Digital Content and Outreach Specialist

The New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute seeks a collaborative and creative Digital Content and Outreach Specialist to join its diverse team of ecological restoration professionals. They will be responsible for providing in-person and media-based outreach, including websites and social media, to our communities and partners. The ideal candidate would:

· Showcase their talent for developing and maintaining web content in service of a community passionate about the conservation and restoration of our New Mexico forests and watersheds.

· Have excellent communication and outreach skills, with a strong understanding of design principles, user experience, and science communication.

· Enjoy getting out of the office to meet with and present our products to a variety of partners and community members.

· Creatively apply their technical skills and knowledge to current and emerging projects that support and promote healthy forests, resilient landscapes, and thriving communities.

· Have strong organizational skills and enjoy working independently and as part of a team.

Once hired, our Digital Content and Outreach Specialist will work with a dedicated team engaged in and excited about education, ecological monitoring, and collaborative conservation and restoration. They will have many opportunities for professional development, and as a New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) employee, benefits include superb health, leave, and retirement packages, an extended winter holiday break, and tuition waivers at NMHU and partner universities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Collaborate with our program managers and partners to develop and customize responsive and engaging web applications, including ArcGIS Online Hub sites, that provide optimal user experience.

· Help create and maintain digital content, including the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Hub Site https://hpcchub.org/ and outreach products for the Treatment and Wildfire Interagency Geodatabase (TWIG) as part of SWERI’s ReSHAPE Program, https://reshapewildfire.org/.

· Translate and transform scientific data and concepts into accessible public information and educational materials.

· Update and maintain digital content and websites, and troubleshoot and resolve issues in a timely manner.

· Assist in planning, developing, and executing outreach strategies including workshops, webinars, presentations, tutorials, social media posts, and newsletter updates.

· Travel statewide and nationwide to attend meetings, conferences, seminars, and workshops. This will include working to support NMFWRI and ReSHAPE booths.

· Develop relationships, maintain communication, and work productively with our partners and communities. Attending of local partner and agency partner meetings.

· Outreach to communities and local government to present and promote NMFWRI and SWERI products.

· Provide training to users on our web-based applications, including virtual webinars and in-person events.

· Assess and track the use and success of outreach methods and audience engagement for use in quarterly and impact reports.

· Maintain regular attendance and clear communication with supervisors and colleagues in office, field, and online working environments.

· Stay up to date with the latest web design trends, technologies, and best practices.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Job Requirements:

 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Digital Media, Natural Resources, Geography/GIS, or related field.

· EXPERIENCE: 1 years’ professional experience in outreach, graphic or website design, or related discipline.

Preferred Qualifications:

 EDUCATION: Master’s Degree in Communications, Digital Media, Natural Resources, Geography/GIS, or related field

· EXPERIENCE: 3+ years’ professional experience in outreach, digital media and marketing, graphic design, web-based applications and maps, or related discipline.

Special Conditions for Eligibility:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Experience with website design and content creation using content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress, Wagtail, or similar software, and basic use of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript as needed.

· Ability to develop and implement outreach strategies (social media engagement, workshops, webinars) and materials (website editing, video creation, social media posts).

· Experience with graphic design tools, including Adobe Creative Suite and Canva, and experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Analytics.

· Knowledge of web-based mapping applications, including ArcGIS Online and Hub sites.

· Understanding of UI/UX principles and best practices.

· Familiarity with local, state, and federal organizations that work within the natural resources, wildfire, and forestry disciplines.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of groups and diverse backgrounds, including rural communities.

· Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and written.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

· Ability to develop and maintain partner relationships.

· Working proficiency in Spanish is a plus but not required.

Physical Demands:

· Standing Frequently

· Sitting Frequently

· Walking (cross country) Infrequently

· Bending Infrequently

· Squatting Infrequently

· Kneeling Infrequently

· Lifting (30lbs or less) Infrequently

Working Environment:

From city to wilderness, valley to the mountaintop, our Las Vegas, New Mexico based team serves our communities from the office and in the field. NMFWRI’s Digital Content and Outreach Specialist will have the option for hybrid work but must be based in New Mexico. In-state and out-of-state travel will be required, including attendance at monthly staff meetings at the NMHU campus in Las Vegas, New Mexico or other sites in the state.