The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, a regional non-profit organization headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with offices in Virginia and Pennsylvania, seeks a qualified individual to coordinate, plan and assist with implementation of communications and outreach efforts for the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP). The CBP is the federal/state/non-governmental partnership responsible for leading science and policy efforts to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its lands, rivers and streams.
Job Description:
The Communications and Outreach Coordinator will support CBP efforts to connect with diverse and under served audiences throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the use of social media, public forums, targeted outreach campaigns, conferences and other methods. The position will raise visibility and awareness of the mission and activities of the CBP as a national and international leader in multi-agency ecosystem restoration efforts, and develop, support and implement initiatives that increase the capacity of the CBP and its partners to manage and coordinate expanded outreach and engagement efforts as part of the CBP Communications Office.
The person selected for this position will be a motivated, creative, strategic thinker and listener who will be able to recognize synergies across the numerous CBP goal teams, workgroups and advisory committees and assist them with their outreach needs in support of watershed-wide restoration and engagement goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, with particular attention to the Stewardship Goal. They will work closely with the Web Content Manager to produce social media content and assist with overseeing a contractor charged with developing and maintaining relationships with media outlets across the region.
Specific responsibilities include:
Outreach:
Broaden the range of external groups that the CBP Communications Office engages with; in particular build key relationships with non-traditional organizations, diverse and underrepresented communities.
Develop and implement strategies to help build audience, public image and community support for Chesapeake Bay goals.
Research and assist in planning, developing, and supporting new strategic outreach efforts as identified by the CBP Leadership, Goal Teams, workgroups and partners.
Stay up-to-date and compile information on market research regarding public attitudes.
Develop and assist with communications among internal CBP goal teams, workgroups and advisory committees through meetings, newsletters and other methods of outreach.
Social Media:
Review past and ongoing social marketing campaigns for successes, lessons learned, and challenges.
Create a social media strategy with objectives, promotional plans and engagement tactics, and including a specific component focused on building connections with diverse audiences to be included within the larger Strategic Communications Plan.
Create and curate consistent social media content (including text and visuals).
Assist with tracking, reporting and evaluation of all social media postings and regular use of analytics of social media.
Monitor and engage with the public through social media; cultivate professional responses in a social manner, while encouraging positive environmental stewardship.
Design, create and manage social ad campaigns (such as March Critter Madness, Beards for the Bay, etc.) in support of specific social marketing campaigns.
Media relations:
Assist in the development and implementation of an outreach plan that will increase CBP media outreach and build stronger connections to media outlets across the watershed.
Manage a media relations contractor including monitoring of progress
Serve as liaison between media relations contractor and other CBP partners.
Required Skills and Experience Required:
The CBP Outreach Coordinator will need to:
Enjoy working with and managing relationships with a diverse array of people including scientists, stakeholders, media and the general public.
Possess outstanding and positive interpersonal abilities as well as strong written and oral communications skills.
Have strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple tasks.
Demonstrate a general understanding of environmental restoration and policy issues (preferably those related to the Chesapeake).
Possess a proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Have experience and knowledge of building outreach and/or educational campaigns and the best practices for supporting them over the long term.
Possess experience and/or demonstrated skills in marketing, media relations, public outreach, program management.
Have the ability to articulate the mission and values of the Alliance and the Chesapeake Bay Program.
Qualifications:
The Communications and Outreach Coordinator will have at least a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years experience in a community relationship-building role with a focus on communications strategy, public relations, social and traditional media products and relations, journalism or a related field. Previous experience working with non-profit organizations is preferred.
Supervision: The CBP Outreach Coordinator reports to the CBP Communications Director.
Location: The Outreach Coordinator will be based at the CBP offices in Annapolis, Maryland with an ability to travel throughout the watershed as needed.
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience; includes benefits allowance.
Closing date: Thursday, June 30, 2016
To Apply:
Please submit cover letter, resume, salary expectations, and references to: contact@allianceforthebay.org with CBP Outreach Coordinator in the subject line. No phone inquiries please.
