Senior Manager, Strategic Communications (Nature)

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions.

About the role

Under the guidance of the Managing Director - Integrated Communications, the Senior Manager, Strategic Communications develops comprehensive communication strategies that advance organizational goals and enhance public engagement for the work led by NRDC’s Nature Department, which is comprised of Ocean, Lands, and Food & Agriculture Divisions. This role works within broad communications priorities set by the Managing Director to develop, launch, measure, and optimize the impact of a multichannel communications departmental plan. This plan will be monitored across earned, owned, and paid media channels in collaboration with media, digital advocacy and fundraising, content, and creative teams to amplify NRDC's impact, thought leadership, and drive supporter action.

This is a limited-term 2-year position based in any of NRDC's US offices (New York, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Monica). The position is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Managing Director, Integrated Communications, and in close collaboration with the SVP for Nature and the MDs of the Lands, Ocean, and Food & Agriculture divisions, develop and execute clear, compelling, and measurable multichannel communication plans for the assigned department and divisions to reach key target audiences in collaboration with programmatic and communications teams.
• Create and update messaging for strategic departmental initiatives.
• Strategically lead and proactively prioritize the intake, planning, and execution of communications and marketing requests from the Nature department.
• Identify top communications, marketing, and advocacy opportunities within the program work.
• Establish ongoing communications priorities and the communications calendar.
• Develop tactics and approaches to drive audiences from awareness to action.
• Identify key Nature department content areas of opportunity that elevate NRDC’s visibility and profile.
• Maintain expertise of relevant priority Nature narratives along with audience trends in alignment with policy issues in Congress, the White House, state legislatures, regulatory agencies, and at the global stage level, including international multilateral agreements and conferences.
• Partner with Editorial and Content teams to develop written and visual assets that resonate with target audiences and drive relevance for the organization.
• Vet content with experts from across the institution to ensure accuracy and message alignment.
• Partner with the Digital Advocacy and Fundraising team in developing appropriate tactics to promote key messages and help shape membership and fundraising efforts.
• Partner with Earned and Social Media teams to amplify key institutional priorities, programs, and initiatives.
• Champion a data-driven approach to evaluate communications efforts and inform future strategies, partnering with the Director of Analytics.
• Partner with NRDC leadership to develop and implement executive thought leadership strategies.

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in journalism, communications, or a related field.
• 4 or more years of relevant experience leading communications campaigns and coordinating communications teams, with 7 years total experience in communications, journalism, advocacy, or a related field.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

• Strong collaborator with an inclusive mindset that leads with confidence and inspires confidence among colleagues at all levels.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams.
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical communications and marketing initiatives.
• Ability to speak and write in a clear and understandable manner for internal/external relations.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proven experience managing priorities and working effectively across multiple internal stakeholders.
• Experience developing and implementing multichannel communications plans.
• Expertise in advocacy communications, with a deep understanding of audience segmentation, engagement tactics, and optimization.
• Strong analytical skills and experience leveraging data insights to drive decision-making and improve communications campaign outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with project management tools like Asana.
• Ability to travel to NRDC U.S.-based offices, approximately 10-15% annually.
• Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position within the described work environment.

• Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary.
• Frequently attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers.
• Occasionally attend events and activities in the office or offsite.

Work is primarily performed in an office. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings and moderate in other situations. Hours of employment may sometimes require working flexible and/or longer hours, including nights and weekends, when necessitated by projects.

Pay

Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. For this position, the salary range is $103,500 to $115,000.

Benefits

• Time to Unplug & Recharge: Enjoy a generous time-off policy, highlighted by a company-wide year-end Rest & Recharge Week to reset for the new year.
• Family-First: Generous family leave policy beyond federal requirements for all NRDCers.
• For your Future: Matching 403b whether you contribute or not.
• Hybrid Policy: 8 days per month in-office requirement. In-office day requirements can be met with off-site work events such as retreats, conferences, and other work-related travel.
• Well-being: Premium comprehensive healthcare and mental health programs.