Managing Director, External Communications
Company: Natural Resources Defense Council
Location: Washington
Posted on: April 23, 2024
Job Description:
Managing Director, External Communications
Job Locations
US-NY-New York - US-DC-Washington - US-IL-Chicago
Job ID
2024-5518
# of Openings
1
Group
Communications
Overview
NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use
law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online
activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to
ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and
healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped
write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the
Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today,
our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy
advocates, communications experts, and others work across the
United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman,
Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica;
and Washington, D.C. NRDC is seeking a Managing Director, External
Communications to work with the Communications Department in our
New York City, Washington, D.C., or Chicago office. Position
Summary
NRDC is looking for a Managing Director, External Communications,
to join our Communications team. The ideal candidate has experience
in leading a team of integrated communications, media relations and
influencer engagement professionals; developing executive
positioning plans; and coordinating large-scale public relations
campaigns. As part of the Communications Leadership Team, they will
help develop and implement a proactive communications strategy to
support NRDC's institutional priorities, advocacy campaigns and
member engagement.
The ideal candidate has a proven ability to help create powerful
storytelling narratives that reach diverse audiences, drive impact
and inspire people to take action. They take initiative, conceive,
and make the case for new ideas, and effectively move projects
forward in rapidly changing environments and ambiguous situations.
They can synthesize complex information and manage projects
efficiently. They also have experience cultivating internal
relationships in pursuit of shared goals and outcomes.
This role will report to the Chief Communications Officer and
oversee the Media, Equity Communications and Entertainment
Partnerships teams. They will also work closely with the Managing
Director, Brand and Digital Strategy, and collaborate with other
senior managers across the organization, including NRDC's regional
advocacy impact and program sector leaders.
Responsibilities
- Support the development of NRDC's
external communications strategy to help advance the organization's
vision, mission, and institutional priorities at the regional and
national levels.
- Help cultivate a high-performing external communications
team.
- Develop proactive earned media strategies that influence and
shape public policy efforts and advocacy campaigns.
- Manage the Media, Equity Communications and Entertainment
Partnerships teams, and their budgets, ensuring the teams are
aligned with institutional and Communications department
priorities.
- As part of the Communications Leadership Team, ensure quality
and consistency of values-including racial justice and equity,
brand identity, and public narratives across all communications
channels, as well as effective collaboration with internal
stakeholders to ensure message alignment.
- Prepare senior leaders for media interviews, speaking
opportunities and events.
- Coordinate closely on communications strategy with advocacy
coalition partners and other environmental organizations.
- Manage external communications consultants and vendors as
needed.
- Other duties as related and assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.
- Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in public
relations, communications and/or public affairs; at least 8 years
managing strong, diverse teams.
- Track record of developing highly visible PR campaigns and
securing top-tier media coverage for national organizations and
senior leaders.
- A proven record of accomplishment in driving earned media and
influencer/entertainment partnership work, agency experience a
plus.
- Familiarity with media tools and software, such as Cision,
Nielsen, Comscore, etc.
- Demonstrated ability applying a racial justice lens to
communications, including crafting of culturally competent
messaging.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong
attention to detail.
- Strong collaborative spirit, with an ability to compromise when
needed to advance toward a common goal.
- A multitasker and strong project manager with the ability to
manage teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Dedication to providing leadership, with a willingness to offer
consistent support to direct reports through regular meetings,
professional development, and goal setting.
- Ability to travel to NRDC's U.S.-based offices, approximately
10-15% annually.
- Commitment to NRDC's mission, values, and DEI (Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion) principles.NRDC is committed to advancing
diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our
workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming
diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the
planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage
applications from candidates whose identities have been
historically under-represented in the environmental movement. We
are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring
or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender
identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation,
national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or
any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will
consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and
conviction records. We offer competitive salaries, excellent
benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on
a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience.
Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a
final offer. For this position, the salary range is $197,000 to
$217,500. Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid
model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we ask them to come into
the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with
their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence. As a
science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help
contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health,
safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they
have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other
exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a
person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course
of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law,
new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to
do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other
exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all
vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state,
and federal laws. To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload
your resume and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this
posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your
abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact
only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone
calls, emails, or in-person resume drop-offs. If you experience
technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a
disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to
iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. For more about NRDC, visit
www.nrdc.org.
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Keywords: Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington DC , Managing Director, External Communications, Executive , Washington, DC
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