The Director of Communications and Engagement is responsible for the development and execution of an ambitious strategy to advance Ocean Wise’s 2030 conservation goals among external audiences. This person will play a critical role in bringing Ocean Wise to the world stage as a major force for ocean conservation.
As a senior member of the External Relations team, this person will:
Increase global public awareness and media coverage of Ocean Wise’s brand and work
Generate significant growth in audience numbers (e.g. email subscribers, donors, action takers)
Co-create, with conservation team colleagues, marketing, communication, and public engagement plans to advance Ocean Wise’s seven conservation initiatives
Complete and implement the brand and digital engagement strategies – including the new ocean.org website and learning & action platform
Provide management, coaching, and mentoring to the team and actively contribute to strategic planning across the organization
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Increase global public awareness and media coverage of Ocean Wise’s brand and work by:
Leading media relations strategy and activity by:
Proactively building relationships with editors and journalists at major media outlets globally and pitching stories
Staying current with news cycles and opportunities to leverage Ocean Wise’s work as topical and relevant content
Quickly responding to and being on-call for media enquires/opportunities
Providing sound counsel to executive team and CEO on issues and proactive opportunities that reflect the interests of the organization
Developing dashboard metrics to baseline and measure growth in different strategies and markets
Coaching and developing briefing notes and reference materials to support Ocean Wise spokespersons
Generate significant growth in audience numbers (e.g. email subscribers, donors, action takers)
Working closely with Conservation team colleagues and the Director of Development, generate content and outreach that will grow and move people up the “engagement pyramid”
Implementing a data acquisition and engagement strategy across all programs
Providing leadership on the strategic use of digital platforms, including managing social platforms to engage in online conversations to deepen engagement
Monitoring and measuring against key performance indicators and producing reports as required
Co-create, with conservation team colleagues, marketing, communication, and public engagement plans to advance Ocean Wise’s seven conservation initiatives
Leading organization-wide strategic communications planning, analysis, and ongoing decision-making
Developing and pitching creative marketing and engagement strategies with partner organizations, including, for example, corporate partners, other NGOs, influencers, and others (e.g. WEF, UN agencies, government agencies, etc.)
Leading the writing and development of a broad base of communications including media releases, backgrounders, stories, digital content, etc
Complete and implement the brand and digital engagement strategies – including the new ocean.org website and learning & action platform
Overseeing the rollout of the brand strategy and ensuring ongoing adherence to brand guidelines across all programs and channels
Leading the redevelopment of ocean.org – including content development and putting forward a unified and consistent Ocean Wise brand
In collaboration with Conservation team colleagues, executing the creation and implementation of a digital “action hub” to support youth and wider audience growth and engagement
Leading a cohesive digital strategy to increase Ocean Wise audience acquisition and engagement – including multiple platforms and systems (e.g. social media, email, website, online fundraising, etc.)
Provide management, coaching, and mentoring to team and actively contribute to strategic planning across the organization by:
Contributing to strategic planning and partnership development across the organization with other senior leaders
Overseeing internal communications and ensuring that employees have access to information and are actively engaged in being content creators and disseminators
Providing direction, guidance, and support to team members and motivating staff to achieve a high level of performance and productivity
Establishing performance objectives/goals, reviewing progress throughout the year, and completing formal performance reviews for direct reports as required
Structuring, recruiting, hiring, and promoting team members to implement the strategy
Developing and tracking budget and maintaining financial records throughout the year
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience
A minimum of 10 years experience in senior communications roles at a global NGO, major brand or a similar organization
A minimum of 5 years experience managing teams
An undergraduate degree in Communications, Journalism, or similar discipline
An extensive network of contacts in media and with influencers
Proven ability to grow a brand’s visibility in existing and new markets
Experience developing and executing creative marketing and/or social change campaigns
Skills
Exercising a high degree of judgment, tact, and diplomacy in dealing with issues that may involve the communication of information that could have a significant impact on the image and credibility of the organization
Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written
Superior interpersonal, relationship-building, and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to communicate and interact with diverse stakeholders and decision-makers
Demonstrated ability to manage shifting priorities and competing demands within a diverse group of stakeholders
Knowledge of global oceans issues and policies strongly preferred
Ability to communicate and write in French an asset
Working Conditions
Can be home-based remotely, with occasional travel required
At times may require work in evenings and weekends – especially when responding to media inquiries
Works frequently under pressure, with deadlines and shifting priorities that are often not under the incumbent’s control
Qualifications
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