Position Filled: Communications Director

Thank you for your interest – This position has been filled.

Make a difference for the environment and Oregon’s future by joining the dynamic team at Oregon Environmental Council (OEC)!

Who We’re Seeking
Oregon Environmental Council’s Communications Director leads marketing and communications (or “mar/com”) functions for the organization, maintains a strong organizational brand, and works collaboratively to define OEC’s value and translate that value to target audiences. The position ensures a positive public presence for OEC through earned and owned media channels and proactively recognizes, prepares for and maximizes all external communication opportunities. The Director builds on current strategy and also evaluates and implements a strategic communication and marketing plan that strengthens OEC’s brand, reflects our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and helps achieve the organization’s programmatic, legislative and fundraising goals.

The Communications Director creates content, manages production and also ensures that strategy is executed efficiently and effectively. The Director works collaboratively with the Program and Development teams to ensure the overall success of the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy Communication and Management (~30%)

• Supervises the Marketing and Social Media Manager and or Consultants, and oversees production of all external and internal communications
• Leads development of OEC’s Communications & Marketing Work Plan and oversees the execution of that plan, ensuring that all communications tactics and content align with strategic goals and adhere to brand guidelines
• Works closely with program staff and leadership to design and implement communication campaigns to achieve legislative and program-specific goals
• Ensures OEC’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is operationalized in our communications plan and that all our communications are culturally competent and designed to reach diverse audiences
• Works with the executive director to prepare all internal, crisis, and executive communications
• Manages OEC’s digital assets, service & software contracts, creative vendors and media subscriptions including Google AdWords campaigns and Google Analytics
• Occasionally represents OEC at coalition, public, and community events
• Regularly analyzes analytics for OEC’s online assets and adapts strategy for maximum organizational benefit (websites, email communications and social media)

Content Development (~40%)

• Oversees content strategy: writes content for print, social, web, internal and electronic communications, including a monthly electronic newsletter, two annual print newsletters, action alerts; responds to current events and additional communication as needed; reviews, edits and proofreads others’ work
• Regularly meets with program directors to understand OEC issue areas, provide strategic communications advice, produce content

• Produces and regularly updates all marketing and outreach collateral materials not limited to reports, case for support, brochures, fact sheets, legislative briefs, and all promotional items used in outreach
• Writes and edits letters, remarks, statements, speeches and talking points for executive leadership and others
• Designs and implements organizational and project-specific marketing and outreach efforts, including pro-active digital marketing plans to support OEC’s campaign/legislative priorities

Media (~20%)

• Develops and executes earned and owned media plan designed to advance OEC’s strategic goals and strengthen OEC’s organizational presence and visibility
• Proactively seeks out and secures earned media coverage statewide and nationally
• Cultivates relationships with key media outlets, reporters, editors and bloggers; fields media inquiries
• Monitors news for relevant environmental stories and emerging communications trends
• Works with program staff to “think media”; prepares and trains program and legislative staff for media interviews and to utilize owned media channels as appropriate
• Drafts and distributes press releases and press advisories; prepares press kits and organizes press conferences/briefings as necessary
• Tracks media coverage of OEC; maintains media contact database and systems for benchmarking, tracking and reporting on earned media results

Fundraising (~10%)

• Works strategically with Deputy Director for Philanthropy to coordinate membership and development communications that are aligned with OEC fundraising goals and support spring, special occasion, Giving Tuesday, Give!Guide and end of year appeal campaigns
• Works with Deputy Director of Philanthropy to create an annual Impact Report to reflect the value of OEC’s work and progress we’re making within each of our program areas
• Works with Director of Foundations and Corporate Relations to develop potential communications-related funding proposals and develop and implement communications grant deliverables 

Qualifications:

Required Experience or Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related field, or equivalent experience
• Four years of professional experience in communications, media relations and digital marketing
• Two years of supervisory experience with a firm commitment to collaborative, team-oriented management and proficiency in culturally sensitive supervision

Required Skills, Abilities & Qualities

• A clear and compelling writer and speaker
• Expertise in website management and internet publication tools such as WordPress, Google Workspace, Emma, Sprout Social and other similar website social and email management software
• Ability to flex communication style to multiple cultural environments
• Experience developing and implementing social marketing tools, including using analytics to evaluate effectiveness and apply to strategy
• Ability to think creatively and strategically about how to gain attention for the organization and our priorities
• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to work under pressure; ability to manage multiple projects while keeping a “big picture” strategic view
• Self-motivation and initiative; ability to work independently; entrepreneurial approach
• Performance-oriented mindset with a strong work ethic and commitment to achieving goals
• Excellent interpersonal skills; an eagerness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment; positive, flexible attitude
• Willing and able to bear high levels of responsibility; always accountable for one’s own decisions and work product
• A commitment to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the organization and as part of the position
• Energized to support Oregon Environmental Council’s Values and Beliefs and workplace culture as described in our Team Charter
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of employee and other sensitive company information

Preferred Experience

• Existing relationships with Oregon media (print, radio, television, digital)
• Experience with search-engine optimization/marketing (SEO/SEM) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
• Experience working in a nonprofit setting with a mission-driven staff and board
• Knowledge of environmental issues and passion for OEC’s mission
• Exposure to public policy development and advocacy

Other Requirements:

Travel: This position requires infrequent travel around the state. OEC encourages travel by sustainable modes, e.g., walking, bicycling, taking transit, and carpooling.

Work Schedule: Our office hours are Monday thru Friday 9:00AM-5:00PM, however this role requires the ability to be flexible about one’s schedule and work hours. This role may occasionally require excess hours in order to achieve deliverables.

Physical: This job operates in a professional open-floor office environment with a moderate level of noise associated with personal conversations and office machinery. The employee must be able to see, hear and talk and have the physical ability to move around, lift light objects, and use standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers and filing cabinets.

Benefits and Amenities:

OEC offers a collaborative, team-oriented, flexible, family-friendly workplace. Excellent benefits include:

• Four weeks of paid vacation annually (three the first year)
• Fixed holidays
• Paid personal days
• Paid staff in-service days
• 401k contribution (after the first year)
• Generous and sector-competitive health benefits

OEC endeavors to increase all staff wages annually to account for cost of living as well as to recognize and honor experience gained over time. We review and adjust the organizational pay scale every 2-3 years. Employees can expect to move up in the range for their position’s pay grade as they gain more experience in their roles.

You will learn a lot, laugh a lot, and feel great about helping Oregon communities become better, healthier places to live.

ADA Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please email [email protected] or call 503-222-1963 x100 for assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Oregon Environmental Council provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender assignment, gender identity or expression, national origin, (dis)ability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.