Position Title: Communications & Outreach Fellow VISTA 

Organization: Great Peninsula Conservancy 

Program: Land Labs

Service Location: Bremerton, Washington 

Timeline for Service: *Start Date TBD (32 hours per week)  

Teaser: 

Are you a natural storyteller who’s passionate about the environment? Join Great Peninsula Conservancy as the Communications & Outreach Fellow VISTA and help bring local conservation to life through social media, photography, and community events!

Program Description: 
Great Peninsula Conservancy (GPC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust dedicated to protecting the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces of the Great Peninsula region of west Puget Sound, Washington. GPC’s important work is accomplished through conservation, stewardship, and community engagement.

GPC’s Land Labs program uses local protected lands to enhance science education and environmental literacy in local schools. At the same time, GPC’s broader outreach work seeks to build a community that feels connected to and welcomed by the outdoors. The Communications & Outreach Fellow VISTA will play a critical role in helping GPC share its mission with the public, reach new audiences, and build long-term support for its programs.

Member Duties: 
The VISTA member will support GPC’s communications and community engagement efforts by telling the story of conservation, stewardship, and education work through photography, writing, social media, and public events. Working closely with the Community Engagement and Communications teams, the member will create original content that highlights GPC’s programs, partners, and the people impacted by conservation. The VISTA will attend events and field days to capture photos and stories, contribute to digital outreach strategies, and help promote volunteer and educational opportunities that expand GPC’s reach and impact.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Write and schedule social media posts that tell compelling stories and promote events;
• Develop social media campaigns that expand GPC’s online presence;
• Capture photos and stories from events, site visits, and volunteer work parties;
• Help manage GPC’s photo archive and visual media assets;
• Write articles, blog posts, and email content that connect people to nature;
• Assist in organizing and staffing outreach events and community tabling opportunities;
• Design and distribute promotional materials for programs and events;
• Support internal communication systems and collaborative projects across teams; and
• Increase the organizational capacity of GPC.

Qualifications:

• Passion for GPC’s mission and the power of storytelling;
• Excellent writing and communication skills;
• Experience using social media for outreach;
• Comfortable taking photos and capturing moments in the field;
• Organized, creative, and detail-oriented;
• High degree of initiative and a spirit of service;
• Preferred: experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar tools;
• Preferred: experience with event planning, outreach, or photography; and
• Preferred: valid driver’s license and personal vehicle.

AmeriCorps VISTA: 

This GPC VISTA position is funded by the Corporations for National and Community Service and will serve within the AmeriCorps VISTA program. AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Each VISTA member makes a year-long, full-time commitment to serve on a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. To learn more about the AmeriCorps programs visit americorps.gov.

Compensation:  

In return for their service, AmeriCorps VISTA members receive a modest bi-weekly living allowance of $957.46 (effective September 8th, 2024), health benefits during their service, and have the option of receiving an AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 (current through September 30th, 2024) or post-service stipend of $1,800 after completing their service. A relocation travel and settling-in allowance may also apply if they are moving. In addition to AmeriCorps’ standard benefits, GPC provides VISTA members with a housing stipend of $4,000, reimbursement of work-related outdoor gear purchases up to $250, reimbursement of professional development and training opportunities up to $300, and coverage of costs for the member to obtain Wilderness First Aid certification.