Communications Director, Policy

$110,000.00/yr - $160,000.00/yr

Overview

The National Audubon Society is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects birds and the places they need today and tomorrow. We work throughout the Americas towards a future where birds thrive because Audubon is a powerful, diverse, and ever-growing force for conservation. Audubon has more than 700 staff working across the hemisphere and more than 1.5 million active supporters.

North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and more than 500 bird species are at risk of extinction across Latin America and the Caribbean. Birds act as early warning systems about the health of our environment, and they tell us that birds – and our planet – are in crisis. Together as one Audubon, we are working to alter the course of climate change and habitat loss, leading to healthier bird populations and reversing current trends in biodiversity loss. We do this by implementing on-the-ground conservation, partnering with local communities, influencing public and corporate policy, and building community.

Audubon is committed to a culture of workplace excellence, where our talented and diverse staff are deeply engaged with a strong sense of belonging. The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon brings new creativity, effectiveness, and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.

Position Summary

The Communications Director, Policy is responsible for developing and executing a strategic vision for using communications to accomplish the National Audubon Society’s policy goals. The Communications Director, Policy will build strong support for Audubon’s positions, drive communications campaigns for policy initiatives, and ensure powerful and cohesive messaging across the Audubon network.

As a strategic thought leader at Audubon, the Communications Director, Policy, collaborates deeply with the Government Affairs team and supervises a team of communicators. This position also works with strategic communications agencies. The role will report to the Vice President, Communications. 

Compensation

Salary range based on geo-differentials:

• $110,000-$120,000/year = National
• $120,000-$130,000/year = Alaska, CA (not San Francisco), Connecticut, D.C., Chicago, Oyster Bay, NY
• $150,000-$160,000/year = NYC (not Oyster Bay), San Francisco, Seattle
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Essential Functions

• Conceive, oversee, and execute a holistic and proactive communications program for Audubon’s policy initiatives. Develop measurable goals and track outcomes to assess impact.
• Develop messaging frameworks to empower spokespeople and communicators, ensure consistent voice.
• Create and edit written materials and collateral, including op-eds, talking points, press releases, statements, pitches to media, one-pagers, case-studies, impact reports, brochures, presentations, social media posts, website copy, and blogs.
• Ensure high-quality media coverage at national, regional and local levels across all types of media; develop and build on strong relationships with national, Washington-based reporters and media outlets covering environmental issues, the White House and administration, Capitol Hill, key federal agencies, political news.
• Respond to and leverage key moments like agency announcements, hearings, floor votes to advance communications goals; create news moments and shape larger news narratives around policy priorities.
• Lead communications efforts in partnership with the Audubon Action Fund.
• Develop tools and resources to empower work across the network and increase our influence locally and nationally; collaborate and coordinate with communicators on other teams to ensure maximum impact.
• Collaborate with internal communications team to communicate external organizational priorities. Deliver media trainings for Audubon spokespeople.
• Manage and coach communicators, provide guidance and timely feedback, ensure professional development and growth opportunities.
• Manage relationships with communications agencies and other vendors.
• Manage projects and campaigns on time and on budget.
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Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, marketing or a closely related field required; equivalent combination of education and experience also considered.
• 10+ years of related experience, minimum of 5 years of experience in U.S. government, political, or advocacy communications required, and experience with nonprofit communications strongly preferred.
• Track record of successful high-level strategic planning and campaign development to shape events and issues through proactive messaging and outreach.
• Outstanding writing and editorial skills, deep understanding of writing persuasively and on deadline for a wide variety of audiences, including legislators and decision-makers.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and guiding staff
• Demonstrated experience landing high-quality media placements, established base of contacts in media outlets.
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills and the ability to maintain a team-focused attitude in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships.
• Demonstrated success in crisis communications, including the ability to grasp and appropriately respond to both internally and externally precipitated crises.
• Familiarity with environmental, energy, and conservation issues strongly preferred.
• Exceptional organizational and project management capacity with demonstrated ability to direct complex campaigns on time and on budget.
• Demonstrated personal and professional commitment to and experience in advancing equity diversity, inclusion and belonging.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and other key Microsoft Office and web-based products. Working knowledge of project management platforms, media relations databases, digital communications tools, and social media platforms required.
• A flexible approach to work, with a willingness to travel, as needed, and participate in programs occurring after typical business hours.
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EEO Statement

The National Audubon Society is a federal contractor and an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. We are committed to a policy of nondiscrimination, inclusion and equal opportunity and actively seek a diverse pool of candidates in this search.

Accessibility Statement

The National Audubon Society endeavors to keep our careers site accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Accommodations@audubon.org . This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.