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Manager, International Communications
Oceana
Marketing & Communications
Washington, DC, USA
Posted on Jan 8, 2025
The International Communications Manager reports to Oceana’s Deputy Communications Director and supports Oceana’s organizational public relations efforts with the goal of increasing brand awareness to drive media coverage, fundraising, and policy and corporate outcomes.
The Communications Manager is responsible for rapidly researching, creating, and executing strategies that effectively position Oceana and its leaders as authorities in the ocean conservation and environmental spaces. This includes serving as the lead media contact for Oceana’s corporate plastic campaigns targeting major polluters like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, in addition to securing coverage for Oceana’s international brand, annual events, executive committee, board of directors, celebrity supporters, scientific reports, and other ocean topics. The Communications Manager secures opportunities to further Oceana’s objectives through promotion of the organization’s brand, CEO, Chief Scientist, and other leaders across platforms.
The Communications Manager works closely with Oceana’s other Communications Managers/Directors in Oceana’s international offices to cross-promote stories and produce media reports for the Board of Directors. The Communications Manager leads the organization’s media tracking efforts and manages the Communications Intern for the department.
This position is based in Washington, D.C. Limited domestic or international travel is required.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Functions:
- Create and execute press and communications strategies to achieve Oceana objectives. This includes developing communications plans on the issues of saving the ocean and feeding the world, plastic reduction, increasing transparency at sea, and other organizational initiatives.
- Secure press coverage in strategic outlets and serve as the lead media contact for Oceana’s corporate plastic campaigns and Transparent Oceans Initiative.
- Create and maintain successful relationships with members of the media.
- Manage the Communications Intern, including overseeing the production of a daily media report summarizing Oceana’s global media hits, media research and list building, and other communications projects as assigned.
- Produce written communications (press releases, talking points, memos) for press initiatives, interviews, and events.
- Translate scientific information into public-friendly materials and strategize and develop communications for targeted audiences and stakeholders (e.g., news media, government officials, donors, and public). Other content production includes brochures, fact sheets, social media toolkits, presentations, website content, press materials, and more.
- Generate press coverage for Oceana’s major events.
- Support Oceana’s experts’ participation in events including preparing talking points, arranging interviews, and more.
- Produce and place Oceana’s print, radio, and TV public service announcements in key target areas such as New York and Southern California.
- Lead tracking of Oceana’s international media coverage.
- Lead efforts to produce biweekly and triannual media reports for Oceana’s Board of Directors.
- Maintain press releases, Oceana in the News, media contacts, and other relevant webpages on Oceana’s international website.
- Run Oceana’s Press account on X and work with the digital marketing team to cross-promote key local, national, and international press on social media.
- Assist in accomplishing communications goals as needed or requested by Deputy Director, Director, and Vice President.
- Perform additional duties as needed and/or assigned.
Job Requirements
Education and Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
- At least five years of professional experience as a communications manager, journalist, press secretary, public relations consultant, or other position involving media/press relations, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proven track record of securing top tier interviews and press coverage.
- Experience working across staff, other organizations, and the public.
- Management experience a plus but not required.
Skills and Knowledge
- Excellent writing and verbal communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated proficiency in AP Style and excellent attention to detail.
- Familiarity supporting high level executives, policymakers, and individuals with writing.
- Ability to synthesize complicated scientific jargon quickly and accurately for lay audiences.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively as a team player to coordinate projects, and work effectively with a variety of personalities.
- Proficient using Microsoft tools including Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
- Familiarity with media tracking software such as Meltwater, Cision, and Muck Rack is required.
- Ability to meet strict deadlines and work under pressure while maintaining humor and high energy.
- Ability to approach problems with a sense of ownership, enthusiasm, and innovation.
- Ability to take initiative in suggesting ways to augment work and responsibilities of position to accomplish Oceana’s goals.
- Familiarity with environmental and food security issues a plus but not required.
- Experience with international media a plus.
- Professional working proficiency in Spanish a plus, but not required.
Required Competencies:
- Action Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm.
- Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.
- Customer Focus: Is skilled at anticipating customer/donor needs (internal and external) and providing services that are beyond customer/donor expectations. Establishes and maintains effective customer relationships.
- Builds Networks: Has a history of building formal and informal relationships inside and outside their organization. Is open to connecting and focused on forging relationships that can bring value to the work.
- Situational Adaptability: Recognizes the need to be flexible and act differently in different situations – bring empathy in times of stress and change, firm direction in times of uncertainty, or diplomacy in times of conflict.
- Instills Trust: Can gain the confidence and trust of others by demonstrating honesty and authenticity, acting with integrity, being consistent and credible.
- Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.
- Interpersonal Savvy: Approaches relationships in an “others-oriented” way. Can tap into a range of interpersonal skills and approaches and know when to use what with whom.
- Global Perspective: Takes a broad view of issues and challenges and can see them in a global context. Builds relationships with people from different cultures and countries. Draws on global knowledge and perspective when tackling complex issues or looking for opportunities.
The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $75,000 annually.
Oceana's US offices have operated on a hybrid schedule and staff have been required to work from their assigned office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. With an agreement between the employee and their supervisor, the employee may work from home Monday and Friday.
Oceana values a diverse workforce and welcomes people different from each other in many ways, including characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, and national origin. Oceana considers all qualified candidates and seeks to recruit from a diverse candidate pool. Please apply by February 2025.