Director, Oceans Communications

Company Description

Founded in 1961, WWF works to help people and nature thrive. As a global conservation organization, WWF operates in more than 100 countries, partnering with communities, companies, and governments to protect wildlife, conserve vital habitats, and advance sustainable solutions. Grounded in science and driven by collaboration, WWF works to help nature by conserving biodiversity, supporting resilient communities, and addressing climate change. Nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 5 million globally are WWF members.

Job Description

Major Function  

The Director, Oceans Communications leads the development and execution of communications plans to advance the WWF-US Ocean team’s major initiatives and the organization’s ocean conservation goals. This position plays a critical role in leading the Ocean team’s communications efforts with internal and external audiences and manages and implements projects across the Oceans team in seascapes, blue foods and markets and finance. The director supervises and manages a communications team and oversees the success of the Oceans team’s programmatic communications. 

Key Responsibilities

• Drives communications planning, including the development and execution of strategies and tactics in line with the Ocean team’s key conservation priorities and overarching communications strategy in coordination with the senior director of communications.
• Provides ongoing management of the Oceans editorial calendars, content development, digital presence, blogs and newsletter. Supports the development of narrative building for the Oceans team and relevant projects.
• Works as a thought partner with the senior director and Oceans team leaders to develop communications approaches, prioritize projects, provide guidance on meeting communications goals and manage capacity and funding for communications work across seascapes, blue foods and market and finance.
• Manages day-to-day Ocean team communications work, providing direction and oversight to team members, supporting required operational processes, and ensuring high-quality, timely delivery of communications products aligned with Ocean priorities and overall communications strategy.
• Ensures alignment, coordination, and consistent priorities and messaging across the Oceans team and key internal stakeholders, including Marketing & Communications, Development, Public Sector Engagement, and Policy and Government Affairs.
• Manages incoming requests for information from and opportunities to collaborate with WWF colleagues, external partners, and the general public ensuring appropriate prioritization and follow-up.
• Leads tracking of communication activities and progress and works with the senior director to optimize communications approaches and activities.
• Monitors and incorporates communications best practices and market insights into ongoing communications planning and execution.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Key Competencies

• Relationship Building and Collaboration: Building and leveraging internal and external relationships to identify and advance mutually beneficial objectives is critical to success in this position. We work in a cross-functional, matrixed organization which necessitates the ability to build partnerships and foster unity among diverse internal and external groups.
• Strategic Communication: Strategic communications experiences is required to develop and implement communications strategies and programs at scale across the Oceans program and are aligned and in partnership with WWF marketing and communications teams. The ability to bring in best practices and trends in strategic communication approaches from across organizations and sectors is an important aspect of this position.
• Project and Program Management: Project and program planning, budgeting and management are critical aspects of this position. This includes the ability to plan, budget and mange work across the Oceans team, Oceans communication projects and cross-organizational projects, including working with 3rd parties.   
• People Management: This position will identify and leverage strengths within a team through delegation that focuses on outcomes, as well as provide coaching to enhance performance. Together with the senior director of communications, this role will develop a plan for the future communication needs of the Oceans team. 
• Solution-Focused Adaptability: This position requires the ability to identify and articulate a global perspective that also incorporates local perspectives in rapidly evolving environments. It requires the ability to make quick decisions and adapt solutions and resources, while keeping projects on track.

Skills and Abilities:

• 10 years of experience conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and managing communications strategies that support an entity’s goals. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., communications, journalism, conservation, or international development) is required.
• Experience with mission-oriented strategic communications and success as a creative and effective communicator.
• Ability to manage complex communications issues and think strategically, pulling in market best practices and trends.
• Excellent program management and organizational skills and proven experience leading complex communication projects.
• Experience leading, managing and developing communications staff.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills.
• Stellar copy-editing skills and familiarity with Chicago Manual of Style and Associated Press Stylebook standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with a variety of communications platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships in a complex environment.
• Committed to building and strengthening a culture of inclusion within and across teams. 
• Identifies and aligns with WWF’s core values:
  • COURAGE – We demonstrate courage through our actions, we work for change where it’s needed, and we inspire people and institutions to tackle the greatest threats to nature and the future of the planet, which is our home.
  • INTEGRITY – We live the principles we call on others to meet. We act with integrity, accountability and transparency, and we rely on facts and science to guide us and to ensure that we learn and evolve.
  • RESPECT – We honor the voices and knowledge of people and communities that we serve, and we work to secure their rights to a sustainable future.
  • COLLABORATION – We deliver impact at the scale of the challenges we face through the power of collective action and innovation.

Additional Information

This is a 2-Year, Limited Term position.

Please note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.  

Relocation is not provided for this position.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) promotes equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals regardless of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.