The Associate Director of Communications develops, implements and manages efficient and effective communications, digital content, thought leadership, event and engagement plans to support efforts to influence U.S. policies for better wildfire resilience. They will work with external partners as well as a matrixed internal team across multiple divisions. They will coordinate closely with policy and marketing staff at the state, national and global levels to ensure clear and consistent messaging on forest and other policy priorities. They will identify targeted audiences, the most effective communications messages and platforms to reach those audiences and track progress on engaging those audiences. They will develop compelling content on the benefits of improved wildfire resilience policies and work with spokespeople who can most effectively reach key audiences. They will also conduct internal communications activities to raise awareness across the Conservancy’s multiple divisions about the policy work. In consultation with the Director of North America Policy Marketing and Communications, they will manage a communications budget and key operational plans. They provide consultation, media training, coaching and talking points to persons serving as spokespeople. The Associate Director of Communications will report to the Director of North America Policy Marketing and Communications.

• Work with policy and marketing and communications staff – as well as with external partners – to develop and implement communications strategies and tactics that raise support for improved forest and wildfire resilience policies.
• Research, write and develop compelling communications materials – including opinion pieces, key messages, and web content – that can be used locally and nationally to influence and engage key audiences.
• Collaborate across teams and external partners to arrange, promote and amplify thought leadership events and produce supporting collateral materials. 
• Identify and engage communications outlets and platforms that reach key influencers.
• Identify, train and engage spokespeople who can effectively communicate with key audiences.
• Coordinate and maintain good relationships with field staff to ensure continuous flow of information on forest and wildfire resilience activities that can be used for story development, media pitches and other marketing activities.
• Develop and implement internal communications activities to raise awareness across the Conservancy’s multiple divisions and among top leadership of the organization’s wildfire resilience and forest policy work in North America.
• Consults with supervisor to create and administer communications program budget, evaluates results and develops corrective strategies as needed.
• Travel up to 20% of the time, when safety and health conditions allow, with a domestic focus.