Communications Director, Policy

Job Description:

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

Additional Job Description

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.

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 co