Overview

Heal the Bay is the most recognized environmental nonprofit group in LA for a reason: we have been keeping Southern California’s coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy, and clean for people and marine life since 1985. Using education, science, advocacy, and community action, we raise awareness and make progress with practical solutions to often complex problems. We conduct hundreds of beach and community cleanups each year, informing people about the root causes of pollution along the shorelines and in their neighborhoods. We advocate for strict water quality regulations that protect public health and the animals that call local creeks, rivers, and the Santa Monica Bay home. We operate the award-winning Heal the Bay Aquarium at the Santa Monica Pier, inspiring visitors to become stewards for clean water. We also educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, with thousands of students joining us each year for school field trips, science-based classroom presentations, and events. Learn more about us at www.healthebay.org/our-impact
About the Role
Reporting to the CEO, the Director of Marketing Communications sets and guides the strategy for all external communications, ensuring that Heal the Bay’s mission is understood and embraced by the public at large. The director holds overall responsibility for brand strategy, public messaging, digital marketing, media relations, public relations, and creative partnerships.

The director acts both as the organization’s editor in chief and chief brand steward, building trust with the public and ensuring support is cultivated, grown, and retained in an inclusive way across a variety of platforms. Working closely with department directors within the organization, the director is the communications partner on a variety of strategic initiatives related to fundraising, community action, advocacy, volunteer recruitment, education, event promotion, and marketing of Heal the Bay’s Aquarium.

Qualifications
Heal the Bay is seeking an accomplished Director of Communications who has at least 10 years of communications experience or equivalent practical knowledge and skills, ideally in an “in-house” leadership role within a nonprofit or advocacy entity, and covering areas such as campaign development, digital engagement, and community growth. The ability to transform often wonky policy into exciting and useful messages — and disseminate it to the right audiences through the most effective distribution channels — is critical.

Expectations & Responsibilities
  • Write press release, video scripts, fundraising appeals, social media posts, campaign tag lines, talking points, op-eds, letters to the editor, blog posts, campaign briefs, social media toolkits, and other copy in the brand voice
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate the annual communications plan across the organization in collaboration with department directors and develop annual workplans and quarterly goals for Communications staff members
  • Lead the generation of content that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action and growth
  • Mentor, lead, and provide professional development opportunities for the Communications Team (Senior Communications Manager and Senior Communications Coordinator)
  • Engage and collaborate with a volunteer Board of Directors on events, issues, and campaigns and steer regular Board Marketing Committee meetings
  • Track and measure the level of engagement within Heal the Bay’s marketing communications platforms over time
  • Manage all media contacts, relations, and coverage reporting while overseeing internal media monitoring tool
  • Complete regular audience analytics and plot course-corrections as needed
  • Create executive and board presentations and project decks when needed
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with partners in the creative industries, such as photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, advertising agencies, web developers, and digital production houses
  • Develop and implement content and social media strategies and agreements with third-parties
  • Lead communications and user experience strategies for our digital platform (websites, apps, email marketing, social media, print, public relations, outreach, etc.)
  • Develop compelling multi-channel advocacy and/or fundraising campaign strategies for owned, earned and paid media
  • Provide creative direction and graphic design support for campaign elements
  • Develop and/or deepen strategic brand, marketing and communications partnerships with other nonprofits, key media outlets, brands, eco-influencers, celebrities and athletes
  • Support partnerships, collaborations, and promotions for Heal the Bay Shop
  • Educate staff through ongoing workshops on interacting with media, social media tips, writing techniques, and brand guidelines

Skills, Experience & Education
  • Deep appreciation for protecting the environment and clean water
  • Builds an inclusive culture internally and externally
  • Acknowledges their own experiences and experiences of others
  • Strong cultural awareness and competency
  • Passionate about telling multicultural stories and engaging diverse communities
  • Highly collaborative style with a knack for problem solving; experience developing and implementing communications strategies across various platforms with many stakeholders
  • A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently
  • Relationship builder with high emotional intelligence and flexibility
  • Up to date in the latest social media developments and effective practices
  • High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to serve as a unifying force and to position communications discussions at both the strategic and tactical levels
  • Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
  • Manages Heal the Bay’s Style Guide and ensures guidelines are followed
  • Minimum BA/BS degree in communications or equivalent practical experience
  • Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills and an attention to detail
  • Systems knowledge and implementing audience segmentation and marketing tools
  • Extensive copywriting, proofreading and editing experience in AP Style.
  • Passion for storytelling through multiple media types, both visual, written, auditory and experiential
  • Ability to work late and on weekends in response to the news cycle when necessary
  • Upholds Heal the Bay’s mission and core values across all interactions and materials
Compensation
This is an exempt full-time position, salary band starts at $90,000 (based on experience) with appropriate state and federal taxes withheld.
Benefits
Comprehensive health insurance, vacation and retirement benefits are included. 
Schedule 
Full-time, 40 hours per week. Must be available for some weekends and evenings. We operate under a flexible hybrid (home & office) work model from our Santa Monica office. Staff are in the office approximately two days a week. Heal the Bay offers a dynamic work environment with highly motivated staff and volunteers. Candidates must currently live in Los Angeles County, California or be willing to relocate to be considered for this role.

How To Apply  
Application Deadline: August 19, 2022. Position ideal start day September 6, 2022
  • Please submit your cover letter and/or brief introduction and resume/CV or list of qualifications online at commsdir@healthebay.org. Use Communications Director in the subject line.
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