OUR TALENT

YOUR KIND OF PEOPLE.

PLAY HARD.

We recharge our creativity outdoors by skiing volcanoes, scaling desert towers, and running across the Grand Canyon.

WORK HARD.

Helping great ideas thrive since 2016. We relentlessly guide, inspire, innovate, and generally make life better for our partners.

CARE HARD.

Personally and as a team, we volunteer with nonprofits, advocate for public lands, and give to environmental causes as a 1% for the Planet member business.

WE’RE HIRING.

JOIN OUR COLLECTIVE.

Bonfire Collective partners with outdoor brands to help them reimagine the future, build movements, and grow explosively. Our team of brand and story experts develop visionary insights, strategies, content, and marketing campaigns that guide and inspire. 

We work exclusively with mission-based and forward-thinking organizations that are positively impacting the future of recreation and conservation. Our clients include national non-profits like the American Mountain Guides Association and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, as well as outdoor brands who are shifting industry paradigms, like Ibex, Alpenglow Expeditions, and Rocky Talkie. We work across a variety of adventure- and experience-driven industries that have an impact on the environment or the outdoors, such as: innovative outdoor products, guide services, ski areas, adventure travel, gyms & outfitters, renewables and green tech, recreation and conservation/environmental nonprofits.

Open Positions:

Account Manager

Reports To: Director of Accounts (interim: COO)
Department: Account Management
Status: 1099 Contractor (25 hrs/week minimum; potential full-time)
Hours/Week: (20-40 hours/week)
Location: Hybrid (Golden, CO HQ + remote flexibility)

To apply fill out the application here. 

About Bonfire Collective

Bonfire Collective is a marketing agency serving changemakers in the outdoor industry. We are strategists and creatives forged by the elements who Work Smart, Play Hard, and Care Deeply.

Role Purpose

The Account Manager is the strategic and relational anchor for one of Bonfire’s largest and most complex partner accounts. For this role, you’ll lead a high-touch, multi-channel account that integrates brand strategy, creative storytelling, paid media, and campaign management.

You will serve as the strategic bridge between the partner and Bonfire’s internal teams, ensuring that story and strategy remain connected from the first discovery meeting to final reporting. You’ll partner closely with a cross-functional team of strategists, creatives, paid media specialists, and project managers—balancing partner goals, timelines, and budgets to deliver outstanding outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Client Leadership & Strategic Partnership (40%)
  • Act as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor for Partner.
  • Lead partners through Bonfire’s 5-step method, ensuring strategic and story alignment at every step.
  • Facilitate quarterly strategic reviews and help shape annual planning.
  • Translate client goals into actionable roadmaps and measurable outcomes.
2. Project & Campaign Management (25%)
  • Oversee project scopes, budgets, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Work in tandem with the PM to ensure projects stay on time and in scope.
  • Anticipate resourcing needs and proactively flag risks or roadblocks.
  • Ensure seamless handoffs and accountability across internal departments.
3. Story & Strategy Integration (15%)
  • Collaborate with Strategy and Creative to connect insights and storytelling.
  • Ensure that brand, campaign, and creative decisions ladder up to strategic objectives.
  • Participate in strategic workshops, brand storytelling sessions, and creative reviews to ensure partner voice and vision remain consistent.
  • Use insights from the Measure phase to refine and evolve future work.
4. Financial Stewardship & Growth (10%)
  • Monitor utilization, profitability, and scope alignment.
  • Support renewals, expansions, and upsells with data and strategic recommendations.
  • Help identify new opportunities for innovation, efficiency, or partnership growth.
5. Internal Collaboration & Culture (10%)
  • Lead internal standups and syncs for the Partner’s team.
  • Partner with Strategy, Creative, Paid, and PM leads to maintain alignment.
  • Model Bonfire’s values in every interaction—supporting clarity, calm, and creativity under pressure.
  • Actively contribute to agency initiatives that strengthen systems, culture, and collaboration.

