The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Washington, D.C. Communications Coordinator to be based at its Federal Affairs Office located in Washington, D.C.

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest regional nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to saving the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers and streams, and the wildlife that call it home through education, advocacy, litigation, and restoration. Since 2010, CBF has engaged in a focused effort to defend and implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a binding federal and state collaborative agreement aimed at reducing pollution to the science-based, legally-affirmed levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Blueprint is expected to be fully implemented by 2025. If the states and the federal government achieve Blueprint goals, the Bay will finally—after decades of failed efforts—be removed from the Clean Water Act’s impaired waters list. Successfully implementing the Blueprint depends on a well-informed, engaged, active, and diverse constituency of members, advocates, and volunteers who speak up and take action to save the Bay.

CBF has a staff of approximately 190 employees working in offices in Annapolis, Maryland; Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Washington, D.C. as well as 15 field education program locations. Our staff and volunteer corps work throughout the region educating students and adults, advocating for clean water policies, restoring waterways, and litigating when necessary.

CBF’s headquarters office in Annapolis, Maryland is the Philip Merrill Environmental Center, the world’s first U.S. Green Build Council’s LEED platinum building. In 2014, CBF opened the Brock Environmental Center—one of the world’s most energy efficient, environmentally smart buildings—in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

CBF has an annual budget of approximately $26 million and is supported by more than 275,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

Communications is one of four operating programs within CBF alongside Environmental Protection and Restoration, Litigation, and Environmental Education. CBF’s Communications department is broken into four functional areas/teams: Creative Services, Digital Communications, Media Relations, and Marketing. The Communications Department’s charge is to market CBF and its policy agenda, educate and engage the public, and support the organization’s priorities and initiatives. Communications also manages internal communications and public opinion research.

The Washington Communications Coordinator will work in CBF’s Washington DC office alongside the CBF’s Executive Director, Federal Outreach & Advocacy Manager and Federal Policy & Legislative Manager. And will be required to travel to CBF’s HQ in Annapolis occasionally.

The Washington Communications Coordinator will coordinate CBF’s federal communications efforts and serve as the CBF’s press lead for Washington DC and working closely with the VA and MD Communications Coordinators on the surrounding metro areas. Working in lock-step with policy colleagues and the rest of the Communications department, this position will use print, broadcast, and online media to raise CBF’s profile in and around Washington advancing CBF’s federal policy agenda across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Washington Communications Coordinator is a member of the Media Relations team and reports to Director of Media Relations.

Essential functions include:

1. Develop, execute, and evaluate a communications and media strategy that strengthens CBF’s federal voice by positioning CBF as a world leader and the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint as a global model for environmental improvement.
2. Assist the Washington Office with advancing their federal legislative and regulatory priorities in Washington and across the watershed by using creative and engaging communications tactics to advance CBF’s mission.
3. Work with the Federal Outreach & Advocacy Manager, Digital Advocacy & Outreach Manager, and Making History Campaign Director to connect CBF’s federal communications and advocacy work with state and local priorities, as well as CBF’s 1 Million Voices campaign.
4. Create, build, and maintain close working relationships with DC-area media, including national and local reporters, producers, and editors.
5. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with congressional and DC government counterparts in order to coordinate media and communications efforts that advance the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.
6. Oversee the development of materials on federal issues including talking points, speeches, annual reports, brochures, op-eds and other forms of communications that increase CBF’s national profile and advance our work.
7. Draft, edit, and distribute press releases, blogs, op-eds, etc. for national publications as well as CBF owned media platforms.
8. Write federally-focused content for CBF’s magazine, Save the Bay, CBF’s website, e-newsletter, and social media.
9. Work closely with Digital, Creative Services, and Marketing teams to ensure unified messaging and branding in all federal communications.
10. Assist staff with the writing and editing of reports, letters, and other press-related documents. Ensure that all collateral adheres to CBF’s style guide.
11. Provide messaging guidance, briefing material, and support for CBF staff during media engagements.
12. Assist in developing special events and field trips designed to inform, educate, and engage key Washington decision makers
13. Perform other duties as required.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or related field
• 5+ years relevant experience in communications, public relations or media
• Established relationships with DC-area media and communications professionals
• In-depth understanding of national media and emerging media trends
• A proactive, self-starter with strong time management skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Strategic thinker that can advise both on policy issues, media tactics, and
• Experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders and broad network of contacts
• Proven excellent oral and (especially) written communication skills is required.
• Proficiency with still and video photography preferred.
• Environmental and congressional experience, especially about the Chesapeake Bay and water quality issues, is preferable, but not required.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website no later than May 31, 2019.

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred retirement plan.

Please note this is a campaign-funded position that is expected to be funded for multiple years.  However, as with any position that is dependent on campaign money, there is the risk of unexpected funding problems and the position can no longer be funded through the campaign.  IF that should happen, CBF will review the position at that time to determine if it can then be funded from other sources of income within the organization.

CBF encourages diverse candidates to apply and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment.  CBF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and 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.