Title: Senior Director, Oceans Communications

Job Family/Level: Communications/ Senior Director

Reports to: SVP, Oceans

FLSA status: Exempt – 2-year limited term

Revised Date: July 2024

Major Function

The Communications Senior Director leads the development and execution of internal and external communications strategies that advance Oceans Goal Team conservation objectives, supports resource mobilization, and links to the broader communications and conservation strategies of the organization. Recognized at WWF-US and in the WWF Network as the communications expert for the Goal Team, serves as the first point of contact on internal and external communications inquiries related to the Goal Team. Supervises and manages a communications team that oversees specific communications needs for the Oceans Goal Team

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and implementation of communications strategies and associated work plans related to Oceans Goal Team conservation objectives, including strategic leadership for priority partnerships, coalitions, and alliances.
• Manages communications team to meet Ocean Goal Team communication needs, including knowledge management of programmatic activities, and perform all associated administrative and human resource management functions for staff.
• Develops messaging, content, and stories for projects related to the Oceans Goal Team and oversees all content and stories related to the Goal Team that are created by others at WWF. The content is for a variety of WWF and third-party channels and various types of collateral (e.g., websites, videos, brochures, and magazines). Provides oversight for monthly newsletter production.
• Advises the Oceans Goal Team and organization on the communications aspects of existing work as well as projects being stage gated.
• Manages appropriately the communications for priority international advocacy and policy conventions, meetings, and events.
• Develops and ensures consistent messaging on programmatic issues and reactive communications for key audiences (external and internal) and integrates priority messages and outcomes across the organization.
• Innovates and monitors communications-related trends.
• Manges complexity around conflict and crisis in communications for the team.
• Produces content and provides content expertise to support the various channels managed within WWF-US Marketing and Communications. Leads Oceans Goal Team coordination with media and external affairs team on earned media planning and strategy, as well as thought-leadership.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10+ years’ program, communications or other relevant professional experience is required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated success in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and managing communications strategies, particularly focused on public policy and advocacy efforts
• Strong organizational and communications skills, both verbal and written
• Critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent ability to build internal and external relationships
• Experience working with external partners and/or corporate clients
• Experience working on public policy issues
• Strong project management skills with proven ability to work as part of a high-level, multi-dimensional, international team
• Comfortable interacting with corporate and government personnel at all levels
• Demonstrated experience in relationship and partnership development.
• Working knowledge of the issue of plastic pollution and/or material science is preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally (less than 10%)
• 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.

• Leads the development and implementation of communications strategies and associated work plans related to Oceans Goal Team conservation objectives, including strategic leadership for priority partnerships, coalitions, and alliances.

• Manages communications team to meet Ocean Goal Team communication needs, including knowledge management of programmatic activities, and perform all associated administrative and human resource management functions for staff.

• Develops messaging, content, and stories for projects related to the Oceans Goal Team and oversees all content and stories related to the Goal Team that are created by others at WWF. The content is for a variety of WWF and third-party channels and various types of collateral (e.g., websites, videos, brochures, and magazines).
• Provides oversight for monthly newsletter production.

• Advises the Oceans Goal Team and organization on the communications aspects of existing work as well as projects being stage gated.

• Manages appropriately the communications for priority international advocacy and policy conventions, meetings, and events.

• Develops and ensures consistent messaging on programmatic issues and reactive communications for key audiences (external and internal) and integrates priority messages and outcomes across the organization.

• Innovates and monitors communications-related trends.

• Manges complexity around conflict and crisis in communications for the team.

• Produces content and provides content expertise to support the various channels managed within WWF-US Marketing and Communications.
• Leads Oceans Goal Team coordination with media and external affairs team on earned media planning and strategy, as well as thought-leadership.

Key Competencies

• Diplomacy: Building and leveraging internal and external relationships to identify and advance mutually beneficial objectives is critical to success in this position.

• Strategic Communication: This is required to develop and implement communications strategies and campaigns at scale aligned and in partnership with WWF marketing and communications teams.

• Excellent Collaboration and Relationship building skills: We work in a cross-functional, matrixed organization which necessitates the ability to build partnerships and foster unity among diverse groups. Our success depends on our positive relationships throughout the organization.

• Empowering Management approach: This position will identify and leverage strengths within their team through delegation that focuses on outcomes, as well as provide coaching to enhance performance.

• Prioritization and navigating ambiguity: The ability to pivot in the face of quickly changing priorities to ensure team and individual deadlines are met is essential.

• Agile thinking: This position requires the ability to identify and articulate a global perspective that also incorporates local perspectives.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 12+ years’ program, communications, or other relevant professional experience is required.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.

• Demonstrated success in conceptualizing, developing, implementing, and managing communications strategies, including for a foundation, NGO, corporation with a global scope.

• Strong organizational and communications skills, both verbal and written.

• Critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills.

• Excellent ability to build internal and external relationships.

• Experience working with external partners and/or corporate clients.

• Experience working on public policy issues.

• Strong project management skills with proven ability to work as part of a high-level, multi-dimensional, and international team.

• Comfortable interacting with corporate and government personnel at all levels.

• Demonstrated experience in relationship and partnership development.

• Working knowledge of the issue of plastic pollution and/or material science is preferred.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required.

• Ability to travel nationally and internationally (approximately 10% – 25%).

• 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 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.