Job Description

Position: Writer, Donor Communications
Reports to: Senior Director, Donor Communications
Position Managed: N/A
Location: WCS Headquarters at the Bronx Zoo (hybrid in-person and remote)
Department: Development
Scope: Multi-Site
Position Type: Full-Time

About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We are the only organization that combines on-the-ground field conservation programs in more than 55 countries with the world’s largest network of urban wildlife parks, based in New York City.
WCS’s five wildlife parks, led by our flagship Bronx Zoo, have educated and inspired over 425 million visitors since 1899. Each year, WCS welcomes about 3.5 million visitors to the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium—opening people’s eyes to the wonders of the natural world, while setting the gold standard for animal care and well-being.
WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale. Our scientists, veterinarians, and conservation experts have helped recover bison, tigers, gorillas, whales, coral reefs, and more. In the past century, we have helped governments create more than 430 protected areas around the world on land and sea, and we currently work with national governments and local communities to manage and monitor several hundred protected areas.

Job Summary:
As a writer, you will be an integral member of the Donor Communications team at WCS with responsibility for writing and editing fundraising materials—including but not limited to tailored donor stewardship reports, proposals, talking points, and decks; WCS’s annual impact report; mass donor emails; and event collateral. You will report to the Senior Director, Donor Communications and collaborate closely with programmatic, development, marketing, public affairs, and design colleagues on a broad range of projects. If you are a talented writer and editor with outstanding communication and organizational skills, and are eager to grow within a high-performing, dynamic development team, we’d love to meet you.

Major Responsibilities:
Your main responsibilities will be writing, editing, and supporting fundraising communications in support of Development’s ambitious fundraising goals. You will work closely with our frontline fundraisers, events team, program experts, and others at our NYC headquarters and around the world.

Writing and editing: Support the Donor Communications team in drafting, editing, and producing tailored major donor proposals, fundraising appeals, talking points, pitch decks, as well as non-tailored communications including WCS’s Annual Report and other impact reports, fact sheets, donor news alerts, other donor updates, giving opportunity brochures, and other print/digital communications.
Event collateral and other donor correspondence: Prepare and edit event collateral such as invitations, save the dates, and others for print and email; write donor news alerts and provide reviews of digital appeals and other fundraising outreach, in close collaboration with our graphic designer and Donor Engagement and Special Events, Direct Response, and Operations teams.
Project Management: Manage writing and print production projects as assigned. Projects may entail facilitating kick-off meetings and discussions with frontline fundraisers, programmatic staff, and earned media team, including: meeting with program staff to obtain programmatic updates, identify programmatic goals and identify funding needs; recommending an outline; working with program staff and graphic design staff to procure appropriate visual assets; writing and editing text; and coordinating and managing the review process.
Copyediting and Maintaining Style Guidelines: Serve as a copyeditor for the Donor Communications team, and for the Development division as needed. Maintain efforts to strengthen consistency in writing style and graphics across Development, adhering to and promoting the division’s writing style guidelines. Strengthen consistency in writing style across Development, adhering to and promoting the division’s writing style guidelines.
Other: All other duties as requested.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

BA/BS/BBA and 3+ years of experience in a development, communications, marketing, or related role.
Skilled writer and verbal communicator capable of distilling scientific and conservation concepts into compelling, high-level messaging that conveys clear impact to individual supporters and general audiences
Strong project manager and listener who meets deadlines; persistence and follow-through to project completion
Outstanding organizational skills and proactive communication on project status and needs
Strategic, resourceful editor who is adept at tailoring content and style to varied audiences and across formats; detail-oriented and adheres to a high standard of quality

WCS is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. EOE/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled

Salary Range

$75,000 - $90,000

Wildlife Conservation Society

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