Success Metrics

  • 90%+ client NPS satisfaction score and retention
  • 90%+ of deliverables on time and in scope
  • 75% utilization/ billable time each quarter (sustainable, not overextended)
  • Partner renewal and growth targets achieved
  • Positive collaboration scores from internal team and leadership
  • Consistent use of the Bonfire Method framework in project management and partner delivery

Core Competencies & Skills

  • Strong agency account management experience (5+ years)
  • Proven ability to manage large, integrated marketing accounts (annual media budgets in the seven figures)
  • Strategic thinker who can connect story, data, and creative execution
  • Skilled communicator and facilitator who thrives in complex stakeholder environments
  • Fluent in project management tools (we use Monday, Slack, Google Workspace)
  • Proactive, resourceful, and unflappable under shifting priorities
  • Deep alignment with Bonfire’s mission and values

Preferred Background

  • Experience with environmental, conservation, and/or outdoor brands
  • Experience managing cross-functional agency teams (creative, paid, strategy)
  • Strength in storytelling, messaging, and partner relationship-building

Compensation

  • Salary range: $60-$70/hour

Why Bonfire

We’re an energized collective of creative strategists and storytellers who care deeply about the outdoors, our planet, and the people shaping its future. We don’t just market brands—we help them tell their truth.

This is an opportunity to lead one of our most meaningful partnerships and to help define what excellence in account leadership looks like as we grow.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Bonfire Collective is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

How to Apply:

If you’re interested in this contract position, please fill out an application here. 

PAID MEDIA DIRECTOR

Summary

The Media Director leads the vision, growth, and execution of the agency’s paid media department—overseeing strategy, team development, and cross-functional collaboration. This role is responsible for elevating the agency’s paid media capabilities, ensuring campaigns deliver measurable impact for clients across paid channels (while coordinating with organic and earned efforts), and contributing to new business efforts and agency-wide initiatives.

The Media Director is a proactive leader and strategic thinker, passionate about mentoring talent, pushing creative boundaries through media, and driving results for mission-driven brands.

About Bonfire Collective:

Bonfire Collective partners with outdoor brands to help them reimagine the future, build movements, and grow explosively. Our team of brand and story experts develop visionary insights, strategies, content marketing, and advertising campaigns that guide and inspire.  We work exclusively with mission-based and forward-thinking organizations that are positively impacting the future of recreation and conservation. Our clients include conservation non-profits and outdoor brands who are shifting industry paradigms.

Reports to: CEO

Direct Reports: Paid Media Managers and Associates (3)

Hours & Compensation:
  • Starting at 80 hours/month on retainer with opportunity to increase hours over time.
  • Candidate to be classified as independent contractor; long-term opportunity for conversion to W-2 employee 
  • Pay band is $90 – $125/hour depending on experience, efficiency, and quality of work. Opportunity to increase rate over time. 
Location: 

Remote-eligible, hybrid preferred. As a small agency, we offer tons of flexibility on where, how, and when you work, and this position can be fully remote. However, if you’re located in the Denver–Boulder metro area, there is an opportunity to base out of our stunning office space in downtown Golden, CO.

Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead, manage, and mentor the media team, including paid media strategists, planners, buyers, and analytics specialists.
  • Build a culture of curiosity, accountability, and collaboration, encouraging continuous learning and innovation.
  • Oversee hiring, onboarding, and professional development plans for media team members.
  • Ensure the team is resourced appropriately to meet client and agency needs.
Strategic Oversight
  • Provide senior-level strategic oversight on key accounts, ensuring alignment between media strategies and broader client goals.
  • Guide development of full-funnel media strategies across digital and non-digital channels.
  • Champion the integration of media, creative, data, and brand strategy to deliver cohesive marketing solutions.
  • Drive excellence in campaign performance, planning, and reporting across all client work.
Cross-Department & Client Collaboration
  • Participate as a member of Bonfire’s leadership team, including attending and contributing to weekly leadership meetings.
  • Collaborate with creative, account, strategy, and analytics teams to ensure media is seamlessly integrated into campaign planning and execution.
  • Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients, providing leadership and strategic consultation.
  • Ensure internal processes support strong communication, project flow, and campaign execution across departments.
Agency Growth & New Business
  • Partner with leadership to shape and evolve the agency’s media offering, keeping ahead of industry changes and client needs.
  • Lead or support new business efforts by contributing to proposals, pitches, and media strategy development.
  • Represent the media discipline in prospective client conversations and presentations, articulating value and innovation.
  • Identify new tools, platforms, and partnerships to advance agency capabilities.
Skills & Qualifications:
Must-Have Skills
  • Proven leadership experience managing and developing media teams across planning, buying, and analytics.
  • Expertise in full-funnel media strategy across search, social, display, programmatic, video, and native and non-digital media channels.
  • Strong collaborator with the ability to work cross-functionally and communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
  • Experience in new business or business development efforts within an agency environment.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills—can lead conversations with both clients and internal teams.
  • Strong understanding of media performance metrics, attribution, and optimization strategies.
Preferred Qualifications
  • 7+ years of experience in paid media strategy, planning, and buying, preferably in both agency and client-side settings; comfort managing budgets of $1mm+
  • Experience working with mission-driven, nonprofit, outdoor, or startup clients is a plus.
  • Familiarity with tools such as Google Ads, Meta, GA4, Tag Manager, Looker Studio, and major DSPs.
  • Bonfire’s leadership team runs on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The Media Director will be expected to develop familiarity with this system. We recommend reading Traction by Gino Wickman or reviewing EOS resources/videos to understand our operating framework.
What Success Looks Like
  • The media team is engaged, well-supported, and delivering high-quality, high-performing work.
  • Clients view the media team as strategic partners and trusted advisors.
  • The agency’s media offering evolves through new ideas, tools, and approaches led by your vision.
  • Media is effectively integrated into pitches and contributes meaningfully to new business wins.
  • Be an engaged and contributing member of the leadership team, supporting cross-department alignment and EOS implementation.
  • Cross-functional collaboration is smooth and productive, leading to better campaign outcomes and team cohesion.
  • The agency continues to grow its reputation for smart, impactful, and data-driven media strategy.
How to Apply:

If you’re interested in this contract position, please fill out an application here. 

Actively Seeking Talent In:

Organic Social

From writers to managers to strategists, we’re looking for experienced social media specialists who love the craft and are up-to-date on latest trends.

Creative Direction & Campaign Concepting

Wanted: brand-savvy conceptual thinkers who can translate ideas into powerful campaigns, language, and internal/external briefs.

Graphic Design

We’re looking for experienced creative directors as well as junior designers. Ad designers, especially those familiar with designing for social platforms, wanted.

Copywriting & Editorial

Specifically in search of specialists in: ad copy, branded content, editing, and long-form storytelling.

Content Strategy

If you understand the complete organic landscape, how channels work together, and how to use organic to generate ROI, let’s talk.

Let Us Know You’re Out There!

Click the button below, and shoot over your resume, portfolio, and a note about how you can contribute to our collective.

For Freelancers:

Collective is more than a name — it’s how we operate and always have. We’re proud to deliver custom results thanks to specializations across our freelancer hive. Last year, our core team deployed the talents of 27 contractors to help our partners solve their unique challenges.

We are always looking for exceptional freelancers who understand the outdoor and environmental industries, jive with our team and work style, and bring unique experience and exceptional work ethic to our Collective. We work with writers and editors, creative directors and graphic designers, media planners and social media specialists, photographers and videographers, marketing strategists, non-profit specialists, and more.

If you have skills to add to our quiver, let us know you’re out there. Fill out the application below, and let us know how you can contribute.

APPLY