Communications Specialist

We seek a Communications Specialist to translate NWF's programmatic messages into the media (newspapers, television, radio, magazines and external websites) or directly via nwf.org - in a manner that establishes NWF as a leader and projects and reinforces NWF's brand and strategic priorities. The Communications Specialist will work with the Conservation and Education Program leaders, and others, to form short and long-term communications plans for the programs or campaigns they are assigned to cover. The Communications Specialist will then implement those plans, and associated strategies, creatively using the full range of NWF assets, including policy experts, grassroots outreach, the NWF web site, NWF's CEO and/or other senior leaders, members of the Board of Directors, affiliate leaders and leaders from like-minded organizations. The Communication Specialist will be expected to create and implement communications strategies for their priority programs and campaigns that influence public opinion so as to advance the goals in the strategic implementation plan. He or she cannot be content with reacting to news, but must seek out or create opportunities to lead the news cycle. The Communications Specialist will be expected to write, edit and produce content for the Media Center or Wildlife Promise blog on nwf.org as well as pitch stories to traditional or new media. The Communication Specialist will also be expected to be deft at tactical media that simply records an NWF position in the media, at maintaining message consistency for all the outreach vehicles they are involved with, and at media training and communications, as needed, with internal NWF audiences.

The Communication Specialist position will work primarily with program or campaign staff based in the National Advocacy Center (Washington DC), Southeast Regional Center (Atlanta), South Central Regional Center (Austin) and NWF media contractors working on Gulf oil disaster and Gulf restoration campaign; the position will be based in NWF Southeast Regional Center (Atlanta) and may require occasional travel to the DC/South Central Regional Center to meet with program staff or reporters. The right candidate will have knowledge about the Gulf oil disaster and be a quick study of related issues, such as water or land policies related to Gulf restoration. (S)he will be familiar with congressional and/or regulatory processes. Because NWF’s strategic drivers cut across regions, the regional communications specialist must be able to assist with regional aspects of national program or campaign communications, which could include creating state- or region-specific press materials or web content and pitching local press, or assisting grassroots staff in these local efforts. While the primary campaign of this position will serve is the Gulf Restoration Campaign, the regional communications specialist will also assist the Southeast Regional Center promote regional programs or campaigns in the media and on the web.