The Chesapeake Bay Foundation seeks a Making History Campaign Marketing and Communications Specialist in the Making History Campaign Department to be based at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center 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 210 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 $30 million and is supported by over 300,000 members and e-subscribers. For more information on CBF, please visit cbf.org.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
Making History Campaign
In 2017, CBF launched the Making History campaign. Focused on restoring two of the Bay’s most effective natural filters—trees and oysters—the campaign will improve water quality, engage new advocates, and drive economic benefits across the region. Together with our partners, members, and other supporters, we can ensure a healthy Bay for us, our children, and grandchildren. Our efforts today will create a cleaner environment tomorrow. The Making History Campaign encompasses 3 legs: The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and the Chesapeake 1 Million Voices for Clean Water campaign.
To accelerate restoration of the Bay’s most effective filters, CBF and partners have formed the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance to put 10 billion new oysters in the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance is a coalition of non-profits, community organizations, oyster growers, and others focused on restoring oyster reefs, promoting science-based management of the oyster fishery, and supporting a growing oyster aquaculture industry.
The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is a collaborative effort of national and local agencies, conservation organizations, outdoors enthusiasts, businesses, and citizens committed to planting 10 million new trees in priority landscapes in Pennsylvania by the end of 2025. This bold effort will help Pennsylvania achieve its goal to plant roughly 96,000 acres of water-filtering forested buffers by 2025. Partners are committed to providing expertise and experience, technical assistance and supplies, volunteers, and legislative leadership.
The Chesapeake 1 Million Voices for Clean Water campaign to advance funding and policy priorities for programs and practices that will help meet the goals of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint by the end of 2025. Together we will fight for our future by building an army of advocates and supporters that reflects the diversity of the Bay watershed, and opposing threats with timely, strategic advocacy and litigation.
CONTEXT OF THE POSITION
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) launched the Making History Campaign in 2017 to accelerate efforts to bolster the natural resources and advocacy power needed to implement the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint. Focused on restoring two of the Bay’s most effective natural filters—trees and oysters – and raising the voices of passionate Bay advocates – the campaign will improve water quality, engage and train a diverse cadre of new advocates, and drive economic benefits across the region. Together with our partners, members, and other supporters, we have set ambitious goals to plant 10 million trees in Pennsylvania, add 10 billion oysters to MD and VA waters, and raise 1 million voices advocating for clean water – all by 2025.
As the Making History Marketing and Communications Specialist, candidate will develop new marketing initiatives and lead current initiatives with local, regional, and national promotion of the Making History Campaign components which includes the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, and Chesapeake 1 Million Voices for Clean Water. In this role candidate will work with the Communications Department and be given professional development resources to develop marketing and communications skills.
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.
Essential functions include:
Develop and implement marketing and engagement strategies 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 recruit and activate 1 million supporters around the watershed.
- 1 Million Voices for Clean Water: In coordination with he Making History Campaign Director and the Voices team, develop a new marketing plan for an online advocacy engagement and training tool, the Bay Advocacy Institute, launching in 2021. Collaborate with the Making History Campaign Team and Making History Fellows to develop and implement strategies to integrate CBF’s DEIJ goals into our partnerships and Campaign initiatives. Collaborate with the Federal Office and State Grassroots Teams as well as the Communication’s team to develop marketing and communication tools as needed for the Bay Advocacy Institute and other Voices initiatives as needed.
- Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership: Manage an outside marketing consultant for the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, oversee website updates for the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, manage aspects of a partnership with Clean Water Grows on Trees and Girl Scouts, manage various social media platforms for the Partnership, and lead and manage a Marketing Workgroup for the Partnership.
- Chesapeake Oyster Alliance: Develop a new marketing and outreach plan for the Alliance and promote 10 Billion for the Bay, manage an outside marketing consultant to execute the plan, manage various social media platforms for the Alliance, lead and manage the Communications Committee for the Alliance.
- Communications Team: Act as a liaison to Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Communication Team to coordinate on marketing plans, digital advocacy and engagement, social media, and press opportunities for the Campaign. Attend regular Communications Department meetings.
- Overall: Identify compelling promotional opportunities among the various Campaign efforts by CBF and external Making History Campaign partners; work with Communication staff to producing professional press releases; promote in-person and virtual events; skillfully capture relevant content through photo, video, and interview opportunities. Website development and curation on-demand.
- Other Responsibilities: Other projects and duties as assigned by the Making History Campaign Director. Travel within the watershed to Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia required
PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
This position requires 2+ years of experience and a passion and enthusiasm for the mission of Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the goals of the Making History Campaign. Creativity, innovation, and a desire to develop professional skills in marketing, social media, digital support, website development and management, and event promotion are essential. Strong written and verbal skills are a necessity. An understanding of environmental advocacy efforts and fluency in environmental issues are critical. Any previous experience with building and managing successful social media pages on various platforms, photo and video editing skills, familiarity with Salesforce, and the ability to produce and host large online meetings and forums preferred but not required. Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion and/or environmental justice initiatives preferred. The candidate will be expected to execute assignments in a collaborative manner with some degree of independence. Spanish language skills preferred but not required.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Ability to receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships. Ability to recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers. Having flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
Salary Range: $55,000 – $60,000
To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on CBF website.
CBF offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 2 floating holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, and a 403(b) retirement plan with matching contribution.
CBF requires that all staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND JUSTICE
Just as biodiversity is the key to a thriving ecosystem, human diversity is the key to saving the Bay. Success depends on people from widely diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, identities, and races taking collective action. Clean water, clean air, and a safe environment are rights we all share.
To increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will:
- Recruit and retain a staff, board, and membership that reflect the diversity of people living within the Chesapeake Bay region;
- Strengthen and broaden the diversity of our partnerships;
- Celebrate and value the diversity of staff; and
- Fight to ensure that everyone has equal access to clean water, clean air, and a safe 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.
