Overview

Who We Are:

The Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC) is a small grassroots nonprofit based out of Juneau, Alaska, in the Tongass National Forest. For 50 years SEACC has been a regional conservation watchdog defending the remaining intact old-growth stands of the Tongass National Forest and the waters of the Inside Passage. We partner with local communities, Tribes, fishermen, businesses, and visitors to advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of our region’s natural resources, and preserve a uniquely Southeast Alaskan way of life. We mix policy and technical expertise with grassroots organizing and communication skills to engage the public, advance new policy, and maintain existing protections, that we ensure the interconnected whole of Southeast Alaska exists for future generations.

SEACC is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and is currently developing an organizational statement jointly developed by board and staff that expresses our internal commitments, priorities, and pathways for advancing this work. This work is being undertaken by the organization as a whole and the effort around it is interwoven in all our programs and departments. Any future team member should share these values and priorities and be willing and interested in contributing to this ongoing internal work.

Communications Lead

Are you someone who loves the written word and writing, and is passionate about editing other people’s work? Can you write a press release in your sleep? Do you obsess over social media strategy and branding? Do you have background in working with the media, or in journalism? If so, we want to talk to you!

SEACC seeks a full-time communications team member to lead all of SEACC’s written communications work and online presence. We’re looking for a talented, creative self-starter who is eager to work with our staff on developing and implementing communication strategies; cultivating relationships with the press and pitching stories; and elevating our work and brand on social media.

What You’ll Do:

The Communications Lead is a full-time position (40 hours a week) that will work closely with SEACC’s Outreach and Development Associate, and both SEACC’s operations and program teams, and will report to the Executive Director.

This position is responsible for managing all of SEACC’s communications, and ensuring a consistent, professional voice on all platforms. There are two major areas of responsibility:

Programmatic Communications:

Write and/or edit SEACC’s programmatic communications with the public around our program area work – this includes checking in with program staff for updates on new program work and progress, and ensuring that the communication of that work is prioritized. It specifically includes:

• Creating, developing and implementing communications strategies to aid in action campaigns (includes drafting and/or editing emails to our supporters, assisting staff with language and messaging support, and developing social media content to promote campaign)
• Proactively responds to political conversations relating to SEACC work online (e.g. responding to the Governor’s annual State of the State Address, Alaska Senator’s tweets, etc.)
• Advise staff on messaging support on issues relevant to programmatic work
• Ghostwriting for Executive Director, Program Staff, and members of the public (Letters to the Editor, Op-Eds, etc.) as needed
• Assist development team with fundraising writing/editing as needed

Media / Social Media / Online Work:

• Media pitching, coordination and outreach – cultivating relationships with reporters who cover our work, organizing issue briefings for reporters when complex policy issues arise, ensuring we follow up with reporters, that we’re providing high value visual content and b-roll in a timely manner, and ensuring reporters are connected with the relevant staff person in a timely manner
• Manage all social media platforms, and working with program staff to ensure desired posts are being posted regularly
• Tracking and analyzing how action campaigns perform on social media/website
• Writing a monthly communications report, to show staff what’s working and what’s not
• Managing website – ensuring the website is updated with the latest actions, and creating content when need be (Blog posts, and posting press releases online)
• Maintenance of communications database, tracking and filing of coverage

Who You Are

To be successful in this job, you must thrive in a fast-pace environment and enjoy editing and working with others in a collaborative way. Academic training or professional background in editing or writing would be ideal, as would experience working as a reporter. Comfort with tight turnaround for edits, ghostwriting for other staff members and members of the public, and quickly pushing out high quality writing product is a must. Across all of the roles we hire for at SEACC, we look for someone with a can-do attitude, and who has the skills and seasoning to build relationships with members of the public as they fulfill their role.

