SENIOR MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS

San Diego Natural Histo•San Diego, CA

5d•$0 - $71,000•Onsite

About The Position

The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is seeking a Senior Manager of Communications to bolster its mission of preserving nature and biodiversity. This senior-level position plays a leadership role in how the museum communicates with the world, aiming to raise awareness of its research, programs, and mission to connect people with nature. The role combines aspects of publicist, editorial director, and science storyteller, overseeing the museum’s content strategy and communications calendar across all departments and platforms. Responsibilities include managing media announcements, guiding communications campaigns, and developing marketing plans for programming and events. The position supervises a Digital Content Manager and is a key leadership role within the Communications & Marketing department.

Requirements

6+ years of experience in communications, science communications, environmental education, marketing, or a related field, with demonstrated progressive responsibility.
Experience managing staff and mentoring team members.
Strategic thinker who can develop and manage complex content calendars and prioritize competing needs across departments.
Able to prioritize, manage-up, and adhere to deadlines while keeping track of multiple projects simultaneously.
Comfortable toggling between big picture strategic work and smaller projects with quick turnarounds.
Bachelor's degree (e.g., B.S. in biology, environmental science, or B.A. in communications, journalism, or marketing), or equivalent experience.
Superior creative writing and storytelling skills, with a mastery of AP style.
Demonstrated success in writing materials that are equally compelling in long formats (e.g., a press release or blog) as they are in short formats (e.g., an Instagram post or short video).
Strong editorial judgment and copy-editing skills.
Adept at taking complex scientific concepts and making them accessible to diverse audiences with varying levels of knowledge about natural history.
Strong understanding of social media platforms, trends, and opportunities.
Experience developing and publishing web content using CMS systems and email marketing platforms.
Adept at Microsoft Office suite.
Collegial and able to communicate clearly, concisely, and diplomatically in written and spoken language with a wide range of people.
Knowledge of our region's unique biodiversity, wildlife conservation, and local environmental organizations.
You'll love to dig deep, ask questions, look past the obvious, and find new ways to engage and connect with people and stimulate their curiosity, because that's at the core of what we do.

Nice To Haves

UI/UX knowledge
Video editing experience
Fluency in Spanish

Responsibilities

Develop and manage the museum-wide content strategy and editorial calendar, determining what stories get told, where they get promoted, when they get promoted, and on what platforms.
Identify opportunities for institution-wide communications campaigns and news stories that support organizational priorities.
Lead cross-departmental collaboration to ensure cohesive messaging and strategic prioritization of communications efforts.
Supervise and mentor the Digital Content Manager, providing guidance on social media strategy, enewsletter campaigns, and content development.
Take complex scientific concepts and develop them into accessible and compelling stories across a variety of media and platforms, including but not limited to blogs, web pages, enewsletters, social media posts, videos, and media pitches.
Plan and execute communications and marketing plans for outdoor programs and science events like the City Nature Challenge, Canyoneer hikes, and the State of Biodiversity Symposium.
Support communications efforts for conservation partnerships and collaborative initiatives.
Write and project-manage email newsletters focused on outdoor programs, science news, nature news, and relevant institutional updates.
Occasionally report from the field with our scientists to tell unique stories about our research and to gather multimedia (photos and video footage) for various uses.
Generate media coverage for the museum's research, programs, and exhibits by developing and maintaining strong working relationships with key science, lifestyle, and business reporters.
Write press materials, pitch media, develop media kits, craft key messages, and media-train spokespeople.
Manage media relationships and coordinate interview opportunities, serving as a museum spokesperson when needed.
Serve as a key part of the Museum’s editorial team, which includes writing institutional materials like brochures and annual reports as well as copy-editing materials written by other departments.
Maintain editorial standards and brand voice across all museum communications.
Plan, organize, coordinate, and report on multiple projects simultaneously, often under tight time constraints.
Other projects as assigned/required.