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Communications Director

Location Santa Fe, NM 87501
Date Posted June 15, 2022
Job ID 8458
Employment Type Retained
WildEarth Guardians
Communications Director
Position Announcement

 

Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Communications Director on behalf of our incredible client, WildEarth Guardians. This pivotal position plays a leading role in the organization’s efforts to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.
 
Reporting to the Executive Director, this full-time opportunity is for immediate hire, and operates in person or remote. This position will travel ~10% of the time (six weeks per year) to the headquarters in Santa Fe, NM; or satellite offices in Tucson, AZ; Denver, CO; Boise, ID; Missoula, MT; Portland, OR; or Seattle, WA.
 
About WildEarth Guardians:
Formed in 1989, WildEarth Guardians has a superb reputation for the organization’s commitment to being true Guardians through conservation- acting on principle to protect what matters while engaging in bold thought leadership that guides the way. WildEarth Guardians believes we must catalyze a great transition from the exploitative and extractive economies of the past to restorative and regenerative economies. 
 
In 2021 alone, WildEarth Guardians and allies secured a ban on public land exploitation as well as trapping and poisoning of wildlife in New Mexico, helped protect iconic species in the American West including wolves, lynx and the Joshua tree, halted the deforestation of 4,600 acres in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest, and won a major lawsuit against fossil fuel extraction throughout the American West. This is a small representation of WildEarth Guardians’ incredible accomplishments, which immeasurably contribute to the protection and preservation of hundreds of species and natural resources. To learn more about the WildEarth Guardians and their impact please visit WildEarth Guardians here.
 
Position Summary:
Are you a Guardian for public lands, waters, and the wildlife that rely on those lands and waters? Are you a great visual, verbal and written communicator who wants to lead a team that can create compelling communications? Do you have a passion for all things environmental that you want to proclaim from a rooftop, a short film, news release, or even, with a tweet? Do you possess a special magic that can move varied audiences (elected officials, our membership, the media) to connect to the important work of WildEarth Guardians? If so, this leadership position may be for you!
 
WildEarth Guardians seeks a Communications Director who will play an integral role in elevating the organization’s profile using both innovative and conventional communications strategies and tactics. A qualified candidate must have the knowledge and skills in values-based storytelling, paired with a commitment to the Guardians’ statement on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. A successful candidate will demonstrate proven skills as a strategic thinker and communicator, in a progressive-minded organization.
The Communications Director will be responsible for leading Guardians’ overall marketing, branding, and media strategy, while managing the daily urgency of the news cycle. Guardians and the staff already engage in substantial communications work. The Communications Director will be critical for enhancing the quality and impact of this work to ensure greater success toward meeting organizational goals.
The Communications Director will inspire, manage and strategically advise and supervise a staff of 2 people. The Communications Director role is a member of the Executive Team.
 
Key Position Responsibilities:
  • Help to create and communicate the organization’s messages while ensuring brand consistency.
  • Collaborate with other organizational staff to produce high-impact communications that influence the social and political narrative about the important national, regional, and local issues in which they are engaged.
  • Develop communications plans for the whole organization and select priority campaigns that will help align fundraising and program messages, values, and stories.
 
Communications and Organizational Leadership:
  • Works with the program, fundraising, and communications staff to generate online content and develop innovative communications.
  • Executes an aggressive, creative, and integrated earned media strategy working primarily with program and campaign staff.
  • Develops visionary and creative approaches to communications that include, but are not limited to, film, radio, print, and social media, in order to market the organization to policymakers, thought leaders, and prospective donors.
  • Creates metrics to evaluate, and evolve existing communications, and manage the execution of communications to create momentum and awareness.
  • The Communications Director guides and coordinates with the development team and program leaders to create communications that fulfill their project goals while building overall brand awareness.
  • Ensures that all program, fundraising, and communications materials present a consistent and cohesive brand while managing competing priorities.
 
Staff Management:
  • Directly supervise the communications team, create a culture of teamwork, support, and professional development.
  • Collaboratively manages and directs staff in order to achieve the organization’s strategic goals.
 
Digital Advocacy:
  • The Communications Director is responsible for overseeing the organization’s digital strategy in order to contribute to the success of campaigns.
  • Decides the best platforms, timing, and methods to disseminate new creative material.
  • Mentors and leads team members and is responsible for e-platform administration, execution, and coordination.
  • Coordinates e-platform maintenance—ensure that new information (article links, stories, and events) is posted regularly.
  • Evaluates current platforms for efficacy and coordinates with the Development Director and Finance and Operations Director to potentially migrate to a different Donor Management Systems.
  • Develops and maintains a system to respond to inputs and sends high-quality and accurate e-communications appropriately.
 
Print Communications:
  • Creatively imagines, coordinates, and manages the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print collateral including, but not limited to: newsletters, brochures, annual reports, fact sheets etc.
 
Fundraising:
  • Partners with the Development Director to ensure digital fundraising communications are aligned and consistent with other e-mail and print communications.
     
Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills:
  • The Communications Director will be a resourceful and resilient communications strategist, with a successful track record of efficiently managing priorities, including the following:
  • A strong track record as an exceptional communicator and implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently.
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Communications/Media/Marketing/ Writing/Advertising/Journalism or related field.
  • Ten+ years of experience as a communications director, marketing director, or creative director; managing all main aspects of the communication processes.
  • Experience managing a team of 2 fulltime and 3-5 contract staff is necessary.
  • Experience in designing and implementing strategic communications plans for organizing advocacy campaigns.
  • Exceptional writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.
  • Proficiency with Mac-based word-processing tools and google analytics.
  • Proficiency and know-how in connecting with local and national media.
  • Knowledge of conservation issues in the American West.
  • Strong computer operating skills, including videoconferencing for virtual team meetings.
  • Versatility with social media strategy, and digital best practices.
  • Comfort using social media platforms: (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.)
  • Ability to travel ~10%.
     
Compensation and Benefits:
This impactful role offers the opportunity to work with devoted, mission-driven professionals. WildEarth Guardians offers a competitive starting annual base salary of $90,000 to $100,000 (dependent on experience), a friendly and flexible team-based environment with an excellent benefits package which includes full health, vision, dental, life, and disability coverage, a 403(b)retirement plan with a 3% match, paid and unpaid health and family leave, a sabbatical policy, sick leave, three weeks paid vacation to start, and fourteen holidays including your birthday.
 
Applications and Nominations:
WildEarth Guardians has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and letter of interest formatted in MS Word via: https://www.scionstaffing.com/job/8458
 
Please address questions about this opportunity to:
 
Joanne MacGregor, Executive Search Principal
Scion Executive Search
(888) 487-8850 x134
 
 
Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.
 
WildEarth Guardians is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. All employment decisions are based on job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
 
About Our Firm:
Scion Executive Search is a national award-winning executive search firm. Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing hundreds of exceptional leaders to organizations with incredible missions and programs. Through our innovative team building and recruitment solutions, we seamlessly bridge the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation.
 
We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Executive Search Firms and the Best Recruitment Firms in America. Additionally, we have been recognized as a recruitment leader by ClearlyRated, as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times for over ten years running. More information about Scion Executive Search can be found online here.
 
Scion Executive Search, a division of Scion Staffing, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, ability, political affiliation or belief, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent. For opportunities located in a region that have enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We believe in following best practices and consider all qualified applicants who apply with us.

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