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Communications Coordinator
National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Administration, Marketing & Communications
Silver Spring, MD, USA
USD 58k-60k / year
Posted on Apr 3, 2026
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Supervisor: Director, Marketing & Brand
Status: Full-time, non-exempt, no direct reports
About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Founded in 2000, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is the national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). Together, we work to protect America’s most treasured ocean and Great Lakes areas — places of extraordinary biodiversity, maritime heritage, and community value.
Supervisor: Director, Marketing & Brand
Status: Full-time, non-exempt, no direct reports
About the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation
Founded in 2000, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, is the national nonprofit partner to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). Together, we work to protect America’s most treasured ocean and Great Lakes areas — places of extraordinary biodiversity, maritime heritage, and community value.
Guided by our commitment to Waters for All, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation connects people to the ocean and Great Lakes through education, conservation, and community engagement.
As the official nonprofit partner of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, we support 18 marine environments from Massachusetts to American Samoa and the Great Lakes to the Florida Keys. We protect these iconic places, care for marine wildlife and habitats, honor our nation’s maritime heritage, and promote the enjoyment of public waters by all Americans.
Through public fundraising and partnerships, we invest in community stewardship and engagement, on-the-water conservation and restoration, education and outreach in visitor centers and gateway communities, and cutting-edge scientific exploration.
For more than 25 years, we’ve strengthened people’s connections to our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes—our shared history, culture, and maritime heritage—and built partnerships with coastal communities and businesses tied to over 629,000 square miles of public waters that belong to all Americans.
About the National Marine Sanctuaries
America’s national marine sanctuaries are living classrooms, laboratories, and community assets that protect the waters shaping our shared future. Managed by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), this network of 18 marine protected areas is multi-use by nature and spans more than 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes — from coral reefs and kelp forests to historic shipwrecks and whale migration routes.
In partnership with marine research institutions, universities, and private-public partnerships, activities in each sanctuary are sources of solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. Sanctuaries safeguard marine biodiversity, sustain fisheries, power coastal economies, and inspire stewardship through science, education and outreach, and outdoor recreation from boating to fishing. Many sanctuary gateway communities include visitor centers and community partnerships with zoos, aquariums, and museums that extend this impact — serving as hubs for conservation, innovation, commerce, and tourism where people engage directly with the ocean and Great Lakes.
Together, these sites demonstrate how healthy waters and thriving communities are inseparable — and why protecting them is essential.
What We Need
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“The Foundation), a 501(c) non-profit organization that is the leading voice for the National Marine Sanctuary System, is seeking a Communications Coordinator who will serve as a key member of its Marketing and Communications department. The coordinator is responsible for executing several facets of the Foundation’s communications strategy, with an emphasis on creating engaging visual media and digital communications. These duties will include video/graphic content creation, photo/video asset management, materials development, and website projects as assigned. The ideal candidate possesses excellent technical skills, a willingness to learn new skills and abilities related to job functions, and the creativity to share the Foundation’s message in new and innovative ways. Attention to Detail and organizational skills are critical.
The Multimedia Communications Coordinator joins a talented and creative Foundation team that works to increase awareness of the National Marine Sanctuary System and Foundation programs. The person in this role will work within the Marketing-Communications Department, which includes the Director of Marketing and Brand, the Communications Manager, and an Impact Story Producer. The Coordinator will also engage the Foundation’s Policy, Programs, and Development Departments. In addition to the Foundation’s staff, the Marketing Manager will work closely with federal partners in the National Marine Sanctuary System and a diverse array of community champions.
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the ocean's health, coasts, and Great Lakes for current and future generations.
What You’ll Do
Content Creation (Social Media Platforms)
- Create and edit original video, photo and graphic content, primarily the Foundation social media channels, to further the Foundation’s messaging, with an emphasis on growing followers and increasing engagement.
Social Media Strategy/Innovation
- Research and implement cutting edge tools, capabilities to increase effectiveness, improve digital content strategy.
Multimedia Management
- Maintain the Foundation’s photo and video collections.
Multimedia Execution
- Assist with the development of materials as assigned, including one-pagers, infographics, and reports that in support of Foundation goals.
Brand Promotion and Compliance
- Maintain branding standards across Foundation communications products.
Marketing Execution (Events)
- Support major Foundation events, including Capitol Hill Ocean Week, and the Ocean Awards with communications products and on-site assistance.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree and one to three years of relevant experience.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Ability to create appealing photo/video/graphic content for social media channels.
- Video and photo editing skills are essential, including the use of Canva, CapCut, Adobe Photoshop, and Premiere.
- The job requires the ability to manage a daily workload and to work on multiple priority tasks concurrently.
- Attention to detail and the organizational skills to see complex projects through to completion.
- Ability to work as a member of a team to complete diverse projects.
- Fluency in computer software programs (i.e. Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Teams, Asana)
- Regular attendance is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with website editing and publishing through WordPress desired.
- Experience and/or knowledge of national marine sanctuaries, ocean conservation, and marine science.
- A sincere interest in, and commitment to, our mission.
Why You Will Love Us
The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve and expand those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase stewardship of our ocean and Great Lakes through on-the-water conservation projects, education and public outreach activities, and by support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home and support coastal communities and economies.
- Dedicated and passionate staff committed to marine and Great Lakes Conservation
- Generous leave policy, plus paid time off the week between December 25 and January 1; and 12 paid holidays
- Health benefits: Medical with an FSA option; dental, and vision
- Foundation paid Life and Disability Insurance
- Preparing for the Future: 403(B) with employer contribution after one year of service
- Commuter Benefits
Compensation and Benefits: $58,000 - $60,000/year based on experience. The Foundation offers a competitive benefits package.
Apply through the Foundation’s online portal. A resume, cover letter, and three professional references are required. Applications must be received by April 17, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
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The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. The Foundation makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.