COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Environmental Priorities Coalition

The Environmental Priorities Coalition is a group of 23 leading nonprofit organizations in Washington state that annually provides the state legislature with a list of four “priority” environmental bills that it believes are critical to the state. Each year the Coalition picks its four priorities – and develops a separate campaign around each one. The groups in the coalition coordinate their work around these campaigns and other emergent legislative issues, employing a range of tactics including lobbying, outreach to allies, grassroots involvement, and media outreach. To date, the coalition has succeeded in moving most of its legislative recommendations forward and having them signed into law. See http://www.environmentalpriorities.org/

SUMMARY
The Environmental Priorities Coalition seeks a dynamic, innovative, and strategic Communications Director. This is a leadership position that requires the ability to motivate and support others to ensure the success of Environmental Priorities Coalition and its priority campaigns. This position requires a team player with a positive attitude who will have regular and fast-paced interaction with Coalition member executive directors plus government affairs, field organizing and communication staff. The Communications Director needs to be familiar working with traditional media avenues as well as new and emerging web-based communication and outreach tools.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Communications Director will be responsible for developing and implementing high-level communications strategies that will strengthen the coalition as a whole and maximize the available capacity for communications within the coalition. The Communications Director will report to the coalition co-chairs (currently Joan Crooks, executive director of Washington Environmental Council; and Gregg Small, executive director of Climate Solutions) and work closely with a communications committee made up of staff from various coalition member organizations.

The Communications Director will develop, coordinate and carry out the Coalition’s communications strategy each legislative session and during non-legislative months. The Communications Director will develop systems to coordinate the Coalition’s communications activities and maximize the available capacity for communications within the Coalition. The Communications Director will be responsible for diversifying and prioritizing the communications tactics and targeting strategies used to promote the four priorities each year, including traditional media avenues as well as written and electronic avenues and new media. The Communications Director will be responsible for measuring the effectiveness of Coalition communications.

Specific duties include:
• Develop and manage the implementation of communications strategies for the coalition as a whole.
• Establish and chair a Communications Committee comprised of Coalition member staff.
• Coordinate development of a Coalition vision statement and presentation materials.
• Develop clear communications guidelines and protocols for the coalition.
• Develop and update core talking points for the coalition and train members to use these talking points.
• Provide high-level strategic communications support to each of the four priority campaigns.
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination between priority campaign communications staff, field staff and lobbyists for the coalition.
• Make key capacity and coordination decisions based on written communications plans from each priority campaign.
• Review materials for the coalition and each priority campaign and provide guidance to ensure that all communication is consistent and coordinated.
• Provide assistance to the priority campaigns as they work to identify and assess. traditional and new communications tactics that could help them reach their goals
• Work with the Communications Committee and ONE/Northwest to upgrade the coalition’s website.
• Act as primary liaison between news media and the Coalition.

REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations or related field.  Masters degree preferred.
• 5+ years experience creating and implementing comprehensive communications plans with a successful track record.
• Ability to organize, expedite, and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Outstanding strategic planning skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Proven writing and editing skills.
• Proven ability to work with a wide range of diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Skilled in the use of a range of technology tools used to communicate with diverse audiences.
• Experience working in a non-profit setting preferred. Coalition and campaign work is a plus.
• An understanding of the state legislative process and an ability to craft messages that resonate with policymakers. 

OFFICE LOCATION
The Communicators Director will work out of offices located in the Vance Building in downtown Seattle.

COMPENSATION
Competitive non-profit salary, depending on experience and education. Benefits include, health, dental, vacation, transit pass and retirement plan.

TO APPLY:
By August 31 or until position is filled, please send a cover letter, resume, writing samples, three references, and salary requirements to searchcommittee@environmentalpriorities.org. Please include “Communications Director” in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be considered. No phone calls please.