Marketing & Communications Manager

Description

Position: Marketing and Communications Manager

Location: Primarily remote from Colorado or Utah (some in-person work and travel required throughout the year)

Department: Student Experience

Reports To: Director of Student Experience

FLSA: Exempt

Position: Full-time

Anticipated Start Date: February 1, 2027

Organization Summary

The Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is a non-profit adventure-based education organization that sparks lifelong growth through challenge outside. For over 60 years, our wilderness courses have focused on inspiring responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, and environmental and community stewardship.

Position Summary

The Marketing and Communications Manager advances the mission and strategic priorities of the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) by developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies that strengthen the organization's brand, increase awareness and engagement, generate interest in COBS programs, and support organizational growth. This position oversees COBS's marketing and communications activities, including digital marketing, website management, email campaigns, social media, content development, graphic design, and organizational messaging. The Manager serves as the primary steward of the COBS brand and leads the planning, coordination, and execution of marketing campaigns and communications initiatives across departments. Working closely with Sales, Student Services, Development, Program, and other organizational teams, this position ensures that communications are consistent, compelling, audience-centered, and aligned with COBS's mission and strategic priorities. The Marketing and Communications Manager reports to the Director of Student Experience. Success in this position will be demonstrated through effective execution of the annual marketing plan, growth in audience engagement and qualified program inquiries, consistent and compelling brand representation, improved digital customer experience, and timely delivery of high-quality marketing and communications initiatives. Success also requires strong cross-departmental collaboration, effective project management, and the ability to balance organizational priorities with available resources.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Content Management

• •Brand management: Serves as the primary steward of COBS's brand identity, ensuring consistent use of brand standards, messaging, voice, and visual elements across departments and communication channels.
• •Photo and video assets: Maintains and organizes COBS's digital photo and video asset library, primarily in Canto and Flickr, ensuring assets are accessible, properly organized, and available for internal teams, partners, and vendors.
• •Website: Manages and continuously improves the COBS website to strengthen user experience, brand clarity, accessibility, and search engine optimization (SEO). Coordinates with external developers and OBUSA on website functionality, features, and content.
• •Course Upload: Leads the annual course upload and website update process across COBS and OBUSA platforms, including project management, content development, quality control, and ongoing updates.
• •Collateral: Designs and produces digital and print collateral, including brochures, presentations, advertisements, reports, and other organizational materials. Coordinates printing, production, and distribution as needed.

Marketing & Communications

• •Develops and manages an annual marketing and communications plan aligned with organizational strategic priorities, enrollment and revenue goals, and the approved marketing budget.
• •Develops and executes integrated marketing campaigns to increase awareness, generate qualified leads, support enrollment, and strengthen engagement with COBS audiences.
• •Manages COBS email marketing platforms, including Braze and Salesforce, overseeing campaign development, copywriting, design, scheduling, audience segmentation, automation, and performance analysis.
• •Develops and manages an editorial and communications calendar that coordinates organizational messaging and campaigns across departments.
• •Partners with Development to execute fundraising communications, donor engagement campaigns, impact storytelling, and other development initiatives.
• •Partners with Sales to develop marketing materials, sales collateral, customized proposals, and lead-generation initiatives.
• •Develops and manages COBS's social media strategy, including content planning, creation, publishing, community engagement, and performance analysis.
• •Develops and manages paid digital advertising campaigns in alignment with organizational priorities and available budget, when necessary.
• •Monitors media coverage, online conversations, and brand mentions to identify opportunities and address potential reputational concerns.
• •Establishes and monitors key marketing and communications performance indicators, using analytics to evaluate effectiveness and recommend improvements.
• •Serves as Information Officer during critical incidents.

Other Duties

• •Manages the online COBS store including: selecting and ordering merchandise from suppliers, designing customized merchandise, managing digital store payment tracking, and maintaining accurate inventory in collaboration with Program teams.
• •Conducts training on Point-of-Sale use as needed and manages Shopify account.
• •Supports COBS’s affiliate marketing program and promotes opportunities via website and email communications to various audiences.
• •Actively participates in relevant OBUSA and national groups as assigned.

Required Skills and Knowledge

• •Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for diverse audiences and communication channels.
• •Demonstrated experience developing and executing marketing and communications campaigns.
• •Strong graphic design and visual communication skills, including proficiency with Canva and/or Adobe Creative Suite.
• •Experience managing websites and developing digital content, with an understanding of SEO and user experience.
• •Experience managing email marketing campaigns, including audience segmentation, scheduling, and performance analytics.
• •Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• •Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across departments and with external partners.
• •Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data to evaluate performance and inform decisions.
• •Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and translate organizational priorities into actionable marketing and communications initiatives.
• •Commitment to COBS's mission and demonstrated alignment with its organizational values.

Highly Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• •Experience with Salesforce and marketing automation platforms, particularly Braze.
• •Experience with WordPress website management.
• •Experience with Canva and Adobe Creative Suite.
• •Experience working in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• •Familiarity with Microsoft 365, particularly Teams, Planner, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• •Experience with photography, video production, or digital asset management platforms such as Canto.

Education and Work Experience

• •3+ years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, digital marketing, or related field.
• •Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• •Portfolio demonstrating relevant marketing, writing, design, and communications work preferred.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• •The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• •While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit.
• •Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with di