Communications Coordinator

Chesapeake Bay Trust•Annapolis, MD

1d•$56,000 - $60,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Communications Coordinator, Hybrid The Chesapeake Bay and our region’s other natural resources are one of the nation’s greatest assets, and at the Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Bay Trust) , we believe getting the community involved is key to restoring and protecting our watersheds. Our tagline, “Empowering people, Restoring nature” perfectly describes who we are: We deliver resources to communities on the ground who lead and sustain their own projects that improve their communities as well as natural resources. The Bay Trust seeks a Communications Coordinator to play a critical role in accomplishing the Bay Trust’s evolving communications, outreach, and branding goals. The successful candidate will leverage skills in communications and community engagement to implement strategies that support our grant programs and partners to expand reach, maintain and grow funding sources, and build brand awareness. The Communications Coordinator will be responsible for developing high-quality content and executing campaigns that may include social media, website, video, media relations, events, and other tactics to strengthen our brand, elevate our impact, and help ensure communities have access to healthy natural resources for generations to come. This person will be a key member of a high-energy, collaborative team of 40+ who work diligently to advance the Bay Trust’s mission and daily consider the Bay Trust’s core values of grantee focus, accountability and transparency, inclusiveness, collaboration, and innovation. The Program Communications Coordinator reports to the Vice President of Communications and Advancement. This is a full-time, salaried position (40 hours per week).

Requirements

Two years or more of experience in marketing and/or communications.
A track record of excellent writing and editing skills.
Demonstrated experience in graphic design (Canva and Adobe Creative Suite) or demonstrated ability to quickly learn new programs.
Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of programs.
Personal vehicle and valid driver’s license required to facilitate site visit and event travel.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field.
Demonstrated project management experience, including successfully managing multiple projects with competing priorities.
Proficiency in some or all of the following: WordPress, Canva, Raiser’s Edge, Mailchimp, Google Adwords, and Google Analytics.

Responsibilities

Storytelling, Content Creation, & Distribution: Work closely with programmatic staff to support their communications, funding partner cultivation, and messaging needs.
Develop a strong editorial calendar for program communications that aligns with the Bay Trust’s organization-wide editorial calendar.
Develop and distribute compelling content for social media, newsletters, and the website. Assets will highlight the goals, eligibility criteria, and impact of the grant programs, ensuring clarity and accessibility.
Conduct field visits and attend events to collect photographs, video, testimonials and other content for improved storytelling.
Design flyers and other marketing materials to support outreach efforts.
Coordinate communications strategies with staff and partners to expand applicant pool for funding opportunities.
Write, edit, and distribute success stories to key stakeholders that showcase the environmental and community impact of our grant programs and partners.
Produce videos, infographics and other engaging content that highlight successful projects funded through our grant programs.
Lead, support, and/or advise on messaging for other communications vehicles, including but not limited to: the Annual Report, mass email campaigns, correspondence and collateral for legislators and donors.
Collaborate with Program and Communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Public Relations and Special Events: Program-Related Events: Assist in the planning, promotion and/or execution of events such as informational webinars, convenings, press events, and other community events with grantees and partners.
Promote events through digital channels, including email, social media, and event listings, to maximize participation.
Special Events: Support the Bay Trust’s annual Treasure the Chesapeake Celebration, community events at our green headquarters, and other opportunities to engage key audiences.
Legislative Outreach: support the engagement of Maryland General Assembly members through an annual Legislative Reception and quarterly correspondence about relevant grants and press, highlighting program impact in their Districts.
Community Engagement: Lead the Bay Trust’s evolving efforts to engage key constituencies. Duties may include managing a new volunteer/ambassador program, organizing volunteer days with grantees and partners, and representing the Bay Trust at community events, among others.
Media Relations: Write and/or support media advisories and press releases, coordinate responses to press inquiries, coordinate promotion and logistics for annual press events, and other opportunities as they arise to elevate grant programs.
Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers to increase awareness of grant opportunities and program success stories.
Pitch stories and press releases to relevant publications and media channels to secure coverage of funded projects and initiatives.
Reporting & Analytics: Track the effectiveness of communication campaigns, including social media engagement, website traffic, and media coverage.
Stay on top of trends to inform strategies.
Prepare regular reports to assess the impact of communication efforts and adjust strategies accordingly.
Communications tactics for other key revenue streams: Support as needed tactics for other key revenue streams including the Chesapeake & Coastal Bays License Plate (the “Bay Plate”), Chesapeake and Endangered Species Fund on the Maryland tax form, voluntary donation line on the Maryland Department of Natural Resources boating, fishing, and hunting license/registration portal, and the Bay Trust’s merchandise program ( shopchesapeakebaytrust.org )