Senior Communications Specialist

Colorado River District; Glenwood Springs (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Housing stipend

Dependent care FSA contribution

Paid vacation, sick, and holidays

Job summary

The Colorado River District, based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is seeking a Senior Communications Specialist to lead a broad range of communications and public outreach initiatives. You will craft compelling content, manage media relationships, and design engaging materials for diverse audiences across digital and print channels.

In this highly visible role, you’ll travel throughout the 15-county service area, support high-profile events, develop speeches, and deliver presentations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or related field.
• 4–6 years of professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism, advocacy, marketing, or related discipline.
• Experience with media relations, content creation, digital communications, and event management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and graphic design tools such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Strong public speaking abilities and confidence engaging with diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong media relationships while supporting proactive public information initiatives.
• Create engaging written and visual content for digital, print, social media, presentations, newsletters, reports, and public outreach campaigns.
• Design graphics and presentation materials that simplify complex water and policy issues.
• Manage website updates, email communications, social media content, and digital marketing efforts.
• Plan and execute signature events, including the State of the River event series and Annual Water Seminar.
• Collaborate with District leadership to develop speeches, presentations, and messaging strategies.
• Serve as a confident public-facing representative of the organization through presentations and stakeholder engagement opportunities.

Skills

Writing & Editing

Public Speaking

Project Management

Content Strategy

Digital Communications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or related field

Tools

Canva

Adobe InDesign

Photoshop

Job description

The Colorado River District is now accepting applications for a Senior Communications Specialist.

The Colorado River District is seeking a Senior Communications Specialist to join our team in Glenwood Springs and help advance the voice of West Slope water interests. In this highly visible role, you will lead a wide range of communications and public outreach initiatives, develop compelling content, build media relationships, coordinate high-profile events, and deliver engaging public presentations. As a key member of the Communications Team, you will help connect communities, stakeholders, and decision-makers with the River District’s mission and priorities.

What You’ll Do

• Build and maintain strong media relationships while supporting proactive public information initiatives.
• Create engaging written and visual content for digital, print, social media, presentations, newsletters, reports, and public outreach campaigns.
• Design graphics and presentation materials that simplify complex water and policy issues.
• Manage website updates, email communications, social media content, and digital marketing efforts.
• Plan and execute signature events, including the State of the River event series and Annual Water Seminar.
• Collaborate with District leadership to develop speeches, presentations, and messaging strategies.
• Serve as a confident public-facing representative of the organization through presentations and stakeholder engagement opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate is a highly organized communications professional with exceptional writing, editing, presentation, and project management skills. You enjoy balancing strategy and execution, are comfortable working across multiple communications platforms, and excel at transforming technical information into clear, engaging stories.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field.
• 4-6 years of professional experience in communications, public relations, journalism, advocacy, marketing, or a related discipline.
• Experience with media relations, content creation, digital communications, and event management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and graphic design tools such as Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Photoshop.
• Strong public speaking abilities and confidence engaging with diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of Colorado water issues, natural resources, public policy, or related fields is a plus.

Travel throughout the District’s 15-county service area is expected, including evening and occasional weekend events.

Why Join the Colorado River District?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Colorado’s water future while working alongside passionate professionals dedicated to serving Western Colorado communities. If you’re creative, collaborative, and excited about advancing public understanding of important water issues, we’d love to hear from you.

Hiring Salary Range: $90,000 – $105,000 (based on experience and qualifications)

The River District offers a highly competitive and comprehensive benefits package detailed here. Benefits include full health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents, a $500/month housing stipend, a $1,500 contribution per year to a dependent care flexible spending account for employees with eligible dependents, paid vacation, sick, and holidays, and more!

Who We Are: The Colorado River District is a 15-county special district in Western Colorado. Our mission is to lead in the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River basin for the welfare of the District, and to safeguard for Colorado all waters of the Colorado River to which the state is entitled. Each staff member at the District contributes to this mission, serving constituents across Western Colorado.

Our office is located in Glenwood Springs, Colorado on the banks of the mighty Colorado River.