Communications & Marketing Associate

We are seeking a creative and organized Communications and Marketing Associate to help share and amplify WELC’s mission, advocacy, and impact. This role develops compelling digital and print communications for supporters, partners, policymakers, and the public across all program areas. The successful candidate will create engaging, brand-aligned content for social media and other communications channels, manage audience engagement strategies across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky, and use analytics to strengthen reach and effectiveness. Responsibilities also include designing graphics, supporting website updates, promoting fundraising campaigns, and collaborating with the Communications Director and Development team on outreach initiatives. Opportunities also exist to contribute to media relations work, including drafting and distributing press releases.

ABOUT THE WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

The Western Environmental Law Center is a leading nonprofit, public-interest environmental law firm rooted in the lands and communities of the western U.S. We use the power of the law to foster thriving, resilient western U.S. lands, waters, wildlife, and communities in the face of a changing climate. Founded in 1993, WELC has been celebrated as an Outside Magazine Best Place to Work, Oregon Business Best Nonprofit to Work For and Best Green Workplace, NonProfit Times Best Nonprofit to Work For, Law360 Environmental Group of the Year, and Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner for ethics.

We envision a thriving western U.S., abundant with protected and interconnected ecosystems, powered by renewable energy, and cared for by communities brought together in an ecology of kinship. We achieve this vision with steady, strategic, and bold legal advocacy that turns the wheels of power at all levels of government.

WELC seeks a Communications and Marketing Associate to join our team. We strongly encourage people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ applicants, and people of diverse lived experience to apply.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Communications and Marketing Associate is a non-exempt, full-time, salaried position responsible for creating digital and printed communications about our organization and its work for the public, our partner organizations, policymakers, and supporters across all WELC programmatic areas to promote our impact and advocacy.

The Communications and Marketing Associate will create digital content that is engaging, easy to understand, visually appealing, and aligned with our core values, branding, and image. In addition, the Communications and Marketing Associate will create digital content and implement an audience engagement strategy that uses organic and paid promotion to reach existing and prospective WELC supporters as well as key policymakers on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. These responsibilities include designing social media content and graphics, interpretation of social media and website analytics to improve our reach and engagement, and occasional website maintenance. This position will work closely with the communications director and will also occasionally work with our development team to promote WELC’s fundraising efforts on social media and be involved in several online fundraising initiatives. Opportunities exist for occasional press work to include drafting, editing, and distributing press releases.

Within these responsibilities, the Communications and Marketing Associate will coordinate with WELC program staff and, where appropriate, serve as an active representative of WELC in coalitions and relationships with clients, partners, and allies to develop and implement digital communications strategies in support of these campaigns.

WELC offers a supportive team setting and the opportunity to experiment with new, creative digital media and swag including stickers and shirts to contribute to and grow our communications advocacy and impact. This position requires strong attention to detail, a demonstrated ability to work independently, and the ability to develop and maintain strong, trusting, and effective relationships with WELC clients, partners, and allies.

The Communications and Marketing Associate is a normal 40-hour week position, primarily working during Monday to Friday business hours, though some night and weekend hours may be required depending on case needs. Staff meetings occur online and in person. Limited travel is required, including overnight and weekend travel. The position also involves standard office physical demands. WELC will provide all reasonable accommodations to the extent possible or required pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are keenly interested in considering a range of applicants with diverse lived experiences who approach the world with kindness, imagination, and vision. We will happily consider applicants who offer an equivalent or alternative set of qualifications to fulfill this position’s responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or other related field and 2+ years of relevant work experience or equivalent. We are open to consider entry-level candidates, especially those with diverse lived experience.
• Knowledge of western U.S. climate, conservation, and environmental justice advocacy issues.
• Lived experience within or past work in partnership with frontline or resource-dependent communities a significant plus.
• A commitment to conceptualizing and implementing digital communications strategies that further equity, inclusion, and justice, including through the just treatment and meaningful involvement of clients, partners, and frontline community groups and individuals.
• Excellent writing skills and knowledge of AP style.
• Experience with:
• Social media (primarily Facebook and Instagram) content generation and campaigns including messaging using an organization’s voice, targeting, A/B testing, metrics analysis, strategic advertising, and executing the respective best practices for these platforms. Experience with LinkedIn and Bluesky a plus.
• Collaborating with partners and clients to create social media posts and carry out joint campaigns, including coordinating messaging, timing and collaborative posting.
• Creating social media graphics and data-based infographics. Design skills with Canva/Adobe Creative Suite strongly desired.
• Creating basic video content.
• Website content management systems (we use WordPress), including search engine optimization and Google Analytics a plus.
• Solid project and time management skills with strong ability to work independently and proactively, both in online and in-person settings.
• Highly organized and intellectually curious.
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptive when needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to WELC’s mission and strategies and the public interest as well as a love for the land, waters, wildlife, and communities of the western U.S.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

The Western Environmental Law Center is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a flexible, friendly, team-based environment with immediate opportunities to shape organizational strategies, competitive salaries ($68,000 - $75,000 for this position, depending on experience and location).

WELC offers an excellent benefits package, including health, vision, dental, life, and disability coverage (with WELC paying 100% of an employee’s premiums), a 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% WELC match, 22 days of combined paid annual vacation and personal leave on top of 13 days of paid holiday leave, paid sick leave, and a paid long-term leave policy (3 months sabbatical leave for every 5 years of employment).

TO APPLY

Please submit the following in PDF format (via this job board, or by email to jobs@westernlaw.org):

• 1-2-page cover letter addressed to Brian Sweeney, Communications Director;
• Resume that includes:
• 2-4 professional references; and
• 3-4 work samples with at least one sample of content you created for a social media campaign, one sample exemplifying experience creating web content (interactive features a plus), and one sample of graphic design for social media.

Cover letters should demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to WELC’s mission and their motivation to work in this position and public interest environmental law generally. Applicants are strongly encouraged to tell us who they are as a human being, why they care about conservation work, and why they are interested in this position.

We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis on December 1, 2026, until the position is filled. To submit additional items, please email jobs@westernlaw.org.