Director of Communications

The Biomimicry Institute • Seattle, WA

2d • $90,000 - $125,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Director of Communications (“Director”) leads The Biomimicry Institute’s (“TBI”) communications function, helping translate TBI’s mission, programs, partnerships, and thought leadership into clear, compelling, and coordinated communications across channels. This role is responsible for communications strategy, editorial planning, storytelling, media relations, brand consistency, digital engagement, and campaign execution. The Director works closely with the Head of Development and Communications, CEO, program leads, Development, Operations, and external partners to strengthen TBI’s visibility, deepen audience engagement, and support organizational priorities. The Director supervises communications staff and contractors, manages communications workflows and calendars, and ensures that communications work is well-planned, timely, mission-aligned, and coordinated across the organization.

Requirements

• Significant experience in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, nonprofit communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute communications strategies across multiple channels.
• Strong writing, editing, storytelling, and message-development skills.
• Experience managing editorial calendars, campaigns, content production, and digital communications.
• Experience supervising staff, contractors, vendors, or cross-functional project teams.
• Strong project-management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, program staff, external partners, funders, and vendors.
• Comfort translating complex ideas into clear communications for varied audiences.
• Commitment to TBI’s mission and to respectful, ethical, and accurate communication about biomimicry, nature-inspired innovation, and related knowledge systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in nonprofit, environmental, climate, design, science, innovation, education, or social-impact communications.
• Experience with media relations and PR strategy.
• Experience with fundraising, donor, or funder communications.
• Experience with website CMS tools, email platforms, social media platforms, analytics tools, and project-management systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement communications strategies that advance TBI’s mission, strategic priorities, programs, fundraising goals, and public visibility.
• Maintain an integrated communications calendar across campaigns, newsletters, website updates, social media, events, launches, partner moments, and organizational announcements.
• Translate complex programmatic, scientific, design, innovation, and organizational content into accessible and engaging communications for priority audiences.
• Support TBI’s thought leadership by identifying timely storytelling opportunities, media angles, partner opportunities, and campaign moments.
• Lead development of high-quality content across TBI channels, including website, email/newsletter, social media, reports, campaign materials, event communications, press materials, and partner/funder communications.
• Ensure communications are accurate, compelling, inclusive, mission-aligned, and consistent with TBI’s voice, brand standards, and values.
• Build and maintain a strong story pipeline across TBI programs, including AskNature, Ray of Hope, Innovation, Impact, Development, partnerships, events, and organizational milestones.
• Collaborate with program staff and subject-matter experts to ensure communications accurately represent TBI’s work and the communities, partners, and knowledge systems involved.
• Manage media relations, including press inquiries, media lists, pitch development, press materials, and coordination with external PR or communications partners.
• Plan and execute communications campaigns tied to major organizational priorities, program launches, events, funder/partner moments, and field-building opportunities.
• Coordinate communications around key external moments such as conferences, Climate Week, COP, Bioneers, Ray of Hope, AskNature launches, and other strategic opportunities.
• Support leadership with talking points, messaging, presentation materials, public statements, and external communications as needed.
• Oversee digital communications channels, including website content, email/newsletter, social media, and related audience engagement tools.
• Track and report communications metrics, including audience growth, engagement, website performance, email performance, campaign results, media placements, and other relevant KPIs.
• Use data and audience insights to improve content strategy, campaign performance, and channel effectiveness.
• Coordinate with vendors or contractors supporting digital, design, web, PR, or campaign work.
• Partner with the Development team to create compelling donor, funder, sponsor, and partner communications.
• Support grant-related storytelling, stewardship communications, funder updates, campaign materials, and external recognition where appropriate.
• Ensure funder and partner communications comply with applicable approval processes, communications protocols, and brand/use requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Development and Communications, CEO, program leads, Operations, Finance, and external partners to align communications priorities and workflows.
• Use TBI’s project-management systems, including Asana, to plan, assign, track, and complete communications work.
• Follow TBI policies, SOPs, approval processes, and communications protocols.
• Support clear internal communication about communications priorities, timelines, capacity, and decision points.
• Supervise communications staff, contractors, and vendors as assigned.
• Set clear priorities, expectations, timelines, and deliverables for communications work.
• Support staff through regular supervision, feedback, workload planning, and TBI’s performance management process.
• Delegate effectively and ensure communications work is appropriately documented, tracked, and completed.
• Foster a team environment grounded in clarity, collaboration, accountability, learning, and respect.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Enjoy 100% coverage for employees for medical/dental/vision provided by Biomimicry Institute. (Please note, employees are responsible for coverage for spouses and/or dependents.)
• Retirement Plan: Begin your retirement savings after just 6 months of employment.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Benefit from our generous PTO policy, allowing you to recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Paid Holidays: Take advantage of paid holidays as outlined in our Employee Handbook.
• Home Office Stipend: Receive a monthly stipend to help support your home office setup.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed