Communications Coordinator – Friends of Casco Bay (Casco Baykeeper) - Waterkeeper

Communications Coordinator – Friends of Casco Bay (Casco Baykeeper)

A full time position with a comprehensive benefits package and professional development opportunities

Friends of Casco Bay is hiring a Communications Coordinator to join our team. The Coordinator translates our scientific data, policy positions, and community engagement work into news our community can use, generates stories about our efforts, and shares those stories with the public through emails, our website, and traditional and social media outlets. Our Communications Coordinator enhances Friends of Casco Bay’s visibility, value, and standing in our community by helping us tell our stories using various media, while maintaining high standards of credibility and presentation. This is a full-time job and involves working weekends and nights at times. The Communications Coordinator (Coordinator) reports to our Executive Director and works closely with our program and development staff to design and implement our communications plan.

About Friends of Casco Bay

Friends of Casco Bay works to improve and protect the health of Casco Bay, an Estuary of National Significance located in the Gulf of Maine. We collect scientific and observational data about the health of our waters. Based on analysis of  the data and community input, we advocate for policies and actions that will reduce pollution and make Casco Bay and its watershed more resilient to the impacts of climate change. We are home to the Casco BAYKEEPER®, our lead advocate who acts as the eyes, ears, and voice of Casco Bay. We are one of the seven founding members of WATERKEEPER® Alliance, a network that includes more than 300 independent organizations working to protect waters around the world. You can read more about us and our work on our website.

We are known as an exceptional place to work. We have nine full-time employees and one seasonal staffer. We balance our ability to leverage collaborative efforts, funds, and volunteers, with the capacity and capabilities of staff — a talented team, each dedicated to our mission. We are committed to creating a culture and practices that integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work.

The Communication Coordinator’s core work is to:

  • Work with the Executive Director and our Program and Development Teams to design and implement our communications plans to promote the visibility and credibility of our organization.
  • Create and maintain the content calendar for our communications efforts, including updates to our website.
  • Develop timely, engaging, and newsworthy content about Friends of Casco Bay’s work in our organizational voice.
  • Adapt and share these stories via our website, email, social media, newsletter and other printed material, and traditional media.
  • Build and maintain relationships with members of the media: pitch news releases, advisories, and earned media content; maintain database of media contacts; fulfill requests by journalists, reporters, and other organizations for interviews and information; and maintain lists of community members and organizations for media members to contact on specific issues.
  • Post content to our website, and maintain an active social media presence on behalf of the organization.
  • Collaborate with other staff to ensure content relating to their individual areas is current while maintaining consistent branding. Edit work generated by other staff, including fact checking and editing for tone, which is critical to maintaining our credibility. Help ensure the continued development and use of our manual of style and branding documents. Work closely with our staff to polish final drafts.
  • Work closely with our staff in the office, in the field (especially with our Staff Scientist and Casco Baykeeper), and at public meetings to write stories about our work, staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, and community.
  • Generate ideas for community engagement. Explore new avenues for communications via social media, website, email, and earned media.
  • Help write and develop short video stories about our work. The Coordinator will use our drone and video camera to create these videos.
  • Support planning, logistics, and staffing of our community events, including online and in-person events.
  • Work with all staff on outreach, fundraising efforts, and community engagement materials and projects. Write, review, and help edit Friends of Casco Bay publications and printed material, including our Casco Bay Bulletin (newsletter), member updates, and our Annual Report to the Community. Work with our staff to organize and update materials and displays as needed.

The Communications Coordinator will support organizational work, such as:

  • Coordinate and implement content and design of our WordPress website by keeping content, graphics, and announcements updated on a regular basis.
  • Helping translate key issues Friends of Casco Bay is working into easy to understand talking points for our members, supporters, and the public.
  • Keeping our communications metrics up-to-date by tracking and archiving media coverage, images, video, and printed materials.
  • Working with the development team and Executive Director to develop language for fundraising and communications in concert with annual operating plans.
  • Collaborating on developing ideas for programs, events, proposals, and educational material.
  • Participating in staff meetings, communication/development meetings, and other internal meetings as needed.
  • Participate in partner organizations’ community events.
  • Attending monthly Board meetings, Community Engagement Committee meetings, and other meetings as appropriate.

 

Skills and Experience

Qualified candidates must have the following:

  • Relevant experience in the nonprofit sector or experience in communications including as a writer, social media influencer, journalist, or website content writer.
  • Experience in writing about science and advocacy for different audiences and telling stories via the written word, social media, and other online platforms
  • Be a great editor and welcome edits and critiques from others
  • Comfort working with diverse populations
  • Comfort working outside and on boats
  • Ability to work independently and within a team environment
  • Ability to work on several projects at once while meeting deadlines
  • Ability and willingness to sometimes work outside of normal business hours as many of our public events happen in the evenings and on weekends
  • Proficiency in online organizational and communications tools, including professional use of email, word processing, and social media. Must be competent in record keeping. Friends of Casco Bay uses Google Workspace, Microsoft products, Adobe Design products, and Blackbaud products and will train the right candidate in use of these tools.
  • Willingness to learn new skills
  • Ability to lift at least 30 pounds
  • Dedication to our mission

Qualified candidates might also demonstrate:

  • Experience taking high quality photos and videos
  • Experience in using drones
  • Experience in designing newsletters and web pages
  • Experience working with underserved communities
  • Knowledge of Casco Bay and the marine environment

 

The hiring process will include the following steps:

  1. A rolling application period with priority given to applications received by November 6, 2023. Please note the application requirements below.
  2. Application review: Friends of Casco Bay staff will review applications based on the criteria above and invite qualified applicants for an initial interview.
  3. First interviews: Select applicants will be invited to a phone or zoom interview with two members of our team. Candidates are welcome to ask questions during the interview.
  4. Second interviews: A subset of applicants will be invited to a second interview, which may be in person or may be on zoom. This interview will happen in two stages. The first stage will be with two members of the team. The second stage will be with our entire team. Candidates are encouraged to continue asking questions. We will ask candidates to bring contact information for three references to the second interview.
  5. Reference check: We will check experience, character, and qualifications.
  6. Final selection: We may reach out for a final discussion with our top candidates or make a selection at this time.

Salary and benefits:
The salary range is $50,000 to $57,000/year ($24-$27.40/hour), commensurate with experience. We offer an excellent benefits package, including paid vacation time, 13 state and federal holidays, health and dental insurance (employer pays 75% and contributes to a health savings account), paid sick days, life insurance, and retirement plan, including a 4% employer match.

Friends of Casco Bay is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to a racially just, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status. Candidates from historically marginalized communities who are on the front lines of harm caused by environmental injustice are encouraged to apply. We encourage all staff to take advantage of professional development opportunities. There is room for advancement and leadership opportunities.

Location and public health expectations
Friends of Casco Bay is located in South Portland, Maine, in the greater Portland region. We currently work using a hybrid model of working from home and working in the office. This is not a “remote” only position. By its nature, this position requires showing up in person at meetings and working with staff and volunteers around the Bay. The greater Portland area offers a vibrant cultural scene and easy access to the state’s many recreational opportunities. 100% of our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and we expect our newest employee to be too.

Start date
As soon as possible upon job offer.

To apply:

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with priority given to applications received by November 6, 2023. No phone calls, please. Applicants must prepare the following and submit as a pdf, via email, in one package to [email protected]:

  • Cover letter, resume, three references, writing sample of your choice, and writing sample not to exceed 250 words in response to one of the following prompts (this writing sample is for use in the application process only):