Communications Director

03.13.2024 | Cam

About the Role

We’re seeking a communications pro to help transform Heal the Bay, one of greater L.A.’s most beloved environmental organizations. We’re looking for a sharp storyteller and content whiz who can energize our traditional base of supporters as we continue our vital work of safeguarding our region’s ocean, shoreline, and inland watersheds. As we prepare to celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’re looking for some fresh thinking and strategies. Are you the leader who can help us mobilize a new wave of watershed warriors through bolder and more culturally relevant outreach.

What You Will Do:

    • Research, understand, and segment our key audiences – volunteers, donors, advocates, educators and institutional supporters – so you can engage with them more effectively.
    • Lead staff in creating actionable campaigns under tight deadlines that increase public awareness, influence decision-makers, spur community action and raise revenue.
    • Create and edit catchy content for a number of vehicles – website updates, blog posts, e-newsletters, Op Ed submissions, infographics, social posts, fundraising appeals, event programming and high-impact/low-tech video.
    • Pitch media outlets to place water, ocean and climate issues higher up on their priority lists and generate local and national press coverage of our issues and activities.
    • Serveas a member of HTB’s senior leadership team, liaising with other directors and HTB board members to shape organizational strategy and drive executional excellence.
    • Define HTB strategic priorities through ‘out of the box’ game-changing programs/campaigns to show that HTB is cutting edge.
    • Manage the communications department. Manage and develop communications team members.

What You Bring to the Table:

      • At least 10 years experience managing written and visual storytelling for mission-driven organizations.
      • A creative mindset and writer’s instinct that can make wonky policy debate and science-based initiatives more relatable to the general public.
      • An understanding of L.A.’s changing demographics and a commitment to better engage diverse audiences in an authentic and relevant manner.
      • Proven ability to prioritize and create an annual communications plan/calendar and set/meet all deadlines in a fast-paced organization.
      • A take-charge work style that’s comfortable receiving guidance/direction from the leadership team and then executing independently.
      • The talent to toggle back and forth daily from tactical execution and strategic-driven brainstorming.
      • Experience writing and distributing all forms of original content: press releases, media advisories, video scripts, fundraising appeals, social media posts, advertising, campaign taglines, talking points for the C Suite, op-eds, letters to the editor, blog posts, campaign briefs, social media toolkits, and other copy as needed.
      • Proven experience as a brand steward, collaborating across multiple departments to ensure consistent messaging across all platforms and vehicles.
      • A sharp editor’s eye that ensures all disseminated content is free of misspellings, grammatical errors, acronyms, jargon, nonprofit-speak and other cringe-inducing missteps.
      • Aptitude in WordPress, Google Analytics, Graphic Design (Photoshop, Lightroom, Canva), social media best practices, and Project Management Software (Asana)
      • Excellent media relations skills, including the ability to respond rapidly and thoughtfully to press inquiries, including those received outside of standard work hours.

Salary Range: $100,000 – $120,000 a year

 

How You Will Know Your Work Is Working:

      • More volunteer sign-ups
      • More visits to our Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
      • More members acquired/donations made
      • More actions taken by the general public to support specific advocacy campaigns
      • More visits/engagement on our public-facing communication platforms
      • More strategic high-impact collaborators/influencers/cultural partners

Why You’ll Feel Good Doing It:

    • You’ll inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Your work will educate and galvanize hundreds of thousands of Angelenos each year by giving them the knowledge, tools, and engagement opportunities to bring about meaningful change in their communities, both inland and coastal.
    • You’ll fight for Mother Earth. Your efforts will help build climate-resilient communities, clean up polluted waterways, and protect the wildlife that call greater Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Bay home.
    • You’ll create community and camaraderie. You will catalyze a network of like-minded change agents across the region to share information and provide support.

What to Expect from the Work Culture:

      • Care and respect from nearly 20 fellow staffers working from HTB headquarters in Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and in-home offices across the region.
      • A commitment to helping employees find sustainable work-life balance, support for their families and opportunities for professional and personal growth.
      • A recognition that while our advocacy work is serious business we can always have fun doing it.
      • A fast-paced environment in which you will collaborate closely with a detail-oriented CEO to achieve ambitious goals.

What You Might First Sink Your Teeth Into:

      • Beach Report Card: Promote and pitch our annual water-quality ranking of the most polluted beaches in the state of California.
      • “Bring Back the Beach” Gala: Help drive attendance and awareness of our annual casual-chic party under the stars at the Jonathan Club.
      • Earth Month: Educate and encourage residents to volunteer and take direct action to create a more resilient Southland.
      • Heal the Bay Speaker Series: Expand influencer network by collaborating with Big Idea + Big Impact individuals on quarterly events
      • LA28 Olympic Initiative:  Define a clear “MVP” goal that grows relationships + milestones with elite athletes to amplify HTB mission as the region drives to the Olympics.

How to Apply  

Please apply with a resume and a short cover letter (500 words or fewer) that explains why this position might be a good mutual fit. Also submit links to two pieces of cause-related content of which you are particularly proud – blog post, social campaign, infographic, video, etc.

Heal the Bay is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status and we strongly encourage applications from individuals that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County.
Heal the Bay complies with AB 1008, the Fair Chance Act, during the hiring process. Once a conditional job offer has been made the candidate will be asked to complete a Live Scan criminal background check. A thorough assessment of conviction history will be considered including the nature and gravity of the criminal history, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the candidate is seeking.
Heal the Bay requires all staff to obtain and maintain up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations, when available. Heal the Bay believes this is an important measure to protect the health and safety of employees, volunteers, family members and those who visit the workplace from COVID-19 infection. Staff must show proof of vaccination (vaccination card or website