Development & Communications Assistant

**About Ecology Project International**:
EPI is an international non-profit dedicated to addressing critical conservation issues through field-based partnerships between local experts and middle/high school students. We engage adolescents from local communities and visiting youth from other regions in applied hands-on science and conservation as they learn about and help protect threatened species and habitats. EPI’s programs in the U.S. and Latin America inspire the next generation of environmental leaders to engage in conservation efforts at home and around the world.

**JOB DESCRIPTION**

**Job Summary**: This is a 50-50 split position between Communications for Pacuare Reserve and Development. The person will work on the design, implementation, monitoring and support of development strategies (income generation) for EPI’s Latin America programs as well as for Pacuare Reserve´s communications programmatic activities. The Development & Communications Assistant (DCA) position will support a range of communications and development tasks including social media and website content management, communication activities and products for Pacuare Reserve and fundraising vetting process and activities for the different income generation strategies for Latin American programs (Costa Rica, Pacuare Reserve, Mexico and Belize).

**Accountability**: The Development & Communications Assistant reports to the Latin American Development Supervisor.

**Responsibilities**:
**Latin America development tasks**:

- Assist with preliminary grant research for Latin America programs.
- Create, maintain, and update a database of potential funders/leads for Latin American programs.
- Send thank you-notes to sponsors in Latin America programs.
- Support gathering information and creation of donors´ reports.
- Assist in the implementation of crowdfunding campaigns for the Latin America programs.
- Support on the promotion of development campaigns to alumni and local partners and allies.
- Actively support and search for in-kind and cash donations and sponsorships for Latin America programs.
- Determining strategies in conjunction with the Supervisor to deliver a clear message to a particular target audience.
- Others to be determined by Supervisor.

**Pacuare Reserve Communication tasks**:

- Support with content management and updates of website.
- Responsible for social media content.
- Monitoring news outlets for EPIs, or EPI's related coverage, maintaining the database of local media up to date.
- Create and send electronic updates to Pacuare Reserve´s visitors, donors, and friends.
- Maintain an organized filing system of photos and videos of Pacuare Reserve.
- Obtain testimonials from Research assistants, visitors, and volunteers for content creation.
- Work with the Reserve´s team on the logistics of corporate volunteer opportunities and follow up necessities.
- Determining strategies in conjunction with the Supervisor to deliver a clear message to a particular target audience.
- Responsible for creating videos, content and materials for social media, reports, and donors’ thankyous, as well as for marketing and development campaigns.
- Coordinate the creation of audiovisual products with local media and partners according to EPI brand guidelines and mission.
- Support media press releases and any other media coordination when needed in order to increase local visibility.
- Coordinating designs for Pacuare Reserve's digital or print publications.
- Other duties as required

**Schedule and location**: The Development & Communications Assistant is a full-time, year-round position based in the EPI office in Heredia, Costa Rica during EPI’s core office hours (Monday-Friday from 8:30 AM -5 PM). The Development & Communications Assistant may occasionally be on-call outside the normal working hours or be required to work weekends.

**Qualifications**:

- Required:_
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in Communications or Marketing.
- 1 year experience in similar positions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Spanish and English.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to pay attention to details.
- Strong customer service skills
- Ability to work independently while multi-tasking.
- Ability to work well with other people remotely.
- Ability to engage donors and prospects verbally and in writing with sincerity and enthusiasm.
- Preferred:_
- Previous experience in non-for-profit organization.
- Experience with SalesForce and/or other CRM or donor management software.

**Supervisory Responsibilities**: The Development & Communications Assistant may supervise volunteers for specific projects.