Reporting to National Audubon Society’s Vice President of Communications, the Communications Manager, Coasts is responsible for overseeing the organization’s coast and Gulf profile in the media, ensuring a strong and increasing positive public perception of Audubon’s expertise, and its key strategic initiatives through message development, media relations, and other communications work. The Communications Manager will work with staff and partners along the coasts and across the Gulf-region as well as nationally to help position Audubon as a leader in conservation and restoration working to address ongoing environmental challenges for birds and people including recovery from the BP oil spill, hurricanes, habitat loss, climate change, and more. The position will leverage effective storytelling, media relations, social media and marketing strategies, and online advocacy to reach target audiences with Audubon’s key messages and priorities for the Gulf in compelling and innovative ways.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Implement multi-year communications and marketing plans supporting Audubon’s strategic vision and conservation and restoration priorities for Coasts and the Gulf.
- Develop and build on strong relationships with national and regional reporters and media outlets (including print, digital, TV, radio) covering climate, coasts and wildlife.
- Develop state and federal policy driven communication campaigns with measurable goals and outcomes for coastal priorities.
- Draft press releases, editorials, media pitches, and talking points that publicize and support Audubon’s mission and goals.
- Ghost write Op-eds and blogs for Coast and Gulf leadership teams.
- Proactively identify and leverage communications opportunities, from earned media to content development to social media, to reach target audiences with Audubon’s key messages and priorities.
- Leverage news hooks, special events and anniversaries to advance Audubon’s key messages and priorities across the region and nationally through earned and owned media.
- Oversee development of communications and marketing materials to support Coast and Gulf priorities and staff, including fact sheets, info-graphics, reports, videos, and other digital and multimedia resources.
- Support proactive storytelling that highlights the birds, people and priority projects of the region by regularly updating Audubon’s Coasts and Gulf webpages and developing content that highlights Audubon’s coastal priorities and can be shared across all five Gulf States and nationally.
- Implement strategies for reaching new audiences through Audubon social media properties, developing and sharing relevant, engaging content across new and existing platforms.
- Work with Audubon staff in-states and regionally, as well as the national advocacy team, to identify and implement opportunities for action alerts and other methods of engaging supporters around Audubon’s Gulf priorities.
- Coordinate messages and share content and resources with existing communications, policy, and science staff working on Gulf conservation and restoration at the state, regional, and national levels.
- Support senior communications staff as needed in achieving strategic and organizational goals.
- Manage relationships with public relations agencies and other vendors, providing relevant tools and services across Audubon departments and ensuring successful completion of projects and campaigns.
- Craft personalized pitches for reporters, editors and producers.
- Land high-quality media coverage at national, regional and local levels across all types of media.
Educational Background:
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, marketing or a closely related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience also considered.
Skills/Experience:
- 5-7 years’ experience with media/public relations in the U.S. government, political, or advocacy communications field required, including at least 3 years working in high-intensity national environment. Experience with nonprofit communications strongly preferred.
- Clearly demonstrated capacity for high-level strategic planning and campaign development to shape events and issues through proactive messaging and outreach.
- Demonstrated success in crisis communications, including the ability to grasp and appropriately respond to both internally and externally precipitated crises.
- Familiarity with environmental, energy, and conservation issues strongly preferred.
- Experience and fluency with digital communications tools, including social media platforms, and leveraging technology to identify and effectively communicating with diverse audiences.
- Experience conducting or managing Spanish-language communications desired.
- Exceptional organizational and project management capacity with demonstrated ability to direct complex campaigns on time and on budget.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills and the ability to maintain a team-focused attitude in a fast-paced environment.
- Outstanding writing and editorial skills required with demonstrated ability to write quickly and well on deadline.
- Proven track record of high-quality media placements (web, print and broadcast).
- Established base of contacts in high-profile national media outlets.
- A tech-savvy individual, one who has proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and comfort navigating project management platforms, media relations tools and databases, and social media platforms required.
- A flexible approach to work, with a willingness to travel, as needed, and participate in programs occurring after typical business hours.
- Genuine interest in conservation and the mission of the National Audubon Society.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jan 15 2019
Active Until:
Feb 15 2019
Hiring Organization:
National Audubon Society
industry:
Nonprofit