Strong candidates will have most of the following:

• At least 3 years of training or relevant professional experience (more is a plus) in writing and editing;
• A proactive and strong problem solver with demonstrated critical thinking abilities;
• An effective communicator, able to quickly understand, translate complex ideas for, and communicate with reporters, staff, the public, and decision-makers;
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced work environment, and is detail-oriented;
• An excellent time manager, planning, prioritizing, troubleshooting, and moving tasks forward, while coordinating in all directions, especially across lines of difference;
• Committed to the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, with demonstrated successes in previous work and awareness of where you need to grow. You work effectively with a diverse team and partners, and act proactively to spot issues of equity and inclusion and bring practical solutions

Additionally, experience or familiarity with the following would be beneficial:

• Southeast Alaska’s unique geography and culture;
• New/Mode, NationBuilder, WordPress, Canva, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, or other advocacy, communication, and outreach tools;
• SEACC’s work regarding mining, forestry, the NEPA process, and federal and state rulemaking;
• Working as a spokesperson for any organization;
• Advocacy and fundraising communications.

We know there is not one ideal candidate who has all of these traits, so if you have a mix of interests, skills, and experience related to the above – and a passion for this work – please consider applying, or reaching out to us with questions.

What Else You Should Know:

SEACC recognizes, supports, and values all forms of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Compensation: This role is a full-time non-exempt position, and the salary range for this role is between $47,000 – $54,000, with exact salary dependent upon experience. We also offer excellent benefits, including:

• 3 weeks of paid leave your first year and 4 weeks of paid leave after one year, plus
• 11 federal and state holidays, plus
• fully paid healthcare, plus
• 12 days of medical leave annually, plus
• 2 days of community service or participation leave, plus
• a 401K plan with a 3% match after just one year of employment, and
• In addition, the Executive Director closes the office between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day each year as a thank you to the staff!

Where you will work: SEACC’s office is located in Juneau, Alaska. During the pandemic this role may work remotely if/as needed.

• Southeast Alaskan candidates who are not located in Juneau but are interested in the position you are strongly encouraged to apply – we are not requiring immediate relocation to Juneau for this role, but the successful candidate must plan to relocate to Juneau by July of 2021;
• Alaskan candidates who live outside of Southeast will not be required to relocate to Southeast during the midst of the pandemic but must plan to relocate to Juneau by July of 2021.
• Candidates located outside Alaska may begin work remotely, given the pandemic, but must plan to relocate to Juneau by July of 2021.

More about Juneau, Alaska: Juneau, known by the Tlingit people as Dzantik’i Heeni, is the ancestral home of the Auk Kwaan and Taku Kwaan. It is also the state’s capital city. The greater Juneau borough is surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and is therefore rich with access to the outdoors, including fishing, hunting, foraging, kayaking, hiking, and skiing, among other activities. We have two public swimming pools, multiple fitness clubs, many city parks and libraries, and a variety of educational options for families of all ages. The community also has a vibrant arts community with numerous visual artists, dance troupes, theatre companies, two opera companies, chamber and symphony orchestras, a jazz and classics festival, and an annual folk music festival, as well as the State Museum and Sealaska Heritage Institute. The biennial Alaska Native cultural event ‘Celebration’ is held every two years in Juneau, Alaska and is a major social and cultural event, with the next slated to occur in summer 2022.

Our city is famous for its rainy and sometimes gray coastal climate, and is only accessible by air travel or the state ferry system, which are considerations for those contemplating a relocation from the Lower 48.

Desired Start Date: As soon as possible but no later than April 26, 2021.

Application Process: Applications are due March 16 for first round review, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis thereafter; first round interviews will be scheduled for the week of March 22 and second round interviews will be week of April 5. If this position is still posted on our website it hasn’t been filled – we will continue to accept and review applications until it is.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter, and a list of three references (including at least one direct supervisor), and a less than 1,500 word writing sample, all in a single PDF to Admin@SEACC.org. Please put ‘Job Application – Communications’ and your last name in the email subject line.