Communications Director

Communities for a Healthy Bay (CHB) is a Tacoma-based environmental nonprofit that protects Commencement Bay, the waters of the South Sound, and the diversity of life they sustain.

We believe that clean water, fresh air, and a healthy environment are essential for life to flourish. We strive for a resilient future anchored in environmental justice, social equity, and shared growth. We actively work together to empower individuals and communities, driving impactful transformations and nurturing a lively, resilient ecosystem.

Knowing that the health of our community is intricately connected to the health of our surrounding environment, we work closely with county and local government agencies, members of the community, businesses, and other nonprofit organizations to serve as an unbiased positive voice for the health and welfare of Commencement Bay and South Puget Sound.

As a grassroots environmental advocacy nonprofit, we believe greater public insistence and engagement is necessary to inspire elected officials, businesses, and fellow community members to take the necessary level of action to turn the tide. To meet the issues at the proper scale, we must continually grow our base of support and elevate the work of CHB in the public domain and local media.

The Communications Director is a key member of the leadership team. This individual is responsible for designing, directing, and ensuring implementation of all of CHB’s external communications activities including the organization’s messaging and strategy around major decisions, campaigns, and issues. A core part of CHB’s internal culture is career advancement and leadership development, and the organization’s positions evolve into leadership positions over time as staff gain skill sets.

The successful applicant will have a passion for public health and environmental protection; experience building community connections and facilitating coalitions, developing communications campaigns across multiple channels including social and earned media; experience developing and leading digital marketing campaigns to promote engagement from our donor and potential donor population; strong connections in Pierce County; and familiarity with power-building via grassroots campaigns. 

Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values for Communities for a Healthy Bay. We welcome and value a diversity of people, experiences, and perspectives. We embrace and actively encourage participation of people with differences in age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, language, national origin, family or marital status, veteran status, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion and/or political affiliation. 

The job will entail: 

• Leading the overall development and coordination of external communications aimed at protecting our region’s environment, and changing the systems that perpetuate environmental injustice and harm communities; 
• Collaborating closely with the Executive Director and Development Director to plan and implement an enhanced, high-impact strategy for advocacy, education and fundraising in order to maximize programmatic impact and supporter engagement, including social media, B2B digital marketing, earned media, and more; 
• Writing and editing content, campaign information, fundraising materials, leading on media strategy, and more;
• Contributing to the development of programmatic strategies, campaign messages and donor engagement;
• Developing and facilitating CHB coalition meetings, and;
• Mentoring and coaching volunteers and CHB staff to represent CHB’s message in meetings, with the media, and on social media.

Qualifications:

We seek no single set of qualifications or experiences, as we appreciate that there are many paths to this opportunity.

In order to excel in this position, you must have:

• At least five years of experience in advocacy communications.
• Solid experience in digital marketing, B2B marketing, and social media engagement.
• Proven success garnering earned media; working with the local, regional and national media; and developing issue-based media campaigns.
• A deep commitment to protecting the environment and advancing social justice.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to nimbly shift strategies in a rapidly changing world.
• An ability to see what needs to be done and to step in and advance the team.
• Ace writing skills in a range of focus areas including informative, storytelling, and media pitches.

Preference will be given to candidates who are:

• Located in, and connected to Pierce County
• Bi-lingual 
• Nimble and flexible
• Innovative

Reports to:  Executive Director

Working Conditions

The Communications Director is a full-time position based in Tacoma, Washington. The scope of our mission is broad, and the work is demanding, but the working environment at CHB is fun, inspiring, and extremely rewarding. We offer a flexible work schedule, a generous paid time off program, and opportunities for professional growth. Our staff are passionate about protecting the environment, maintaining a supportive, friendly work culture, and modeling our values of equity, inclusion, diversity, respect, honesty, and empowerment. 

The work environment is primarily office work i.e. sitting at a desk using a computer and/or phone for long periods of time, along with meetings and speaking events at a wide variety of venues. The position also requires some travel and a current driver’s license. Accommodations can be made for this position for persons who might need them. 

Salary/Benefits

The Communications Director is a full-time FLSA exempt position with a salary range of $65,000-$85,000 commensurate with experience. As a full-time employee, the Communications Director is eligible for benefits described in the CHB Employee Handbook, including paid holidays, sick leave, and health and dental insurance.

To Apply: 

If you are sincerely interested in the position, please email a cover letter stating your suitability for this position and resumé demonstrating your qualifications to hiring [at] healthybay.org. Please include the position title in the email subject. 

Review of applicants will be conducted on a rolling basis. As the position is open until filled, it is highly recommended to apply by March 15, 2024. Please note: questions about the position via email or phone are unlikely to receive a timely response, if any.