The Florida Chapter has approximately 80 staff creating innovative solutions to the problems facing people and nature across the state. We’ve protected over 1.25 million acres of Florida’s most iconic landscapes and retain ownership of a number of premier nature preserves. Building on the skills and experience of over 60 years, the organization has moved from a pure focus on protecting special places to pioneering changes to solve the world’s environmental problems by partnering with those who rely on nature’s resources for their livelihoods. The challenge of the 21st Century is finding ways for nature to help solve the most pressing problems facing people. This is the exciting work of The Nature Conservancy today.
To do this, we need a creative, collaborative and competitive communications leader and manager, who will excel in a dynamic environment. Strong candidates would include senior level communications leaders who
- Flourish when taking the complex and boiling it down to its essence, making it understandable, compelling, and personal. You understand that communications is about compelling storytelling and crafting a meaningful connection that drives action.
- Have extraordinary communications leadership experience. The value you bring is in advising leadership on their platform, you excel at evaluating opportunities for their return on investment, and lead with a strategic approach that delivers outcomes. You know how to jump on an opportunity, and how to be ready for a challenge.
- Have experience advising/working directly with senior leaders, are a strong collaborator, and have the creativity and skills to activate our leaders to discover and share important and inspiring stories. You are comfortable having the accountability for the overall FL TNC narrative and to ensure all spokespersons are trained, align to, and amplify the core messages.
- Have demonstrated success in building relationships with key influencers and in developing, refining, and spreading a message with them. You recognize that communications is a very dynamic space and thrive at staying current on hot topics, trending stories, and new platforms/technologies and using this information to drive strategy, amplify our message, and increase awareness and impact.
- Have 10+ years of professional experience that includes a blend of external and internal communications, policy/advocacy, public relations, and marketing. You have extraordinary writing and communications skills and have experience delivering results with limited resources. You possess a high level of emotional intelligence, executive presence, and influencing skills.
Coral Gables location strongly preferred. West Palm and Orlando may be considered.
The Director of Communications & Marketing leads the development and implementation of an integrated communications, marketing, and engagement strategy to achieve donor engagement, facilitate conservation action, support policy outcomes, and build member / prospect interest and retention. Partners with department directors, senior level staff and trustees in the development of communications- and marketing-based efforts. Leverages the globally-dispersed marketing division to extend and share ideas and resources for the benefit of the Florida chapter. Works closely with senior executives to implement strategies to strengthen communications channels and to develop and maintain engagement with key audiences.
As the Director, you will focus on partnering with our Leadership Team to tell the story of TNC Florida’s strategy internally & externally. You will lead a team that works directly with our senior leaders, program managers and staff to develop the communications platform and thought leadership stories. You will lead the strategic communications and marketing plan to nurture and grow influencer, donor and public perception for TNC’s strategy. You will provide direct counsel to the leadership team on communications and marketing strategies to accelerate outcomes through compelling stories. You will look after the Chapter’s voice and message across all medium, including presentations, events, forums and written communications. You contribute towards building meaningful connection for the Chapter’s programs and projects with influencers, donors, media and the public by adding to the development of innovative and creative experiences that uniquely amplify our message. You will champion TNC’s’ people and nature’ culture strategy throughout all organizational communications and leadership messaging
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Designs and directs complex and diversified projects, coordinating the work of other professionals, and ensuring program accountability.
- Manages multi-disciplinary professional staff.
- Develops and manages budget, evaluates results and develops corrective strategies as needed.
- Drive the development of all critical strategic planning stages within communication and marketing plans from concept to execution.
- Build a much stronger connection for our influencers and employees to TNC’s unique conservation agenda, and value through a clear outcomes-based communications strategy.
- Utilize knowledge of Chapter projects and culture, as well as Florida political landscape and prevailing thought leadership to highlight potential issues for the Chapter in dealing with multiple programs, projects and constituencies, identify solutions to help the Chapter respond to and/or pre-empt issues utilizing effective communications and marketing strategies. Intervening (with the assistance of other senior team members where appropriate) to assist Chapter in handling any public image/relations issues which arise.
- Work collaboratively across all functions to discover, develop and amplify compelling stories through the executive and leadership voices.
- Leads strategic initiatives through collaboration with senior-level stakeholders to enhance overall performance in accordance with short- and long-term objectives.
- Responsibility and accountability for meeting strategic goals and objectives.
- Can commit resources for programs or initiatives in a way that has organization wide impact and affects public image.
- Serve as mentor/advisor to communication and media staff throughout organization.
- Serves as Director of communications and marketing executive for the Florida Chapter, working closely with Florida leadership team members as well as Chapter trustees and advisors.
- Where appropriate, identify and develop thought leader relationships to support and enhance Chapter credibility, knowledge and positive perception among members of the public, donors, legislators, etcEnsure that team understands strategic goals for every initiative undertaken
- Experience cultivating and managing relationships with senior level executives, Board of Trustees, Board of Directors and national media contacts.
- Minimum 10-12 years related work experience or an equivalent combination, including at least 4 years’ experience at a senior management level.
- Experience developing communications, media and engagement strategies with measurable results.
- Experience in digital marketing in both content development and delivery.
- Experience crafting messages in crisis situations or for particularly nuanced/sensitive communications environments.
- Experience navigating large, matrix organizational structures and cultures.
- Demonstrated experience directing and implementing campaigns.
- Experience in program management, including broad financial responsibility and measuring results of strategic plans.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary communications/marketing team members.
- Experience fostering an environment of creativity and professional growth.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep experience in strategic communications and advocacy-based marketing and communications, ideally in an acquisition marketing and/or fast-moving donor-driven environment. Experience working within cultures of philanthropy would be a real plus.
- Knowledge of conservation and environmental issues and policies is helpful, though not required.
- Experience working at the confluence of public policy and communications/media is preferred.
- Well versed in utilization of new tools and technologies to drive communications and marketing results, including but not limited to strategic communications, blogging, social media (paid and non-paid), e-newsletter development, video development, event management, public relations and media strategies.
- Strong ability to be quick on feet and well poised in senior leadership situations. Must be a strong and confident presenter. This is a “front of the house” role.
- Experience developing marketing, communications and engagement strategies and evaluating effectiveness of communications.
- Senior level experience in marketing and/or communications fields.
- Excellent writing, presentation, communication, mediation and negotiation skills.
- Familiarity with communication technologies and best practices.
- Experience developing, implementing, measuring and evaluating multifaceted strategic marketing initiatives, plans and programs.
- Experience and/or understanding of communication best practices at a decentralized organization.
- Extensive management experience including ability to motivate, lead, set objectives, manage performance and help with conflict resolution on a large, multi-disciplinary team.
- Proven success in building and maintaining long-term relationships with partners, vendors, board members and senior leaders both internal and external.
- Successful track record with either client / agency relationships or servicing multiple internal ‘clients.’
- Proven ability in managing the fiduciary aspects of planning and delivery of annual budgets.
- Multi-lingual skills appreciated.
- Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience preferred.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.