Communications Coordinator

OVERVIEW

Are you ready to bring your energy and skills to help preserve the largest national park in the

Washington, DC, region? The C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP) runs 184.5 miles along the Potomac River from Washington, DC, to Cumberland, Maryland. It is beloved by over five million people who use it annually for recreation and the enjoyment of history and nature. Almost entirely fee-free, it is one of the most accessible and visited national parks in the nation, attracting higher annual visitation than either Yosemite or Yellowstone.

The C&O Canal Trust (Trust), the official philanthropic partner to the C&O Canal NHP, is seeking a Communications Coordinator with a passion for public lands and the nonprofit sector to execute communication strategies. The Coordinator will help increase public awareness of Trust programs and fundraising efforts, and market opportunities to get involved with the Trust communicating with a variety of audiences. We are a growing nonprofit that raises funds to preserve and protect the C&O Canal NHP and manages programs that use the Park’s natural, historical, and cultural resources for recreational and educational purposes.

Our role is to engage a community of people – donors, elected leaders, business leaders, recreational visitors, and school children, who understand the value of and support this wonderful national park.

THE POSITION

The C&O Canal Trust seeks an enthusiastic, detail-oriented Communications Coordinator to assist the Marketing and Communications team with content creation, social media, email marketing, and occasional events. The Communications Coordinator will join a small—but quickly growing—nonprofit that supports the C&O Canal National Historical Park. An ideal candidate will be organized, skilled at social media management, possess strong writing dexterity, and able to work independently. This position reports to the Director of Marketing & Communications and works collaboratively with the Trust and C&O Canal National Historical Park staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Content creation, including blog posts, newsletter articles, and press releases
• Execute and manage a social media strategy for all platforms
• Maintain promotional and content calendar across multiple channels
• Respond to questions and comments on social media and email in a timely manner
• Create and manage email marketing campaigns through Constant Contact
• Familiarity with WordPress to build new pages and update existing content on the Trust website
• Track evaluation metrics to assess success of digital strategies
• Attend C&O Canal Trust events and organize outreach with community groups, visitors, and potential Park supporters
• Assist with the development of collateral materials for events
• Assist with other Marketing and Communications team day-to-day activities
• Provide assistance to other Trust staff when needed

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS

• Excellent writer and proofreader with ability to write according to brand standard
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organized, with excellent time-management skills
• Ability to work independently, but also be a team player
• Passion for the C&O Canal National Historical Park, history, preservation, conservation, and/or local tourism
• Bachelor’s degree preferred and 1-3 years of experience in a professional setting
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (required) and Adobe Creative Suite (preferred)
• Familiarity with social media formatting and scheduling tools
• Familiarity with email marketing platforms, such as MailChimp or Constant Contact
• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) for websites
• Ability to travel within the park as needed