DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

SUMMARY

Conservation X Labs seeks a passionate and innovative leader to serve as the Director of Communications and Marketing to help us meet our mission of ending the Sixth Mass Extinction. This position will be responsible for leading a distinct and effective communications and marketing strategy to supercharge Conservation X Lab’s growth and impact, broaden Conservation X Lab’s reach and influence, and attract global attention for CXL, our commercial products, our global challenges and innovation competitions, and our portfolio of innovators

We seek applicants who thrive in a fast-paced constantly changing start-up culture and can work well both individually with little guidance, as well as part of a team. We want people who dive in to find solutions in entrepreneurial ways, and who are experienced across the range of media channels, both traditional and current, and creative disciplines. We are an optimistic, passionate, forward-looking, data driven, experimental, and mission-oriented organization set to transform the approaches to solving conservation problems.

WHO WE ARE

Conservation X Labs (CXL) is a technology and innovation company that creates and incentivizes innovative solutions to end the Sixth Mass Extinction. We create new products in our labs, lead open innovation competitions to harness planetary genius, and empower talented innovators across disciplines to collaborate and revolutionize the future of conservation. We are an optimistic, passionate, entrepreneurial, fun, and mission-oriented team working to radically improve the way we find and support solutions for conservation’s most demanding challenges.

WHO YOU ARE

• Do you value creativity and innovation over conformity and tradition?
• Do you believe failure is only failure if you do not learn?
• Do you thrive in challenging and dynamic environments?
• Are you scrappy and entrepreneurial?
• Do you have a bias for solutions and action?
• Are you willing to learn new skills and build your expertise as you go?
• Do you work well on a team?
• Are you a risk taker and willing to break orthodoxy in your messaging and communications strategy?
• Do you have experience working with new media as well as traditional media?
• Are you deeply curious and seek to understand the latest advancements in science, technology, and engineering?
• Are you great at harnessing imagination and creativity to communicate totally new concepts, inspire new solvers, and generate new solutions?
• Do you have a strong sense of purpose and vision for your work?
• Do you want to support high risk, high reward, high impact solutions

If yes, read on…

THE POSITION

This position is responsible for the leadership and execution of Conservation X Lab’s communications and marketing strategy. At the core of this position are three main functions.

• First, this position will lead our engagement with press and publishers across a wide variety of media and platforms to ensure CXL’s work is well covered in the media in a way that advances CXL’s programs, development, visibility, and impact.
• Second, this position will lead and combine the creation, processes, and infrastructure for high-quality storytelling with effective marketing of prizes and challenges and technological products,
• Third, the position will advance the placement of CXL leadership and team members into high profile events, conferences, and speaking opportunities to advance the organization's strategic goals and programs.

This position will work across our organization and across geographies, leading the development of CXL’s communications and marketing strategy. This position will involve direct creative and strategic work on products, strategies, press engagement, and storytelling as well as overseeing contractors & firms that CXL will employ to achieve programmatic impact. The position works closely with leadership and in collaboration with all of our programs and partners. Experience with technical tools, including Adobe Creative suite, Canva, Final Cut Pro, as well as database and other tools to help automate the engagement with our global network of conservation makers and solvers are welcome.

This role thrusts you into the middle of one of the world’s most innovative technology companies driven by a bold mission to prevent the Sixth Mass Extinction. You will be part of CXL’s leadership, working alongside our talented global team that has offices and labs in Washington DC and Seattle, field programs in the Amazon and Central Asia, and a wide capacity including experts in science, technology, engineering, and innovation prizes and challenges.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications and Marketing Strategy

• Develop communications and marketing strategies and tactics for CXL and all of its programs, including technology products, such as Sentinel, Wild Me, and NABIT, and our Grand Challenges for Conservation Program. This includes determining the top storytelling priorities, engagement with press, speaking opportunities, product and prize marketing plans, and communicating the overall storytelling vision with leadership and program leads.
• Oversee the CXL brand, and guide the branding for new programs and products to be in alignment with CXL brand guidelines.
• Craft and communicate innovative, unique, and consistent messaging and materials across programs, linking the materials and message back to CXL’s mission and vision.
• Create compelling narratives for our worldwide events and organize production needs and requirements.

