Senior Manager, Strategic Communications (Nature)

Position Summary

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. This person can be based out of any of NRDC's US-offices (New York, DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Monica). The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the following essential functions:

• 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. Identifying where the top communications, marketing and advocacy opportunities are 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, and regulatory agencies, as well as at the global stage level, including international multilateral agreements and conferences.
• Partner with Editorial and Content teams to develop written and visual assets that will 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 relevant experience leading communications campaigns and coordinating communications teams, with 7 years total experience in communications, journalism, advocacy or a related field. And/or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong collaborator with 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.
• Familiar 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. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 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: Ability to interact and communicate with employees and others as necessary
• Frequently: Attend planned meetings and collaborate with management and coworkers
• Occasionally: Ability to attend events and activities in the office or offsite

Work is sometimes performed primarily in 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. The job includes work-related situations such as those involving challenging, important, urgent, time-sensitive, or multiple matters.

Pay & Benefits

• Salary range: $103,500 to $115,000 (based on a nonprofit scale, commensurate with skills and experience; internal equity reviewed for final offer)
• Generous time-off policy, including a company-wide year-end Rest & Recharge Week
• Generous family leave policy beyond federal requirements
• Matching 403b whether you contribute or not
• Hybrid Policy: 8 day per month in-office requirement (can be met with off-site work events such as retreats, conferences, and other work-related travel)
• Premium comprehensive healthcare and mental health programs