REEF Trips Program and Communications Manager Needed

Please respond to Martha Klitzkie, REEF General Manager, at Martha@REEF.org

Summary
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), a non-profit, marine conservation organization, is seeking to hire a REEF Trips Program and Communications Manager to manage its Field Survey Trip Program, as well as develop initiatives to increase participation in, and awareness of, the broad suite of REEF programs and services. REEF coordinates marine life education, field research, and one of the largest citizen science programs in the world. REEF programs engage with the public through unique partnerships with private, governmental, scientific, and educational sectors. The REEF Trips Program features a full schedule of eco-dive trips led by marine life experts each year that support REEF’s mission to engage and educate divers and snorkelers in citizen science activities.

Position Description and Responsibilities
Duties will include coordinating the REEF Field Survey Trip Program, including booking packages to 10-15 destinations each year for the REEF Trips program, and handing all correspondence and bookings for these trips. A comprehensive marketing plan will be developed to promote and increase participation in the trips. In addition, the successful candidate will assist with broader communication, outreach, and capacity building efforts to support REEF’s Volunteer Survey Project, and other related REEF activities. The staff member will work collaboratively with other REEF staff and interns, and will be based at REEF HQ in Key Largo, FL. Priority tasks and duties will include, but may not be limited to:

·      Organize, plan, promote, and sell REEF Field Survey trips. This includes researching destinations, contacting potential vendors (dive operators, lodging properties, live-aboard vessels), obtaining price quotes, building packages, developing trip descriptions and flyers, overseeing promotion of the trips, fielding questions from potential trip participants, and handing bookings.

·      Develop strong knowledge of REEF programs and Field Survey Trip destinations in order to create an exciting and marketable trip schedule.

·      Create a comprehensive REEF Trips marketing plan that will effectively promote the program and increase participation.

·      Maintain accurate financial management of all client reservations and vendor contracts. Maintain accurate and complete records and forms for client and vendor communications and finances.

·      Support the trip leaders in advance of each trip, coordinating communication with trip participants, and facilitating the leaders’ needs at the trip destination.

·      Participate in REEF events and out-of-area consumer trade shows.

In addition to the primary tasks that fall under the Trip Program Manager responsibilities, the successful candidate will assist with REEF’s broader communication, outreach, and capacity building efforts, including:

·      Increase local, national, and international awareness of REEF, with a focus on dive and environmental media outlets by working with REEF staff to create and distribute informational releases on a frequent and timely basis.

·      Develop a strong coalition of support among a broad spectrum of promotional outlets, including print, radio, and electronic media. Develop and maintain a press contacts database and relationships with key media personnel. Track and record media coverage.

·      Assist in the development of outreach and member correspondence, such as e-news, web content, and social media as well as the development of PSAs, brochures, and other public relation materials.

Qualifications
Bachelors or higher degree in relevant field, or equivalent work experience in travel, communications, and/or public relations. Proficiency with desktop computers and office software, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills are required. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, with strong organizational skills and ability to work independently in a fast-paced, non-profit organization. Strong interest in ocean life, marine conservation, and citizen science a plus. Ability to work in a diverse and collaborate team across multiple disciplines. Experienced SCUBA diver is preferred but not required.

Position Term, Compensation, and Work Environment
This is a full time, permanent position. Starting salary $27,000-$30,000, depending on experience. Benefits include contribution towards health insurance, accrued paid time off (PTO), option for flex-time work weeks, and 7 holiday days per year. U.S. and international travel may be required, as well as some weekend, holiday, and after hours work.

The position will be based at REEF’s Key Largo, Florida, headquarters, a 1913 historic conch-style house converted into offices, a retail area, and classrooms. Headquarters staff includes the General Manger, Director of Special Projects, Store Manager, Lionfish Program Coordinator, interns and volunteers. Work environment is casual. Three additional staff – Director of Science, Membership Development Coordinator, and Outreach Coordinator – are located in Washington and California. The position will report to the General Manager.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample (no more than three pages) to Martha Klitzkie, General Manager, at Martha@REEF.org. Review of applications will begin starting January 30, 2014, and position will remain open until filled. Anticipated start date will be mid-February.

Organization Background:
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) was founded in 1990 as a way to educate scuba divers and snorkelers in marine life identification and to utilize their marine life sightings. Patterned after the successful Audubon and Cornell birding programs, REEF has grown into a 40,000 plus member organization with programs in place throughout the western hemisphere. Primary among these programs is the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, enabling marine enthusiasts to conduct surveys and submit sightings data from throughout the Tropical Western Atlantic, coastal North America, Tropical Eastern Pacific, Hawaii, and South Pacific. Data are managed by REEF staff and made available to researchers, scientists, managers, and the public free of charge via REEF’s on-line database at www.REEF.org. To date more than 175,000 marine life surveys have been submitted.

In addition to the Survey Project, REEF maintains a large and active diver education program with standardized course materials for each of its survey regions. Strong partnerships within the diving industry and effective outreach provide opportunities for thousands of divers to learn about marine life and take part in surveying activities throughout the year. REEF manages the July-long Great Annual Fish Count; the Grouper Moon Project – researching grouper spawning aggregations; the Exotic Species Program – tracking the impact and control of non-native marine fish species, particularly the human-induced invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfish into the Tropical West Atlantic; Special Projects – assessing fish population changes in and around marine reserves and on and around newly developed artificial reefs; printed and e-newsletter communications; and, several week-long field survey and data gathering expeditions. REEF maintains strong partnerships with federal, state, and local government agencies as well as other US based and international agencies, NGOs, and business entities.

REEF is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer