Full-time, year round position

At Thompson Island Outward Bound we believe every kid can discover the freedom of possibility, as students move from “I can’t” and “I’m not” to “I can.”

Through our partnership with Boston’s public schools, each year thousands of students board the Thompson Island Outward Bound ferry to discover who they are and all they can become, on an island classroom that spans 204 acres of salt marshes, woods, campsites, labs, dormitories, and dozens of challenge structures.

Playing a crucial role in closing the achievement and opportunity gaps facing Boston middle schoolers, our multi-year curriculum features hands-on field science infused with Outward Bound’s unique approach to character development, compassion and service.

Our core education programs are provided at no cost to students, funded by a combination of philanthropy and the island’s events business.

A local and national treasure, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center is located in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park, just one mile from downtown Boston. Since 1833, the island has functioned as a non-profit expanding education and life opportunities for Boston youth.

Thompson Island Outward Bound is part of the national network of 11 Outward Bound USA schools, the shared mission for which is Changing Lives Through Challenge and Discovery. Outward Bound is present in 33 countries.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are in the process of launching our new brand (Where You Can) and beginning a 5-year expansion plan to double the number of students served in our multi-year education program. We are currently striving to strengthen our brand awareness in order to grow philanthropy, draw event clients (whose fees in turn support the mission) and broaden our partnerships with educational allies. The Director of Marketing and Communications (DMC) reports to the Executive Vice President (who devotes approximately 25% of her time to Marketing and Communications, in close partnership with the DMC); supervises two part-time staff (the Marketing Assistant and Marketing Coordinator); and works closely and consistently with all other departments to advance their marketing and communications needs. The DMC also works with the Board’s Marketing Committee and multiple consultants and vendors. The DMC plays the crucial role of setting and implementing the communications strategy, both external and internal.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Operations

Drive a strategic internal and external communications strategy that positively affects employee and customer understanding, engagement and commitment with the island’s work.

Along with EVP, develop, implement, and evaluate the media relations strategy for the organization, including internal media relations procedures

Lead and manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic material across departments

Create and manage a system of organization-wide communication to strengthen coordination and collaboration

Work directly with each department head to ensure their marketing needs are identified

Develop and manage the organization’s marketing and communications budget and organization-wide comprehensive calendar

As brand steward, ensure that all public-facing communications are consistent in messaging and style with Thompson Island Outward Bound’s branding guide; revise the guide as needed

Advise and oversee members of the Development team regarding event materials and donor communications

Manage, oversee and organize Marketing Assistant’s and Marketing Coordinator’s workflow, providing consistent supervision, and constructive feedback and guidance

Relationship Management

As the “team captain” for marketing, model the values of TIOBEC, collaborating with and orchestrating across departments to advance the TIOBEC mission and build the brand. Manage monthly Communications meetings with Programs Team, Development Team and Events Sales Team.

Products

Manage the design, production, and publication of the organization’s newsletter and eNewsletter

Manage the production—including overseeing the writing, editing, design, and necessary approvals—for additional business, program and development publications, including brochures, flyers, signage, event advertising

Develop and manage relationships with outside vendors, including printers, graphic designers, videographers and photographers

Oversee digital and hard copy library of historical and current documents

Marketing and Public Relations

Stay informed about experiential learning, social emotional learning, and Outward Bound nationally, and monitor news coverage pertaining to the broader landscape of Thompson Island Outward Bound’s work

Identify and execute creative new marketing approaches that are cost-effective and high impact

Manage all marketing, advertising and promotional activities for the organization, including digital, social, media, outdoor and print campaigns

Monitor, review and report on all marketing activities and results

Plan and oversee public relations and promotional campaigns and strategies

Along with EVP, work with media representatives to place stories and information in print, broadcast, and online media locally, regionally, and nationally, including:

Cultivating relationships with reporters, bloggers, publicists and other professionals vital to publicizing Thompson Island’s work to larger audiences

Creating and editing the production of news releases, op-eds, letters-to-the-editor, guest columns, and pitch letters

Coordinating television and radio opportunities, including development of b-roll material, arrangement of interviews, media events, etc.

Assisting in representing Thompson Island Outward Bound to the public and to professional organizations.

Online

Oversee high-quality content and user experience for: www.ThompsonIsland.org.

Provide oversight and create content for the organization’s overall social media strategy, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

QUALIFICATIONS AND DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS

Bachelor’s Degree in business, marketing, communications or related field required; Master’s degree preferred

Minimum of 8 years of professional experience with demonstrated growth in responsibilities

Positive, energetic self-starter with demonstrated experience creating and implementing new initiatives and motivating team members

Constructive solution-focused collaborator happy to work shoulder to shoulder to make things happen

Strategic synthesizer who distills information from large amounts of data into crisp and clear useful insights; experience creating and analyzing digital performance metrics, such as Google Analytics

Fiscally conscious budget manager who understands the financial implications of marketing decisions

Reliable leader who takes responsibility for growing the brand and holding self and team accountable; a proven track record of success that demonstrates creative and strategic thinking, strong project management skills and timely execution

Experience managing direct reports

Strong aptitude for visual presentation and design “look and feel”; must have experience with Adobe Creative Suite

Experience with web-based communications and marketing strategies, including social media strategies; basic HTML knowledge and CMS familiarity preferred

Experience working for a non-profit organization preferred

Exceptional writing skills and ability to shape and tell compelling stories

Experience editing and/or proofreading and a keen eye for detail

Experience working with outside firms to strategically build brand awareness helpful

Experience pitching stories to broadcast, digital and print reporters preferred but not required

Excitement about the mission of Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center

WORK CONDITIONS

Primary office is in South Boston, with occasional work days on Thompson Island, via ferry.

Willingness to work occasional late night events.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Competitive salary, commensurate with experience. Employer sponsored health insurance with the option to select between two comprehensive plans. Premier dental plan. 401(k) retirement plan with competitive match. Generous paid time off including: vacation, holidays, personal days, parental leave and sick leave. Flexible scheduling, pursuant to position. Work that engages a diverse and dynamic community of educators and learners, with the shared vision of shaping a better future for Boston students. A quality work life in Boston’s vibrant Seaport district with frequent access to the natural wonders and positive impacts of Thompson Island.

To apply: All applicants must submit: 1) detailed cover letter (1-3 pages) explaining your background and your particular interest in this role and this organization; 2) resume; and 3) a sample of your work and send to Julie Brown, Vice President of Human Resources, at: jbrown@thompsonisland.org