Job Description

Mojave Desert Land Trust is seeking a creative, curious, and mission-driven Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist I/II to help tell the story of desert conservation in fresh, engaging, and measurable ways.

This position may be filled at either the Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist I or Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist II level, depending on the selected candidate’s background, skills, and experience. Candidates who are earlier in their digital marketing, communications, or social media career may be considered for Level I. Candidates with stronger demonstrated experience in social media management, digital content creation, campaign support, analytics, or nonprofit/mission-driven communications may be considered for Level II.

This is an exciting opportunity for a digital communicator who loves social media, storytelling, photography, short-form video, audience engagement, and using data to understand what works. In this role, you will help bring MDLT’s conservation work, community programs, events, campaigns, and desert stories to life across digital platforms.

Working as part of the Communications team, the Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist I/II will support MDLT’s social media presence, create digital content, track engagement, assist with campaigns, and help grow awareness and support for our mission to protect the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. The role reports to the Communications & Content Manager and focuses on social media management, digital content creation, audience engagement, campaign support, and marketing analytics.

About Mojave Desert Land Trust

Mojave Desert Land Trust protects the unique living landscapes of the California desert. Since 2006, MDLT has conserved desert lands, restored native plants, protected wildlife habitat, connected people to the desert, and worked to ensure these extraordinary landscapes endure for future generations.

Our work is rooted in conservation, community, collaboration, and a deep love for the desert.

Our Values

At MDLT, our work is guided by four shared values:

Solve for the Desert — We pursue work that creates tangible, lasting conservation impact.

Foster Trust — We center people and partnerships and value diverse perspectives and experiences.

Dig Deep — We meet hard problems with grit, integrity, and determination.

Seek Joy — We approach our work with curiosity, gratitude, and hope.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you will help MDLT connect with supporters, community members, volunteers, donors, partners, and the broader public through thoughtful and engaging digital communications.

You will:

• Manage MDLT’s day-to-day social media presence across platforms including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and emerging channels.
• Develop and maintain a social media content calendar aligned with organizational priorities, campaigns, events, and communications strategies.
• Schedule and publish social media content using social media management tools.
• Stay current on social media platform updates, trends, tools, and emerging best practices.
• Create engaging social media content, including graphics, short-form videos, captions, stories, reels, and other digital assets.
• Capture photo and video content from events, programs, field work, staff activities, community engagement efforts, and other MDLT activities.
• Monitor comments, messages, tags, and audience interactions and coordinate responses as appropriate.
• Collaborate with program staff and the Communications team to identify stories that connect conservation outcomes with audience interests.
• Repurpose existing communications content into audience-friendly marketing assets for digital platforms.
• Support digital fundraising, advocacy, membership, volunteer, event, and awareness campaigns.
• Assist with multichannel marketing content and promotional materials, including email, SMS, website, and other digital marketing projects.
• Coordinate campaign assets and timelines across departments and help implement calls-to-action that encourage donations, event participation, volunteerism, advocacy engagement, membership, and other forms of community support.
• Track and report key digital marketing metrics, including reach, engagement, follower growth, click-through rates, conversions, and other campaign or platform performance indicators.
• Prepare simple monthly reports highlighting successes, trends, opportunities, and recommendations.
• Use analytics, audience insights, testing, and experimentation to identify opportunities and strengthen digital marketing performance over time.
• Maintain brand consistency and assist with basic graphic design and layout for social media, email, web, campaign, and promotional uses.
• Work collaboratively with Communications, Development, Public Policy, Conservation, Plant Conservation, Education, Operations, and other MDLT staff to support organizational priorities.
• Maintain organized digital files, content drafts, photos, videos, campaign assets, and related materials.

This position does not supervise employees but may coordinate or provide direction to volunteers, interns, contractors, or temporary support staff for specific projects, events, or content-gathering assignments.

Position Level

Both levels perform the essential duties described above. The selected candidate will be hired at the level that best matches their education, experience, demonstrated skills, scope of responsibility, and ability to perform the work independently.

Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist I (Job Grade 7)
Performs assigned digital marketing and social media responsibilities with direction, established priorities, and support from the Communications & Content Manager. Creates, schedules, and publishes content within established plans, content calendars, brand standards, and review processes; supports campaigns and audience engagement; maintains digital assets; and prepares routine reports using established tools and procedures.

Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist II (Job Grade 8)
Performs the full range of duties with greater independence and exercises judgment in planning and carrying out assigned work. Manages day-to-day social media platforms and content calendars; develops original digital content; coordinates campaign assets and timelines; supports multichannel digital marketing projects; translates organizational priorities into audience-focused communications; and interprets analytics, identifies trends, and recommends improvements. This level may coordinate or provide direction to volunteers, interns, contractors, or temporary support staff for specific assignments.

Who We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is both creative and analytical. You enjoy making content, experimenting with ideas, learning what resonates with audiences, and using data to improve results.

You may be a great fit for this position if you:

• Have demonstrated knowledge of major social media platforms and understand how different platforms, audiences, and content styles work.
• Have strong writing skills and can adapt tone, style, and messaging for different audiences and platforms.
• Enjoy storytelling and can translate complex conservation, public lands, environmental, or nonprofit topics into clear, engaging content.
• Have experience creating graphics, captions, short-form videos, reels, stories, photos, or other digital assets.
• Are comfortable using tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Meta Business Suite, Later, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Buffer, or similar platforms.
• Have photography and basic video editing skills.
• Are comfortable interpreting marketing data and making recommendations.
• Have familiarity with email, SMS, website, SEO, or other digital content best practices.
• Are organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Can work independently while following direction, priorities, brand standards, and communications protocols.
• Are curious, adaptable, collaborative, and eager to learn.
• Care about conservation, public lands, community engagement, and MDLT’s mission and values, and are familiar with the California desert region or eager to build that familiarity.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and abilities needed for the role may qualify.

A typical background may include:

Work Experience:

One to three years of experience, in marketing, communications, public relations, digital media, social media management, or a related field.

Past experience should demonstrate interest and ability in digital communications, social media, storytelling, content creation, audience engagement, or marketing support. Samples of past work may be requested, including social media content, graphics, writing samples, short-form video, campaign materials, photography, or other relevant digital content.

Experience creating short-form video content, using social media scheduling tools, supporting digital campaigns, or working in a nonprofit, environmental, advocacy, or mission-driven organization is preferred.

Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, digital media, environmental communications, or a related field is preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registration:

• A valid California Class C Driver’s License is required.

Work Schedule and Location

This is a regular full-time, non-exempt position normally scheduled on MDLT’s 9/80 work schedule , which allows employees to work 80 hours over a two-week period with an extended weekend every other week.

This position is eligible for hybrid work; however, the employee must live within reasonable commuting distance of MDLT’s offices in Joshua Tree, California, and be available to work in person at MDLT offices with short notice, sometimes with less than 24 hours’ notice.

The position will occasionally require travel within MDLT’s service area, including the Mojave and Colorado Desert regions of California, for events, field visits, content gathering, meetings, and other organizational activities. Some evening, weekend, and overnight travel may be required. Travel outside California to attend meetings, conferences, or other events may also be required.

Compensation and Benefits

This position may be filled at either Level I or Level II, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications.

Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist I (Grade 7): $26.50–$29.50/hour ($55,120–$61,360 annually)
Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist II (Grade 8): $29.50–$33.50/hour ($61,360–$69,680 annually)

MDLT offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, retirement benefits, paid time off, and paid holidays.

Why Join MDLT?

At MDLT, you will be part of a dedicated team working to protect one of the most ecologically important and visually stunning landscapes in the world. This position offers the opportunity to combine creativity, digital strategy, conservation storytelling, and community engagement in a role where your work can inspire real-world action.

You will help people see, understand, care about, and support the desert.

To Apply

Please email Lani Brown, Director of Operations & HR, at lani@mdlt.org and include the following application materials:

1. A thoughtful cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience, in PDF format.
2. A current resume, in PDF format.
3. Three professional references, including at least one current or former supervisor.

Please name your application materials using the following format:

LastNameFirstNameResume
LastNameFirstNameCoverLetter

For example: GarciaMariaResume and GarciaMariaCoverLetter

Work samples may also be submitted or requested, including examples of social media content, writing, graphics, photography, video, campaign materials, or other digital communications work.

Mojave Desert Land Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

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