The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Director of Community Engagement and Marketing to be based at its Philip Merrill Environmental Center headquarters located in Annapolis, MD.

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’ charge is to market CBF and its policy agenda, educate and engage the public, and mobilize its support for priorities, including advocacy and member-development objectives. CBF defines marketing as actions which help to sell something. They can be through earned media (and all the elements which go into it such as relationships with reporters, press releases, other forms of communications, etc.); purchased media; direct communications with an audience such as through CBF’s many publications, our website, action alerts, and any other forms of direct or indirect communications with the public at large or a subset of the public, including our members. Communications also manages internal communications and public opinion research.

CBF’s Communications department is broken into four functional areas: Creative Services, Digital Communications, External Media, and Community Engagement.

The Director of Community Engagement and Marketing will be responsible for designing and implementing strategic marketing campaigns that elevate CBF’s profile, educate key audiences (including CBF staff), and inspire actions that help save the Bay. The Director of Community Engagement and Marketing supervise the Senior Manager of Community Engagement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Making History Campaign Marketing Communications:
o Develop and implement marketing and engagement campaigns in support of CBF’s Making History campaign including efforts to plant 10 million trees in PA, 10 billion oysters in MD and VA, and activate 1 million voices around the watershed.

• Strategic Communications and Marketing/Branding:
o Create and lead a cross-departmental team of subject matter experts (events, partner promotions, grassroots outreach) charged with identifying and maximizing the value of CBF’s marketing/branding opportunities to elevate CBF’s profile, engage audiences, and inspire support for clean water initiatives.
o With the help of the cross-departmental team, analyze and identify CBF’s current marketing/branding efforts, “touchpoints,” target audiences, acquisition funnels, and communications. Develop and implement a strategic marketing plan designed to elevate CBF’s profile with key audiences, including the next generation of supporters.
o Lead strategy, planning, and evaluation of community outreach branding efforts, including but not limited to tabling events, fairs and festivals

• Manage communications and marketing efforts related to corporate or other donor branding opportunities in close coordination with Development Department staff. Develop performance metrics to help achieve maximum brand value and greatest revenue potential, monitoring performance and standardizing CBF’s marketing/promotional relationships moving forward.

• Manage the Senior Manager of Community Engagement also tasked with managing internal communications.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in related field plus a minimum of ten years’ experience in marketing, communications, media, or digital media. Proven ability to develop and manage comprehensive strategic communications programs that leverage the power of storytelling. Exceptional written, oral, and presentation skills. Expertise and awareness in digital and traditional media, including new and emerging technologies. Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills. Demonstrated confidence in collaborating with staff across all levels, including executive leaders. Ability to manage projects and lead teams. Attention to detail, respect for deadlines, and strong visual, oral, and interpersonal communication skills. Experience in a mission-driven, environmental advocacy and educational organization is desirable.

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 being 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.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and salary history and requirements no later than August 31, 2018.

CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a tax deferred annuity plan. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.