Communications Manager

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

The National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center (GLRC) is a leading voice for the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes. We are one of the only Great Lakes organizations that combine policy, legal, communications, educational, and scientific expertise to educate decision makers, inform public policy, and conduct public outreach efforts. We are trusted conveners and collaborators, leveraging the strengths of multiple sectors and organizations to achieve direct results for the Great Lakes, and lead or co-lead coalitions such as the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes coalition, the Great Lakes Business Network, the Changing Seasons coalition, and the Great Lakes Conservation Coalition. We are centering equity and justice throughout our work and partnerships.

We are seeking a Communications Manager who is a strategic communications professional proficient at developing and implementing compelling messages, uplifting strong messengers, and using targeted communications vehicles to support our advocacy and education campaigns. Working with our program staff, the key responsibilities are to both develop strategic direction for major communications needs and to produce targeted content that highlights our work for key audiences, effectively using social and traditional media and a wide range of communications. As our Communications Manager you will leverage the assets and resources of the GLRC and the National Wildlife Federation, including existing capacity for social media and video production, a network of communications professionals at the National Wildlife Federation and with our coalition partners, and the utilization of contractors and consultants.  You will help ensure that equity and justice is integrated throughout our communications.

You will report directly to the Great Lakes Regional Executive Director and work directly with the national communications team at the National Wildlife Federation.

Your major responsibilities include:

• Strategy and Coordination: Design and lead the implementation of a robust communications strategy to advance the GLRC’s goals and tell our story—including the strategic integration of priorities that help advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Coordinate communications activities on day-to-day basis with GLRC staff and the national communications team.
• Social Media: Oversee the strategic use of social media (including the GLRC’s websites, Facebook and Twitter accounts) by creating and leading elements of the implementation of social media campaigns while looking for new opportunities to advance GLRC goals on social media.
• Traditional and Earned Media: Design and lead elements of the implementation of the GLRC’s media strategy, including opinion research, earned media, blogs and paid media as well as assisting advocacy staff in media communications.
• Visual Story-Telling: Design strategy and lead elements of the implementation of graphics, photos, videos and other visual means to tell and amplify main messages and stories.
• Member and Donor Communication: Coordinate the quarterly newsletter, member action alerts, webinars and donor communications.
• Internal Communications: Assist GLRC Leadership in internal communications needs as appropriate and in coordination with the National Wildlife Federation’s internal communications director and team.

Qualifications:

Candidates should bring a commitment to the overall mission of the National Wildlife Federation, including the nonpartisan, science-based, equity-focused and collaborative approach of the Federation to achieve its mission and strategic plan outcomes.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Excellent writer and communicator, including demonstrated ability to create high-quality content
• Social media competency on various platforms, with a record of strategic success
• Ability to oversee and/or produce video, photography and other digital assets
• Experience communicating, teaching, and motivating others to engage in equity and justice work
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal peers and external partners and allies
• Being a self-starter capable of putting plans into action and meeting deadlines
• Passion, curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and drive to stay on the cutting edge of advocacy communications to achieve our goals
• Strong interest and/or experience in conservation issues; familiarity with Great Lakes issues is preferred
• Strong grasp of Microsoft office suite and ability to learn content management systems

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
• Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeking feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeping staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing the National Wildlife Federation’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and,
• Passion for and commitment to the National Wildlife Federation's mission

Location and Travel Requirements:

The position could be located remotely anywhere in the Great Lakes region of the National Wildlife Federation (OH, MI, IL, IN, WI, MN) with a preference for a location in Ann Arbor, MI (our home office), Chicago or Detroit.

Approximately 2-4 days per month of travel once regular travel resumes for the National Wildlife Federation.

COVID Consideration:

The National Wildlife Federation closely follows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease and has implemented processes that promote the safety of our employees, candidates, and communities.  Because the health of our employees and candidates is a top priority, we conduct our hiring process virtually via phone or video until further notice.  We are currently starting our positions as remote, but will transition to onsite work when our offices re-open, expected to be in early 2022.  Proof of vaccination will be required to join the National Wildlife Federation.

Compensation and Benefits:

This position pays $60,000 – $65,000 (commensurate with experience and skill set).  

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits in 2021!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week. 

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:  

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), 10 holidays, and 3 floating holidays
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed after January 4, 2022.  Candidates should submit both a cover letter and resume.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.  Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. 

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.

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