLA website, social media, and publications, including Outdoor America magazine, and written materials as needed.
- Working with communications staff and grassroots activists, secure the publication of opinion pieces, letters to the editor, and other public messages that support the League's advocacy work.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in public policy, environmental studies, political science, communications, or related field.
- At least 3-5 years of grassroots advocacy experience in related nonprofit or private sector employment.
- Demonstrated results engaging and mobilizing grassroots advocates in public policy.
- Demonstrated knowledge of the federal legislative, appropriations, and rulemaking processes.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts in understandable language.
- Ability to think strategically, establish priorities, and independently manage multiple tasks in a fast-moving, high-workload environment.
- Ability to work as a team player with a diverse array of colleagues, partners, and volunteer leaders.
- Knowledge of relevant conservation issues related to the League’s mission would be highly beneficial.
- Strong personal commitment to advancing the cause of conservation and natural resource stewardship.
- Willingness and ability to travel, including for multiple days and overnight.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work involves both physical exertion and sedentary activities and includes work that involves exposure to the outdoors, including various biological and chemical elements, especially those that are water-based, and periods of standing and walking on rough terrain.
- Must be able to sit or stand for up to eight hours at a time while performing work duties.
- Must be able to travel.
- Must be able to bend, stoop, push, and pull, and to lift up to 50 pounds, in the performance of both office-related and field duties.
- Must be able to maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.
- Must be able to perform essential job functions in an environment that will sometimes include increased levels of work-related stress.
COMPENSATION
This position offers a competitive annual salary between $60,000 and $65,000 and a generous package of benefits, including health care, paid holidays, vacation and personal/sick leave, and retirement plan.
HOW TO APPLY
Please email cover letter, resume and a writing sample to the attention of the Conservation Director with the subject line “Policy Campaigns Manager” to conserve@iwla.org. No phone calls please.
The Izaak Walton League of America is an equal opportunity employer.
Salt Watch Coordinator
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
The mission of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), founded in 1922, is to conserve, restore and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife. Our members and staff combine hands-on conservation action, policy work with legislatures and resource agencies, and public education to pursue our conservation goals at the local, state and national levels. As a strong responsible voice representing outdoor recreationists, we occupy a special niche in the conservation community.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Working under the direction of the Clean Water Program Director, the Salt Watch Coordinator will coordinate the League’s Salt Watch monitoring program. Coordinating this program includes volunteer and partner recruitment and retention, test kit creation and distribution, and developing advocacy materials to engage volunteers in collaboration with local partners to facilitate smarter salting in local communities.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Salt Watch Volunteer Coordination and Partnership Building
- Recruit, equip and support Izaak Walton League members, partner organizations and community volunteers to serve as Salt Watch partners and volunteers in existing and new Salt Watch locations.
- Coordinate and conduct in-person and online events in key locations across the U.S. to promote the Salt Watch program and facilitate new partnership and participation.
- Develop advocacy resources for Salt Watch volunteers and partners to utilize when a road salt pollution problem is detected, including sample letters to government representatives and media kits.
- Coordinate the timely purchasing, collating and distribution of Salt Watch kits nationally.
- Communicate regularly and frequently with Salt Watch volunteers, watershed organizations and others to support local Salt Watch efforts and foster an interconnected network of Salt Watch volunteers and partners.
- Establish formal partnerships with participating organizations for future collaboration and joint fundraising.
Data Management
- Ensure Salt Watch data is compiled from Water Reporter and other sources on a weekly basis.
- Input data into database (the Clean Water Hub) and ArcGIS to analyze trends, monitoring sites and frequency of monitoring.
- Support volunteers with data management, including how to input and manage data in Water Reporter.
- Support volunteer use of the Clean Water Hub to communicate with the public, policymakers and the media about water quality information collected by volunteers.
Communications
- Develop content for IWLA website, social media, and publications, including Outdoor America magazine.
- Serve as liaison between League members and chapters; other volunteers; state agencies responsible for water quality, public health, and natural resource management; and the national office of the IWLA.
- Collaborate with the IWLA communications department to proactively engage print, broadcast and other media using Salt Watch data on a local, state and/or regional scale.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, natural resources management, natural sciences, or related field.
- At least 2 years' experience directly coordinating volunteers engaged in water quality monitoring or other citizen science activities.
- Experience meeting with, mobilizing and organizing diverse partners, including local, state, and federal governments, watershed groups and community groups.
- Interest and demonstrated experience in environmental education, volunteer management, community outreach and water quality assessment.
- Experience with public speaking and providing engaging training workshops online and in person.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and to organize and manage multiple tasks and set priorities.
- Experience with Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS, or other database/mapping platforms to organize, visualize, manipulate and understand complex data sets.
- Ability to work constructively and cooperatively with a diverse array of staff, members, volunteers, and colleague organizations.
- Experience with social media (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
- Possess a valid driver’s license and own a car for travel.
- Ability and willingness to travel including for multiple days consecutively and overnight.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Work involves both physical exertion and sedentary activities and includes work that involves exposure to the outdoors, including various biological and chemical elements, especially those that are water-based, and periods of standing and walking on rough terrain.
- Must be able to sit or stand for up to eight hours at a time while performing work duties.
- Must be able to travel.
- Must be able to bend, stoop, push, and pull, and to lift up to 50 pounds, in the performance of both office-related and field duties.
- Must be able to operate office equipment.
- Must have vision and hearing corrected to be able to perform essential job functions.
- Must be able to maintain punctuality and attendance as scheduled.
- Must be able to perform essential job functions in an environment that will sometimes include increased levels of work-related stress.
COMPENSATION
This is a full-time position. Salary is between $40,000 and $42,500, commensurate with experience, with an excellent health care, leave, retirement, and other benefits package. Compensation will be dependent on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to sos@iwla.org. No phone calls please.
The Izaak Walton League of America is an equal opportunity employer.