Non-profit Board Position

Role: Director of Marketing
Type: non-profit board / unpaid
Organization: COTERC (Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation)
Location: remote, anywhere in Canada

About the opportunity:

COTERC is looking for a highly experienced marketing professional to transform how we communicate and engage with young researchers, universities, and corporates. 

We’ve just launched an exciting five-year strategy where we are seeking to double our impact and create new revenue streams for an organization with 35 years of experience training future conservationists. 

This role will be pivotal in unlocking new partnerships and finding new ways to reach and engage potential interns. The ideal Director of Marketing will be willing to get their hands dirty but also be capable of stepping back to think strategically about the most effective actions that will take the organization to the next level.

About COTERC

COTERC’s mission is to advance the conservation of tropical ecosystems through scientific research, education, and immersive learning that empowers the next generation of environmental stewards. Our new five-year strategy builds on over three decades of experience delivering science-based conservation from the ground up. As the threats to tropical ecosystems evolve, so too must our approach. We’ve trained more than 2400 young conservationists since 1991 at our field station in Costa Rica — and we are about to take on a second site, giving us the opportunity to double our impact.

What we do

COTERC provides immersive learning experiences that deepen comprehension and appreciation of tropical ecosystems. We do this by:

• Training the next generation of conservation scientists: We inspire and empower early-stage researchers to support their development and maximise their contribution to tropical biodiversity conservation.
• Deepening understanding of ecological communities: We baseline and track changes in biodiversity — with a particular focus on the impact of local, international, and global human activities on vulnerable and endangered species.
• Creating awareness of tropical ecosystems: We communicate research findings and stories from the station to influence local ecosystem management and generate interest in protecting biodiversity amongst the broader public.

Role overview

COTERC is looking for a highly experienced, senior marketing professional to join us and lead our marketing efforts in the wake of a renewed emphasis on organizational growth and impact. The Director of Marketing will oversee all our outbound communications — including our targeting and messaging to key audiences (young researchers, businesses, and donors).

Reporting to the Chair of the board, the Director of Marketing will join the board and empower other board-members and staff to transform how we identify and influence our key stakeholders. This is an exciting time to join COTERC with the opportunity to lead the ongoing transformation and growth of our marketing approach.

Role information

• Location: Flexible (our current board members live in Canada, US, and the UK).
• Salary: N/A (volunteer role).
• Time commitment: 2 to 3 days per month (monthly committee meeting lasting two hours and time to complete tasks).
• The Director of Marketing will join for an initial two-year term with an opportunity to renew.

What’s in it for you?

• Contributing to an important cause: Understanding and protecting tropical ecosystems is not just important for preserving biodiversity but is essential in protecting the future of humanity.
• Opportunity to make a difference: As the new Director of Marketing for COTERC you will have the opportunity to drive the growth of a highly impactful charity. We have achieved so much without a true marketing expert — with the appointment of an excellent candidate we expect to level-up everything we do and create new opportunities to grow and drive impact.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for developing a marketing strategy — that builds awareness of COTERC and our activities amongst donors, businesses, and researchers.
• Responsible for developing and achieving agreed marketing KPIs.
• Responsible for developing and communicating messaging principles and the organizational brand.
• Responsible for ensuring all COTERC communications (including website, and any other public documents) support our marketing strategy and align with our messaging principles.
• Responsible for developing and managing online events aimed at raising awareness and researcher interest in the station.
• Responsible for evaluating the success of marketing and outreach activities.
• Input into the identification of new partnership and fundraising opportunities.

About you
The ideal candidate will:

• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build and articulate COTERC’s position and impact in a persuasive and compelling way.
• Have strong leadership skills, with experience of working at a senior/director level.
• Be self-motivated and a good team player who gets things done.
• Be a natural collaborator, creating buy in through influence and persuasion, with an integrated communications and engagement approach.

Skills and experience:

• Experience of building marketing strategy and turning it into action (essential).
• Deep knowledge of how to craft compelling and persuasive messages (essential).
• Knowledge of the space that COTERC operates in (desirable).
• Experience delivering marketing campaigns aimed at different audiences — especially students and businesses (desirable).

How to apply

To apply for the position, please send an up-to-date CV and cover letter (collectively no more than four pages) to applications@coterc.org

The cover letter should explain your motivation for the role, and how your skills and experience fit the person specification.

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

The closing date for applications is 1st June 2026 at 9am GMT. Interviews will be conducted remotely as soon as appropriate candidates apply, and we may close the application window earlier.

At COTERC, we value diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and are committed to having a team with a diverse set of skills, experiences and abilities.
If you would like to have a chat to learn more about this role before applying, please contact Tom at chair@coterc.org