Description

Ventura Land Trust (VLT) is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to protecting the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. VLT owns and manages nearly 4,000 acres of conserved land across Ventura County, supporting biodiversity, ecological integrity, responsible public access, and environmental education. We foster a collaborative, mission-driven workplace that values innovation, flexibility, teamwork, and a shared commitment to conservation.

Position Summary

The Community Engagement Director is the strategic communications hub between VLT’s programs and the public. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director reports to VLT’s Executive Director, and works closely with each member of the leadership team to enhance public awareness of our mission, strengthen community relationships, and expand support for conservation. The Director oversees VLT’s public presence and storytelling, facilitates community programming and events, supervises communications staff, manages budgets and vendors, and serves as a key ambassador for the organization. The ideal candidate is deeply curious, passionate about science-based conservation and ecological literacy, loves wild places and wild people, and is driven to make the world a better place. 

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

       Serve on VLT’s senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy, planning, and decision-making.

       Develop and implement an integrated Community Engagement strategy encompassing communications, education, events, partnerships, and public outreach.

       Establish goals and performance measures, evaluate results, and adapt strategies to strengthen community reach and organizational impact.

       Support the Executive Director and leadership team on public messaging, reputation management, and strategic communications.

       Foster a collaborative, inclusive, innovative, and accountable team culture.

Community Engagement, Education & Events

       Develop regionwide engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with diverse communities and expand outreach to historically underserved and underrepresented audiences.

       Build strategic partnerships with community organizations, businesses, schools, public agencies, tribal communities, civic organizations, and conservation partners.

       Partner with the Conservation Director to facilitate, support, and expand VLT’s ecological literacy and engagement programs, public offerings, and communications. 

       Facilitate and develop compelling stories that highlight VLT’s conservation, stewardship, and public access work, educational programs, volunteers, donors, partnerships, and community impact.

       Partner with Ventura Wild leadership staff to facilitate, guide, and support Ventura Wild and Nature by Design environmental education programs. 

       Collaborate with leadership team to creatively envision, build, and expand conservation related and nature-based community engagement initiatives, including educational programs, public events, volunteer activities, and other strategic outreach opportunities. Support related planning, logistics, sponsorship fulfillment, vendor management, and volunteer coordination.

       Establish annual program goals, outreach targets, budgets, timelines, and evaluation metrics using participation, community impact, and financial results to inform future programming.

Communications, Marketing, & Public Affairs

       Lead VLT’s communications, marketing, media relations, and brand strategy across digital, print, and other public-facing platforms.

       Oversee the communications calendar and production of newsletters, annual reports, digital content, photography, video, publications, interpretive materials, and promotional campaigns.

       Guide VLT’s brand identity, website strategy, user experience, and accessibility.

       Collaborate with the Executive Director on interviews, presentations, speaking engagements, and thought leadership opportunities.

       Partner with the Development Director to generate integrated communications and outreach supporting annual giving, major gifts, grants, planned giving, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

       Ensure communications, education, events, and outreach reinforce fundraising priorities and strengthen long-term relationships with supporters.

Team Leadership, Budget & Administration

       Supervise, mentor, and enhance Community Engagement team, including the Community Engagement Coordinator, Education Manager, future team members, and outside consultants/vendors. 

       Develop and manage the Community Engagement Department budget and oversee related contracts procurement and expenditures.

       Build effective systems and workflows and use Salesforce, project management, event management, and analytics platforms to support department operations and evaluate impact.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

       Passion for Ventura Land Trust’s mission and a commitment to science-based conservation.

       Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Environmental Studies, Education, or a related field.

       Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, environmental storytelling, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and/or related disciplines.

       Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff.

       Commitment to work in a dynamic team environment with robust professional exchange, feedback, and collaboration. 

       Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and storytelling skills, with experience managing brand, reputation, community connection, and media relationships.

       Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships across diverse communities and stakeholder groups.

       Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities.

       Experience managing budgets, consultants, contracts, and vendors.

       Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Canva, Salesforce or comparable CRM systems, website CMS platforms, and project management software.

       Valid California driver’s license and reliable transportation; availability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

       Experience with land trusts, conservation organizations, and/or environmental nonprofits.

       A background in science-based conservation work and/or ecological storytelling.

       Demonstrated success developing and implementing compelling ecological connection building and integrated communications.

       Familiarity with Ventura County communities, public agencies, and conservation issues.

       Bilingual English/Spanish.

       Experience with environmental youth and adult education and/or nature-based public programming.

       Experience with creative media like photography, videography, and/or graphic design.

Work Environment & Expectations

       Hybrid work environment with regular in-person engagement and flexible scheduling.

       Local travel and occasional evening and weekend work for meetings, events, and community engagement.

       Occasional outdoor work.

       Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, navigate stairs and inclines, use standard office equipment, and occasionally lift and carry up to 30 lbs.

Compensation & Benefits

       Salary: $90,000–$100,000, depending on experience.

       Full-time, exempt position.

       Medical, dental, and vision benefits.

       Paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, bereavement leave, and jury duty leave.

       Hybrid work environment with flexible scheduling.

       Employee-contributed 401(k) retirement savings plan.

       Dog-friendly office for well-mannered pups.

To Apply

We encourage candidates from a variety of backgrounds to apply, even if they do not meet every qualification listed. VLT values transferable skills, diverse perspectives, and equivalent combinations of knowledge, education, and experience.

Submit a resume, cover letter, and personal work product that demonstrates your experience/skills related to this position to careers@venturalandtrust.org with “Community Engagement Director” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

For more information, visit venturalandtrust.org/careers.

Requirements

       Passion for Ventura Land Trust’s mission and a commitment to science-based conservation.

       Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Nonprofit Management, Environmental Studies, Education, or a related field.

       Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, environmental storytelling, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and/or related disciplines.

       Experience supervising, mentoring, and developing staff.

       Commitment to work in a dynamic team environment with robust professional exchange, feedback, and collaboration. 

       Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and storytelling skills, with experience managing brand, reputation, community connection, and media relationships.

       Demonstrated ability to build authentic relationships across diverse communities and stakeholder groups.

       Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities.

       Experience managing budgets, consultants, contracts, and vendors.

       Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Canva, Salesforce or comparable CRM systems, website CMS platforms, and project management software.

       Valid California driver’s license and reliable transportation; availability to work occasional evenings and weekends.