Career Opportunities

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation employs full-time, part-time and seasonal staff in such areas as education, sailing crew, administration and event planning. To join our crew please visit our Volunteer page.

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that diversity, equality, and inclusion strengthen our organization and the community and world around us.

Thank you for your interest.

Core Values and Code of Conduct 

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation has well-established Core Values and a Code of Conduct that govern our organization and the behavior of all staff and volunteers. All active members of our community are required to sign the KNF Code of Conduct and abide by its principles.

Core Values

• Creation and maintenance of a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all
• Honesty and integrity                                       
• Respecting and using resources wisely
• Teamwork 
• Personal accountability
• Customer and mission focus

Code of Conduct Overview 

• Honor our core values by maintaining a high personal standard of conduct;
• Be respectful and positive in all my interactions with staff, volunteers, our customers, and the general public;         
• Help create an exceptional experience for our customers;
• Be alert to and report inappropriate or potentially inappropriate behavior (harassment, discrimination, sexual overtures or contact, offensive language or gestures, any form of abusive behavior, drug or alcohol abuse);
• Respect the chain of command at all times;
• Consider the safety of myself and others in all my actions;
• Comply with the Foundation’s policies regarding drugs, alcohol, and tobacco;
• Be punctual;
• Treat the ship and all Foundation property with respect and take proper care of the same.

Open Positions

The following position is now open. If you are interested in applying, please find instructions at the end of the listing.

Public Relations and Marketing Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Marketing

SUPERVISOR: Executive Director

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Exempt Salaried

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

The Public Relations Specialist at Kalmar Nyckel Foundation (KNF) plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s profile in the community.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this individual will be advancing Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s (KNF) profile in the community and is responsible for developing and implementing integrated marketing, communications and public relations strategies that will result in increased revenue, regional visibility, increased participation, and brand awareness for KNF’s sailing experiences, educational programs, events, membership, and volunteer initiatives. This individual must have proven marketing and public relations experience across all disciplines and strong customer relationship and business development skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES and DUTIES

Public Relations, Partnerships & Visibility

• Lead the Foundation’s public relations strategy and media outreach.
• Cultivate relationships with media outlets, tourism organizations, community partners, and regional institutions.
• Promote and support sponsorship opportunities for programs, events, and educational initiatives.

Strategic Marketing Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual marketing strategy aligned with the Foundation’s revenue, audience growth, and mission objectives.
• Lead integrated marketing campaigns across digital, print, partnerships, and media channels.
• Establish brand positioning and messaging that strengthens the visibility of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation throughout Delaware and the broader region.
• Analyze marketing performance and audience data to guide strategy and optimize results.

Program Materials and Design

• Develop promotional materials for annual community events, fundraisers, and recruitment events.
• Manage the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation website and image inventory.
• Generate imagery and content through photography and videography.
• Create and manage promotional content including releases, posters, flyers, social media, communications, graphics, brochures, photography and video.

Revenue Generation

• Drive participation and revenue across the Foundation’s core earned-income activities, including:
• Public sails
• Ship charters and private events
• Festivals, lecture series, and special programs
• Venue rentals at the Copeland Maritime Center
• Develop targeted strategies for multiple local markets/ports for ship sails including advertising and public relations.
• Identify and cultivate prospective charter clients (private sails), event customers, and group participants.
• Collaborate with leadership and program staff to ensure strong attendance and financial performance across programs.

Audience Growth & Community Engagement

• Expand participation in educational programs, including ship-based learning experiences and Maritime Center campus programs.
  
• Develop strategies to attract new audiences while strengthening engagement with returning participants.
• Plan and lead strategies for annual volunteer recruitment to support and expand the Foundation’s Volunteer Program.
• Lead initiatives to grow membership and strengthen member retention and benefits.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least three years of successful experience in marketing, communications, and/or public relations, preferably in nonprofit, tourism, cultural, or experiential organizations.
• Strong experience with executing integrated marketing strategies that increase participation, ticket sales, or revenue-generating programs utilizing digital marketing including email, SEO, SEM, social media strategy, website content management, and online advertising.
• Experience with media relations and public relations, including developing press outreach, cultivating media relationships, and securing regional coverage.
• Strong analytical skills with proven budget management expertise.
• Familiarity with audience development in cultural or educational organizations, including strategies for engaging schools, families, tourists, and community audiences.
• Experience collaborating with community partners, tourism organizations, or regional institutions to expand visibility and participation.
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft compelling messaging and represent the organization with external partners, sponsors, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with strong attention to detail and effective time management skills.
• Demonstrated creative design skills and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience with photography a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to work with and across a diverse group of staff, volunteers and stakeholders to effectively manage a project to completion.
• Innovative and entrepreneurial spirit; ability to adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility
• Ambitious work ethic with a high level of action and productivity
• Experience working with public databases; Constant Contact is preferred
• Experience with museums, maritime-oriented organizations, and/or educational programming is preferred
• Must pass a criminal background check and drug test
• Self-confidence and a sense of humor
  

EXPECTATIONS:

Commitment of 40 hours per week, including some weekends and evenings

SALARY:

$60,000 and benefits. Benefits include: Health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision), Retirement Plan (after 1 year), Paid Leave, 12 paid holidays, sailing passes and Gift Shop discount. This position is an exempt salaried position.

TO APPLY: Send Cover Letter and Resume to [email protected]

Initial consideration will be given to applications received by May 1, 2026