Media Director, West & Midwest

Overview

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our staff of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and internationally from our offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Santa Monica; San Francisco; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing.

Position Summary:

NRDC is seeking a Media Director, West & Midwest to work with the Communications team in our San Francisco, Santa Monica, or Chicago office. San Francisco and Santa Monica are preferred, but Chicago-based candidates will also be considered. The Media Director will help direct the public messaging and oversight of NRDC’s media team. They will oversee media staff in our Chicago, Santa Monica, and San Francisco offices and collaborate closely with advocacy, policy, legislative, and communications staff across the institution. The position reports directly to NRDC’s Senior Director of Media, and will share responsibility for setting the media strategy to help meet NRDC’s overarching communications objectives with clear attention to reach broader and more diverse audiences, enhanced brand recognition, and support a wide variety of advocacy goals. This individual must possess a strong work ethic and commitment to NRDC’s core values and mission, as well as a sharp eye for impactful messaging and strong management experience. The Media Director will manage a team that will drive media outreach, develop written materials, and advance NRDC’s vision and goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and set objectives for members of NRDC’s media team in Chicago, Santa Monica, and San Francisco offices.
• Supervise production of diverse communication tools, including, but not limited to, press releases, statements, Op-Eds, paid media, and some digital materials.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Media and Eastern Media Director to craft and coordinate media strategies, practices, and protocols.
• Collaborate closely with editorial, social media, campaign advocacy, partnership, digital fundraising, and other Communications leadership to develop overall communications plans and strategies, as well as institutional messaging.
• Partner with Regional Campaign Director on the coordination and prioritization of regional campaign efforts.
• Partner with federal government affairs team on the coordination and prioritization of federal advocacy efforts.
• Work with legal, scientific, and other advocacy program staff to develop effective message and communications strategies for a range of environmental and energy policy goals.
• Prepare expert and advocacy staff for broadcast interviews, helping to develop an institutional media training program, and occasionally represent the institution in interviews.
• Drive coordination and development of emerging messaging opportunities.
• Manage external vendors.
• Provide and implement crisis communication strategy as needed.
• Collaborate with other environmental groups in joint coalition efforts.
• Represent the Media Team and Communications in various internal meetings, discussions, and planning efforts.
• Other duties as defined by the Senior Director of Media.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years or more of relevant experience in media relations and/or communications.
• Bachelor’s and/or Master's degree in journalism, communications or related field.
• Experience in managing a large and diverse team of professionals, with at least 5 years supervisory/management experience.
• Experience developing and implementing communication plans.
• Experience with political and policy advocacy at the state and local levels.
• Capitol Hill experience preferred.
• Ability to speak and write in a clear and compelling manner for internal/external relations.
• Excellent writing and editing skills required, preferably involving public policy, with an emphasis on science and/or environmental issues.
• Strong organizational and project management skills essential.
• Proven experience managing priorities and working effectively across multiple internal stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Spanish-speaking a plus.
• Commitment to NRDC’s values and mission.

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. For this position, the salary is $145,000 to $150,000. Internal equity considerations will be reviewed before making a final offer.  

Since March 2020, NRDC’s offices have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You will be associated with one of our offices, but until circumstances allow us to re-open, we will continue to support NRDCers with remote working arrangements. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Please mention where you saw this posting and upload any additional materials that showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. 

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.