Senior Communications Manager

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state, regional, national, and international programs, nature centers, and chapters have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. As a sentinel species, we recognize that the fate of birds is inextricably tied to the fate of us all.

Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the United States and seven countries in 17 state and regional offices, 41 nature centers, and 23 wildlife sanctuaries. Together as one Audubon, we aspire to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged, with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

The Senior Communications Manager will play a key role in raising awareness of and building a constituency for Audubon’s water policy priorities within Arizona. The Senior Communications Manager will be a key player on the water policy team driving strategy, generating ideas, and proposing new ways to reach to new audiences. This position will lead the development and implementation of an integrated communications strategy, working in concert with Audubon Southwest policy staff and Water for Arizona Coalition partners. The Senior Communications Manager will engage in Arizona water and climate policy communications and will work with Audubon Southwest’s Arizona Policy Director and Arizona policy team.

The Senior Manager coaches program staff to develop and deliver quality materials and generate social and digital media in support of strategies to publicize water policy and conservation goals. They will report to the Arizona Policy Director of Audubon Southwest.

This is a remote position with the ability to work at the Rio Salado Audubon Center office in Phoenix. Candidates must be willing to travel to Rio Salado Audubon Center in Phoenix for every other week in-person team meetings.

Compensation:

$82,000 / year

• Generate and execute ideas for improving engagement, increasing membership, converting members to email list and advocates, etc., and consult with National audience engagement staff on using paid advertising and other tools, and potentially other channels, for increased communication and outreach.
• Develop and build on strong relationships with state and regional reporters and media outlets (including print, digital, TV, radio, and Spanish-language outlets) covering climate, Arizona water issues, birds, and the environment.
• Develop advocacy driven communication campaigns with measurable goals and outcomes for Audubon Southwest priorities, as well as Water for Arizona Coalition (WAC) priorities, deliverables, and objectives.
• Working with Arizona policy team, develop messaging frameworks, reports, fact sheets, GIS StoryMaps, and talking points for key water policy initiatives and strategic priorities.
• Support policy team in the amplification and promotion of legislative activities; leverage key moments like agency announcements, bill introductions, committee hearings, floor votes to advance communications goals; and work closely with media outlets covering climate and water policy to create news moments and shape larger news narratives around policy priorities.
• Draw upon a variety of communication tools to produce content, including designing and producing written, audio, visual, and multimedia content and stories.
• In consultation and coordination with Policy Director, draft press releases, editorials, media pitches, Action Alerts, and talking points that publicize and support Audubon Southwest’s and WAC’s mission and goals.
• Ghost write Op-eds and blogs for involved stakeholders.
• Create PowerPoint presentations.
• Brainstorm ideas for creative content creation and help implement those ideas.
• Land high-quality media coverage at national, regional, and local levels across all types of media.
• Ensure the consistency of brand standards and integrated messaging around our mission, vision, and values with all audiences and communities.
• Work in partnership with WAC staff to manage the organization’s website, social media strategy and implementation, and content.
• Manage and coordinate marketing and promotion for organization events in partnership with other staff members.
• Work with translation contractors to translate blogs, webinars, and presentations into Spanish.
• Track communications goals and outcomes and prepare summaries of communications activities for grant reports.
• Supervise communications staff and interns.
• Other job duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, marketing, or a closely related field
• Minimum of 7 years of field experience in communications, marketing, policy, or government relations. An equivalent combination of education and experience also considered.
• Experience developing and implementing communication plans and strategies.
• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills, with demonstrated experience writing articles for newsletters, marketing literature, social media, and public relations materials. Ability to write well, quickly, and under pressure.
• Digital communications experience – including social media engagement, website development/updating.
• Experience pitching and developing strong relationships with traditional and new media; using online communications tools to enhance and amplify an organization’s core messages.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills a must; ability to work with multiple stakeholder groups across a decentralized organization also necessary.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects on time and on budget.
• Ability to communicate complex and technical information clearly to various audiences.
• A high level of skill and comfort with technology, including experience with multiple computer and electronic communications and design software and platforms, such as MS Office, Every Action, Drupal, Canva, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• A self-starter with a proactive approach to assignments, one with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, solve problems with limited supervision, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity diversity, inclusion and belonging and a commitment to finding ways to communicate with demographically diverse audiences.
• A flexible approach to work, with a willingness to travel, as needed, and participate in programs/events occurring after typical business hours (most programs/events would be planned in advance and with notice).
• Bilingual in English & Spanish with ability speak and write in both strongly desired.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Strong commitment to conservation, climate solutions and to the mission of the National Audubon Society.

Interested applicants are REQUIRED to include WITH their resume a cover letter that showcases their communications skills and 2-3 items from their portfolio that best reflect their passion for the work and/or that showcase approaches they would be interested in implementing at Audubon Southwest and WAC (given what is known from the job description and reviewing our websites).

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

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All new hires must be fully vaccinated prior to their start of employment unless they are pre-qualified by HR for exemption.