GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Regional Communications Manager plays a critical role in our efforts to communicate with the media about the importance of our parks and public lands for nature and for people. This position leads our communications success for the Pacific Northwest region—covering Washington, Oregon, and Northern California—as we build reporter relationships and elevate local storytelling in regional and national markets to protect wild places for future generations. Additionally, this position will serve as the communications lead on TWS’ advocacy for the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the regional and national levels. The position will collaborate across the broader Communications Department and frequently interact with both regional and national policy teams. The main focus of the position is to drive strong coverage for public lands issues and successfully expand TWS’s influence with broadcast and new media outlets.
The Regional Communications Manager plays a critical role in an inclusive organizational culture that is grounded in trust and accountability to shared goals and outcomes. TWS has made diversity, equity, and inclusion strategic priorities for the organization. This position will integrate these priorities throughout our communications work, from expanding our media relationships to bringing an equity lens to all facets of our media relations efforts and to the stories we elevate in the region. Across our team, we aspire to be campaign oriented, nimble, collaborative, innovative, transparent, and supportive of staff – our greatest asset.
**This position may be located in Seattle, WA or Oakland, CA. **
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leads communications strategy and implementation for priority work in the Pacific Northwest that supports our strategic goals to protect wildlands, transition to a clean energy future and connect people to the outdoors. Leads the strategic development and implementation of media tactics to support defense of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a national priority for the organization.
- Builds equity into all facets of work, including incorporating a wide array of perspectives from local communities in both regional and national-level responsibilities. This includes engaging communities that historically have not benefited from our public lands.
- Drives integrated and consistent messaging for regional and national priorities throughout traditional and new media channels (working in strong partnership with other regional colleagues and our DC media team).
- Consistently partners with our Digital and Marketing teams to elevate regional issues that can move and inspire our audiences.
- Actively pursues collaboration on media strategies with local and regional coalitions and partners, leading communications strategy in these external partnerships where appropriate.
- Initiates and maintains excellent working relationships with key members of the media, including broadcast and new media outlets, for the region and as relevant at the national level. Facilitates optimal conservation staff access to media and any training needed for staff to be prepared to engage with media.
- Performs other duties as required or assigned.
Experience, Competencies, and Skill Sets
- 5-7 years of demonstrated experience leading the development of communications strategies, especially in public relations or advocacy settings
- Demonstrated understanding of how to identify and elevate local stories with the media and driving coverage that moves people to action.
- Demonstrated expertise in working with both traditional and new media (including social media)
- Proven success implementing communications strategies with local and regional coalitions that prioritize traditionally under-represented voices
- Demonstrated ability to work quickly under deadline and follow organizational priorities
- Working knowledge of legislative process/public affairs; familiarity with conservation and/or public lands a plus
- Solid understanding of the integrated role of digital and social media communications with earned media, and demonstrated success using this nexus to maximize visibility and audience engagement.
- Support for The Wilderness Society’s commitment to ensuring a welcoming workplace culture, diversifying our staff, and challenging ourselves to make sure that public lands benefit us all.
- Ability to travel once or twice a month for campaign meetings and to develop media/reporter relationships
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to work collaboratively with multiple teams.
- Solutions-oriented and self-motivated.
The Wilderness Society offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including: health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; sick and vacation leave; a sabbatical program; and a retirement plan. TWS is an equal opportunity employer and actively works to ensure fair treatment of our employees and constituents across culture, socioeconomic status, race, marital or family situation, gender, age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical ability, veteran status or sexual orientation.
As an organization, we aspire to being inclusive in the work that we do, and in the kind of organization we are. Internally this means working as a team that listens to different points of view, recognizes the contributions of every employee and empowers each employee to bring their whole selves to work every day. Externally this means ensuring that public lands are inclusive and welcoming, so that our shared wildlands can help people and nature to thrive. We are committed to equity throughout our work, which we define as our commitment to realizing the promise of our public lands and ensuring that all can share in their universal benefits.
To learn more about our commitment, please see: http://wilderness.org/our-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-wilderness-society
To apply please submit your resume & cover letter through online application system.