Strategic Engagement for Press and Media

• Coordinate our engagement with press and publishers across a wide variety of media and platforms to ensure CXL’s work is well covered in the media in a way that advances CXL’s programs, development, and visibility, and impact.
• Develop and execute innovative and brand-aligned approaches to expanding CXL’s reputation and presence in the most significant media outlets, platforms, conferences, and events.
• Coordinate our press and strategic engagement with our development team with the goal of advancing CXL’s interests.
• Promote CXL’s thought leadership, including supporting publicity of CXL’s publications, including scientific articles, opinion pieces, and speeches and presentations.
• Write and review press releases for significant news items including awards, program achievements, announcements, and events.
• Track and analyze media engagement and placement, and adjust our strategy based on outputs.
• Develop and implement a press outreach strategy and build a network of relationships to advance CXL’s programs, impact, and interests.
• Cultivate deep relationships with press, writers, and media platforms, both traditional and new, covering technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, science, and the environment.

Creative Production and Marketing

• Lead and coordinate the creation, processes, and infrastructure, for high-quality storytelling capacity across the organization in a way that will attract and inspire the transformation we need to see for the future of conservation.
• Plan and produce an annual report.
• Advise on marketing strategies, websites, and sales and customer engagement strategies for CXL’s commercial products.
• Plan and produce digital and print marketing content including:
  • Monthly newsletter to share updates on our programs to the conservation innovation community and other stakeholders.
  • Innovation catalogue(s) and core program materials such as fact sheets, two-pagers, and cases for support.
  • Regular organic social media content (e.g., Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, BlueSky, YouTube, and LinkedIn).
  • Automated email marketing campaigns and workflows to drive engagement among global innovators for CXL’s grand challenges.
  • Approve and manage paid social media advertising campaigns.
• Oversee the pre-production, production, and distribution of video content.
• Build storytelling capacity and understanding across CXL’s programs and teams.
• Manage and oversee any creative contractors (e.g., graphic designers, video producers, PR firms, web designers, event producers, interns) and communications specialists to produce creative content. Set priorities, define expectations, collaboration and marketing aligned with the CXL brand.
• Produce media kits, quotes, images, edits and other storytelling materials for engagement with the press and communication partners.

Advancing CXL’s Thought Leadership and Public Engagement

• Placement of CXL leadership and team members into high profile events and speaking opportunities.
• Application of CXL programs and technologies for prizes and awards.
• Evaluating conference and speaking opportunities for CXL.
• Managing CXL’s memberships in strategic organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in communications, marketing, public relations, or another relevant discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of work experience in a relevant position with management responsibilities.
• Experience with Canva, Adobe Indesign, and video editing tools (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, or Final Cut Pro)
• Experience with Webflow (preferred)
• Startup, tech, and innovation company experience preferred.
• Exceptional writing & storytelling skills and an ability to adjust tone and message for a diverse set of audiences.
• Evidence of successful media collaborations and/or media coverage.
• Extreme attention to detail, high level of professionalism and a pride in your products or creations.
• Experience managing a budget, setting priorities, and working with leadership.
• Creativity and passion for novel ideas, inspiring narratives, and bold design.
• Proficiency with digital marketing tools and platforms including social media scheduling tools , video creation, publication design tools (e.g., Canva) and others.
• Experience tracking, and reporting on key metrics related to media engagement, social media performance, email campaigns, and marketing ROI.

SALARY: 119K-139K with possibility of incentive bonuses, benefits including retirement, health, dental, and vision, liberal leave and telework.

LOCATION: Washington D.C.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send a cover letter that explains why you fit what we are looking for, and resume.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until 5 PM EST, May 30. Start date is as soon as possible.

CXL is committed to creating and cultivating an environment where every employee and contractor has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful or intentional discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment related decisions without regard to race, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

To learn more about our programs and mission, please visit our website: www.conservationxlabs.com.