Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization based in Decorah, Iowa focused on conserving and promoting America's culturally diverse but endangered garden and food crop heritage for future generations.

Primary Role:

The Marketing and Communications Director will provide overall leadership for SSE’s marketing, media, outreach, public relations, communication, and advertising strategies as they relate to sales (retail, wholesale/seed rack, online), donations, membership, events/outreach/education, and promotion of SSE’s mission. This position serves on SSE’s leadership team and works in close collaboration with the Executive Director as well as all of SSE’s department leaders, to develop and direct strategy for all marketing, communication, and outreach activities that promote the organization’s mission, build brand awareness, and generate revenue to support it.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

● Establishes and drives a multi-channel marketing and communications strategy to fulfill SSE’s mission and awareness goals, as well as grows the organization’s audience and revenue streams.

● Oversees external and internal communication, outreach, and partnerships organization-wide, including decision-making processes for committing to external relationships.

● Maintains SSE brand voice, position, and mission across communication platforms.

● Spearheads the strategic and tactical execution of marketing campaigns, including design of test/control segmentation, tracking, results reporting, analysis, and recommendations.

● Leads the development of the editorial calendar and serves as project manager for the marketing, communication, and education team’s work, helping to prioritize, guide, and implement initiatives and duties.

● Researches, develops, and implements SEO strategies and establishes measurable goals for marketing and sales activities using tools such as SEMrush, GA4, and Google Search Console.

● Conducts necessary research and trend analysis and reports outcomes to the Executive Director and relevant managers.

● Develops and manages media relations including building relationships with media members, influencers and community leaders.

● Develops the overall social media marketing plan, approves campaigns, and measures the return on investment, including targeted advertising and educational video content.

● Develops, schedules, and monitors email marketing open and click rates, reporting them back to the respective departments.

● Oversee the planning, writing, and editing of the Heritage Farm Companion (SSE’s membership magazine).

● Produces, edits, and distributes Seed Savers Exchange’s podcast, and processes virtual education and engagement recordings.

● Monitors the status of projects and collaborates with departments outside of marketing to troubleshoot and manage marketing workflows.

● Holds regular meetings with department heads to review strategies, resolve challenges, and present possible solutions.

● Prepares annual departmental budget.

● Manages all trademarking of SSE publications, marks, and names.

● Produces quarterly staff newsletter.

● Fills in communication duties as needed, based on team make-up and skills. (i.e., video editing, writing, copywriting, producing, graphic design, social media, ads, print, etc.)

● Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

● Supervises and evaluates Education, Marketing and Communications staff and contractors.

Job Share:

● Contribute to broader organizational goals through participation in fieldwork and/or order fulfillment during peak times

Skills and Experience:

● Experience conceptualizing and managing both digital and print communication projects.

● Proficiency in video editing/production using Adobe Creative Suite.

● Knowledge of database management, Google Analytics, SEO/SEM tools such as SEMrush.

● Aptitude with social media, Google Docs/Drive, and marketing email platforms such as MailChimp.

● Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

● Understanding of marketing strategy and tactics.

● Ability to multitask and organize multiple concurrent projects.

● Experience in shopper marketing or sales preferred.

● Ability to plan and manage budgets.

Qualifications:

● Requires a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field and a minimum of five years of marketing or related experience; or an equivalent combination of education/experience.

● Relevant experience in the areas of nonprofit development and fundraising, marketing, public relations, and/or membership management, ideally in a horticultural, agricultural, or environmental organization.

Physical Requirements:

● Sit or stand for extended periods at a desk.

Benefits:

● PTO & Holidays

● Life insurance and long term disability provided by SSE

● Employee discount

● Medical, dental and vision insurance available

● Retirement plan with company match

● Wellness program with annual stipend and paid wellness day

Seed Savers Exchange is an equal-opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to apply. Seed Savers Exchange does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, mental or physical disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by law.

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Marketing & Communications Director