Position Summary

POSITION SUMMARY: The Mountains to Sound Greenway is one of the nation’s newest National Heritage Areas, so designated by Congress in March 2019. We are seeking a savvy and creative communications professional who can help leverage this new recognition to raise community awareness of the Greenway and engage many more people in long-term stewardship of and advocacy for this special place.

The Communications Manager leads all aspects of the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust’s communications program to promote our work, and to build public support for and public engagement in the newly designated Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. The Communications Manager is responsible for designing and implementing communications strategies for the organization and its priority initiatives, planning and delivering content for all Greenway print and digital communication channels, supervising a Communications Associate/Coordinator, and working closely with colleagues and partners to produce, curate, and share compelling stories with our large and growing audience.

The right candidate knows how to design and implement effective communications strategies and has a passion for storytelling as a means to raise awareness and support for a mission-driven organization. This position is ideal for a creative, collaborative, organized, and mission-driven person who embraces both planning and doing, and who relishes the challenge of being part of a small organization with big stories to share. The Communications Manager is a full-time position with professional development opportunities within the organization.

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust has a unique and influential voice in the region’s environmental community that bridges differences and emphasizes common ground. As a coalition-based nonprofit, the Greenway Trust partners closely with a wide array of government, business, nonprofit, and citizen groups who span the region’s geographic, political, and social spectrum. Our voice and actions reflect our values as an organization: trusted, inclusive, collaborative, positive, pragmatic, and impactful.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and implement communications strategies to promote major Greenway initiatives and programs such as Savor Snoqualmie Valley and Upper Yakima Basin collaborative work. Communications strategies will define clear, mission-relevant messaging and leverage web, print, and social media channels to help achieve initiative and program objectives.

• Design and implement brand strategy for new National Heritage Area and support interpretive plan creation and implementation
• Set and manage publication schedules: Set internal editorial calendars in support of communication strategies. Ensure content is produced and published on time.
• Create and curate content: Continually source content ideas from staff, partners, and the community in support of communications strategies. With support from the Communications Associate/Coordinator, produce and curate content to meet publication schedules for websites, blogs, e-newsletters, social media, brochures, and other publications. Ensure all digital and print communications adhere to brand guidelines. Serve as primary copy editor for the organization.
• Supervise Communications Coordinator: Guide and oversee work of the Communications Associate/Coordinator. Provide mentorship for professional development.
• Promote membership and donations: Collaborate with Development Director to leverage Greenway communication channels and communications strategies for encouraging membership and financial support of the Greenway Trust.
• Manage external communications support: Manage relationships and contracts for external communications support such as public relations firms, freelance writers/photographers, etc.

• Strengthen media relations: Work with the media to strengthen the Greenway Trust’s reputation for thoughtful, positive leadership. Maintain strong press contacts and increase coverage of Greenway  stories.
• Build and maintain communications partnerships: Work with peers in partner organizations to identify and act on opportunities for communications to provide mutual support by cross-posting and possibly jointly producing content.

• Serve as a brand champion and steward: Ensure consistent branding and communications styles across all programs and platforms. Provide clear internal standards, parameters, and training for staff, volunteers, and coalition members. Refine and enforce design guidelines.

• Track and report analytics: Establish appropriate performance measures for Greenway communications and ensure accountability for desired results. Track analytics and adjust communications strategies, messages, calendars, and content, as needed, for increased effectiveness and efficiency.

Other Responsibilities

• Serve as spokesperson and ambassador to represent the Greenway Trust at outreach and community events as needed.
• Produce talking points and messaging for Directors and board leaders, as needed, for major speaking events.
• Support logistics and promotion for major public Greenway events, including Explore the Greenway Trips, key Savor Snoqualmie Valley community events, and others as needed.
• Contribute to the organization-wide culture of philanthropy through marketing and communications materials
• Attend and support staff team building and training events.
• Support and contribute to strategic and operational plans for the Greenway Trust.
• Other tasks as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion for mission: Passion for the mission of the Greenway Trust and its values of being trusted, inclusive, collaborative, positive, pragmatic, and impactful.
• Organization and initiative: Strong organizational skills and personal initiative, with excellent ability to prioritize and deliver on multiple priorities, and to set and meet deliverables.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Experience as a leader and team player and ability to work with a wide range of individuals and organizations in a variety of settings.
• Communications planning and strategy development: Experience developing and implementing communications strategies for major projects or programs, including key messages, content, and calendars.
• Writing skills: Exceptional writing skills with short form (ex: social media), medium form (ex: blog), and long form (ex: report) communications; strong editing and proofreading skills.
• Technology: Excellent computer skills, including demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office, website management (WordPress preferred), and Adobe Creative Suite.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in communications, journalism, public policy, or related field.
• Experience working with Campaign Monitor, Salesforce, and Form Assembly.
• Proficiency in graphic design, photography, and visual imaging a plus.
• Knowledge of the regional conservation landscape, organizations, land use and politics.
• Experience working with tribes, government agencies, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and citizen volunteers a plus.
• Proficiency in additional language(s) (written/spoken) a plus.

REPORTS TO | Executive Director

COMPENSATION

The expected salary range for this position is $48,000-$56,000 and includes excellent medical, vacation, transit, and retirement benefits.

WORK SCHEDULE

Full-time position, works Monday – Friday, including occasional weekends and evenings.

WORK LOCATION

The primary work location is at the Greenway Trust office in downtown Seattle with occasional travel to sites throughout the Greenway for meetings, presentations, and events.

TO APPLY

Email cover letter, resume, references, and any materials you wish to share that are related to your qualifications to: apply@mtsgreenway.org.

The Greenway Trust is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law. Each person is evaluated on the basis of personal skill and merit.

 ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS TO SOUND GREENWAY TRUST

The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust leads and inspires action to conserve and enhance the landscape from Seattle across the Cascade Mountains to Central Washington, ensuring a long-term balance between people and nature. Our coalition of community members, businesses, government agencies, and donors is joined together by the ethos that when we have meaningful connections with our natural surroundings, we are healthier and happier, our communities are stronger and more equitable; our lives are better.

Nearly thirty years of collaboration and hard work have tested and strengthened the vision of the Mountains to Sound Greenway. We have proven to this region and the rest of the nation that collaborative conservation, pursued by a broad-based and inclusive coalition of partners, can effect positive change.

Learn more at www.mtsgreenway.org