Director of External Communications

National Aquarium • Baltimore, MD

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The National Aquarium is seeking a Director of External Communications to provide strategic leadership for external communications, public relations, and public affairs. The Director is accountable for the Aquarium’s reputation and visibility, including media and strategic stakeholder engagement that advances revenue, public affairs, and community engagement goals. The role provides strategic oversight of external messaging and directs public relations and stakeholder strategies across the organization.

The Director serves as a strategic communications advisor to the CEO, VP of Communications, VP of External Affairs, and senior leadership on external positioning, reputation management, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and communications strategies. The Director leads public relations and thought leadership, supports public affairs and community priorities, manages crisis and issues communications, and represents the Aquarium with media and community partners. The position requires availability onsite for crisis scenarios as needed, sometimes outside standard workday hours.

The National Aquarium is a nonprofit organization established in 1981 in Baltimore, Maryland. Its mission is to connect people with nature to inspire compassion and care for the ocean planet. The organization advances conservation through education and engagement, habitat restoration, animal rescue, and sustainable business practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; communications, public relations, public affairs, marketing, or a related area preferred.
• 8–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, public affairs, communications strategy, or a related field.
• Proven experience developing and leading comprehensive external communications and public relations strategies that advance organizational priorities and strengthen brand reputation.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining relationships with local and national media, elected officials, government agencies, community leaders, and other external stakeholders.
• Experience developing and executing public affairs and strategic stakeholder engagement initiatives, including representing an organization in community and public-sector settings.
• Demonstrated ability to develop compelling organizational narratives, key messages, and strategic communications plans for complex initiatives, high-profile projects, and fundraising campaigns.
• Experience managing organizational reputation, identifying emerging issues, and developing proactive communications strategies to address reputational opportunities and risks.
• Demonstrated experience leading crisis communications, issues management, and rapid-response strategies, including coordinating messaging across internal and external audiences.
• Ability to be onsite and available for crisis scenarios as needed, sometimes outside standard workday hours.
• Exceptional writing, editing, presentation, and public-speaking skills.
• Decisive and resourceful, with the ability to anticipate emerging issues and identify strategic communications opportunities.
• Ability to identify and prepare organizational spokespersons, develop messaging frameworks, and conduct media and crisis communications training.
• Professional demeanor when representing the Aquarium in public forums.
• Demonstrated ability to uphold and promote the Aquarium’s values and link its communications efforts to its values and mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead public relations strategy and sustained, targeted campaigns to support the Aquarium’s brand reputation, sentiment, gate revenue, and philanthropic revenue goals; guide and support the PR Manager.
• Partner with the VP of External Affairs on public affairs and community affairs strategy, including co-developing an integrated annual plan and maintaining regular joint planning.
• Translate policy and advocacy goals into narratives, message maps, talking points, testimony, op-eds, and briefing materials; use earned media and thought leadership to advance them.
• Develop and execute public relations and stakeholder communications with External Affairs to support relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and community leaders.
• Execute the Aquarium’s thought leadership strategy and promote its experts and areas of leadership.
• Lead external messaging for major organizational efforts, projects, and high-profile fundraising efforts.
• Own the annual report narrative and coordination.
• Build and maintain relationships with media partners and serve as their primary point of contact.
• Collaborate with the Director of Internal Communications to develop complementary internal and external communications plans for stakeholders.
• Identify appropriate media spokespersons, develop message maps, and conduct media training.
• Lead issues management, rapid response, and crisis communications, coordinating internal and external messages and serving as the primary external communications contact for media during crises.
• Represent the Aquarium on community partner project teams and build relationships with key partner organizations.
• Serve on internal and external committees as assigned.
• Manage the PR agency of record and work with other agencies and crisis communications firms as needed.
• Support the company mission and comply with organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Benefits

• Flexible paid leave
• Up to four weeks of paid family leave
• Health care coverage for single and family plans after 30 days of full-time work
• Conservation day leave
• 401(k) plan with employer match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director