Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation has grown into America’s largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state and territorial affiliates and more than seven million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and stripes. The mission of the National Wildlife Federation is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world. We advance this mission through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, advancing environmental justice, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change. The Federation is committed to inspiring all people around our shared love of nature and wildlife by creating a welcoming and inclusive community representative of all Americans.

Texas Living Waters (TLW) is an NWF-led collaborative effort with other organizations working together to improve Texas’ management and use of water to ensure that sufficient freshwater is available to support abundant fish and wildlife and thriving communities. To support Texas Living Waters and NWF’s broader Texas Coast and Water Program, we are seeking a Communications Manager to join our team.

The Communications Manager will serve as a strategic thought leader on NWF’s Texas Coast and Water team. Your primary responsibility will be to develop, support, and implement a robust communications program to cultivate, engage, and mobilize a wide range of partners and allies to support the strategic goals and aims of NWF’s Texas Coast and Water Program, including Texas Living Waters (TLW) with outside partners. Areas of focus for those goals include equitable water policy and planning for all Texans, water conservation, freshwater inflows for healthy bays and estuaries, nature-based solutions to water-related hazards, and more. The Communications Manager will report to the Senior Director of the Texas Coast and Water Program.

In this role you will:

Develop, Implement, and Maintain a Communications Strategy (40%):

• Develop, manage, and track all aspects of the Texas Coast and Water Program’s and TLW’s communication strategy in collaboration with TLW organizations, other partners, and external consultants
• Identify opportunities to highlight activities of the Texas Coast and Water Program and TLW through multiple platforms
• Develop and be responsible for grant-specific communications strategies and reporting
• Support external communications across multiple mediums, including written, graphic, photo and video, to promote and support the Texas Coast and Water Program and TLW
• Craft, implement, and maintain quality control of TLW’s key messages, brand, and image
• Lead the development of an annual impact report for TLW funders and supporters

Produce Content for Texas Coast and Water and TLW audiences (25%):

• Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic materials including, but not limited to, newsletters, annual reports, brochures, social media, and web content
• Create promotional materials for the Texas Coast and Water Program and TLW initiatives (ex: factsheets and issue briefs)
• Provide writing and presentation assistance to team as necessary
• Manage contracts with English to Spanish translation services as needed

Cultivate and Maintain Press, Media and Partner Relations (25%):

• Cultivate and sustain relationships with members of the media (includes print, tv, radio, and online platforms)
• Elevate the team’s expertise to the media on issues within our strategic goals
• Manage press relations through press inquiries and pitching stories, and by promptly responding to media requests
• Assist in op-ed and other persuasive writing for placement in newspapers, magazines, and other forms of online and written news media.
• Look for and pursue opportunities to tell our story and elevate our issues through various media platforms (news, social media, podcasts, partnerships)
• Work closely with NWF’s national communications team for general coordination and organize direct support on outreach to Spanish-speaking outlets
• Coordinate with NWF’s South Central communications team for general coordination, outreach, and engagement to the region
• Assist in maintaining donor communication processes as necessary

Design and Manage Web and Digital Platforms (10%):

• Effectively communicate our work and impact by updating the TWL website and maintaining it as an inviting and interactive platform
• Help staff generate blogs, reports, and general information related to each issue area that can be featured on the TLW website
• Perform regular site maintenance and troubleshooting
• Manage social media platform and strategically communicate about our work and priorities in real time
• Track and measure the level of engagement on the web and social media platforms
• Manage contracts with web consultants on the above tasks as necessary

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience (Communications and/or Environmental Studies preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in communications or related positions, such as print communications, social media management, science communication, earned media, digital presence, visual communications, website content creation, event promotion, or stakeholder engagement
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to flex communication and present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Strong copy editor with an eye for detail
• Proficiency with PC-based software including Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
• Creativity, flexibility, and ability to handle multiple tasks at once and meet deadlines
• Self-starter, independent thinker, creative problem solver, and team player

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with a variety of writing styles in multiple formats such as digital media, white papers, and press releases
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Demonstrated graphics design and website design experience
• Bi-lingual (Spanish/English)

NWF Values:

Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.  Your competencies should include:

• Being motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized;
  Consistently bringing a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions;
• Being committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement;
• Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members and keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them;
• Being dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work; and
• Passion for and commitment to NWF’s mission

Physical Requirements of the Job:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example, using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about the workspace. The position requires mobility, including moving materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note: This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Travel Requirements: 

There will be occasional local and statewide travel. You must have a valid driver’s license. There may be occasional travel outside of the state as needed for relevant organizational meetings.

Location and Work Mode: 

This position is based out of our South Central Regional Center (SCRC) in Austin, TX, and applicants must be within driving distance of Austin. The National Wildlife Federation is committed to a flexible and empowered work environment with an authentic community of care for all staff. In this position, the employee may work in the office or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with their supervisor in the final stages of the interview process. For more information on Work Modes, please review the benefits section of our careers page: https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $72,000 – $80,000, commensurate with experience.

We are proud of our designation by Mogul as a Top 100 Workplace with the Best Benefits, and by Forbes as one of America’s best small employers!  We value work-life balance and a family-friendly atmosphere with flexible scheduling.  We want you to be able to integrate work and personal life with attention to your self-care, so that your work schedule is not depleting.  We offer benefits so you feel restored and fueled through the day and week.

We offer these supports to help manage your mental, emotional, and physical health:

• Paid time off: Vacation that starts off at three weeks accrual, unlimited wellbeing (this time can be used for physical, spiritual, emotional, cultural, religious or financial wellbeing for yourself, a partner, or family member – including pets), and 10 holidays.
• We close down for a paid winter break between December 25 to January 1 to recognize end of-year stress, and time for reflection, rejuvenation, and spending time with family.
• Up to 16 weeks of fully paid Family and Medical Leave
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance options – all outpatient mental health is covered at in-network rates
• Therapist available at no cost
• Pet insurance and discount perk program
• Annual wellbeing allowance

In addition to your salary, we offer the following supports to your personal finances:

• Retirement plan with immediate match and vesting
• Annual year end retirement contribution
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Adoption and Surrogacy assistance
• Pet adoption stipend
• Student Loan management

Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s benefits package at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Careers.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at nwf.org/equity.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules.  Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. To be eligible for this role you must be a U.S. citizen or have valid work authorization to work in the U.S.

Please let us know if you require accommodations during the application or interview process by reaching us at hrhelp@nwf.org  or 703-438-6244.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.