Ocean Career: NMSF Communications Manager for Restoration

Gulf Restoration Communications Manager

The Gulf Restoration Communications Manager will support public awareness of the activities of the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) restoration portfolio in the Gulf of Mexico. The MDBC Portfolio includes four interconnected projects working to better understand and restore damage to deep sea coral communities caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This person in this position will manage all public facing communications related to MDBC restoration activities, including drafting and reviewing web stories, press releases, social media posts, and other forms of popular press and media.

The Gulf Restoration Communications Manager will also lead the coordination of communications efforts across 30+ partners, including the facilitation of a monthly MDBC Communications Team meeting. The partners that contribute to this restoration work include other NOAA offices and federal agencies, academic and scientific institutions, and non-profit organizations. The Manager will be responsible for the implementation of the project communications strategy and key messages, including developing communications plans for each restoration expedition, or "cruise," in the Gulf of Mexico throughout the field season (approximately March to October), approximately 8-15 expeditions per year.

The person in this position reports to the Program Operations Manager, Restoration, but coordinates day-to-day activities with restoration portfolio staff from OHC and the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The position is currently offered as a fourteen-month term position, with the opportunity for extension based on availability of funding.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

• Lead monthly MDBC Communications Team meetings and manage email listserv to ensure consistent messaging across all partners, track approval processes, provide support and updates on stories/projects, communicate restoration milestones and successes to be featured in media, etc.
• Ensure all public-facing MDBC communications pieces and media follow messaging guidelines and media crediting guidelines.
• Draft web stories, articles, press releases, and social media posts & work with relevant office/partner to get it approved & published according to that partner's guidelines.
• Review web stories, articles, press releases, and social media posts written by partner offices/organizations and coordinate necessary review and approval steps.
• Field media and partner inquiries, connecting inquiries to subject-matter experts within the portfolio and/or providing information as needed.
• Coordinate with project managers and subject-matter experts across the portfolio identify news-worthy stories, website and social media content, and which distribution strategies to implement.
• Track MDBC-related communications products & publications to evaluate impact and reach.
• Provide information and be responsive to requests from Foundation Headquarters.

• Coordinate with the MDBC Vessel Operations Coordinator to distribute and collect photo releases from cruise participants, and identify a communications staff member to serve as the "content collection lead" (CCL) for each cruise.
• Lead the development of a communications plan specific to the objectives and activities of each cruise with support from the cruise lead ("field party chief") and CCL.
• Collaborate with partners from the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute/University of Rhode Island Inner Space Center and MDBC staff to plan telepresence broadcast schedules, scripts, content, and staff roles based on communications plan and…