Communications Associate

Position Title: Communications Associate 

Location: Washington, D.C 

Salary: Starts at $55,000 

About the Role: 

The Communications Associate will report to and support the Communications Director in implementing Alaska Wilderness League’s external communication strategy. They will help the Communications Director ensure a cohesive and integrated communications vision, including the stewardship of the organization’s brand and messaging, drafting content that advances the League’s campaigns and policy outcomes, providing administrative support, and working in partnership with a variety of audiences, including donors and supporters that make our work possible.  

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Execute comms tactics to further advocacy campaigns; this includes messaging, social and digital media, media relations, and storytelling. 
• Generate and review outgoing communications materials owned by the Communications Department, including, but not limited to, key press releases and pitches, talking points, op-eds, message templates, blog, digital ads, and social media posts and videos. 
• Provide strategic input for campaigns, and digital and communications efforts. 
• Manage Communication Department asset libraries 
• Manage the editorial and social media calendar, draft and schedule social posts

Assist Strategic Campaign Communications: 

• Work alongside consultants or vendors as necessary to produce digital ads, video content and more. 
• Pitch stories, conduct interviews, identify on-location coverage opportunities to build relationships with opinion leaders, reporters, bloggers and key social media influencers. 

Support League Communications, Promotion and Branding: 

• Assist the Communications Director in implementing a comprehensive communications work plan and strategy, aligning it with the organization’s strategic plan and goals across departments.  
• Support in the development of content, collaborating with Development and other Program staff on content and execution. 
• Help Communications Director maintain AWL and Alaska Wilderness League Action websites and social media channels, including drafting compelling web content and blog posts to advance campaign goals and support activist engagement and partnerships with key constituencies. 

Administration: 

• Serve on various internal working groups, attend staff meetings, and participate in organizational trainings. 
• Provide administrative support for the communications team, including meeting notes, photo database organization, and online content organization and filing. 
• Attend staff retreats and other key events. 
• Complete time sheets and other institutional forms and reporting requirements accurately and on time. 

Qualifications: 

• The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success including 1-4 years of communications experience. 
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills. 
• Comfortable with standard office software, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, and  
• Proficiency in digital content creation and tools like Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite 
• A commitment to environmental justice and to a more inclusive future for the conservation movement

Preferred Skills: 

• Experience managing social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok 
• Comfortable running paid ads through Meta and Twitter 
• Familiarity with website CMS platforms such as WordPress 
• Basic SEO skills and web content best practices 

Compensation and Location  

Compensation for this role starts at $55k and can increase based on the candidate’s level of experience.   

In addition, Alaska Wilderness League offers an outstanding benefits package to include: 

 o Generous health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families/dependents;

o  Flexible Spending Account for eligible medical, childcare or elder care expenses;

o  Life Insurance, Short-Long Term Disability;

o  3% contribution of employee salary to a 401K Retirement Plan;

o  24 Days of Paid Time Off (PTO) for employees with less than 5 years of employment;

o  29 days for employees with 5+ years of employment;

o  12 Paid Holidays and Birthday leave;

o  Parental Leave;

o  Communication Stipend for business-related mobile expenses;

o  Discounts on leading name-brand outdoor apparel and gear. 

This position is located in Washington DC, some travel expected (approximately 1 time per quarter) 

Alaska Wilderness League is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, handicap, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Alaska Wilderness League is continually seeking to diversify its staff, particularly to broaden opportunities for individuals from demographic groups that are historically underrepresented in environmental advocacy. 

How to apply: 

Please send a resume and cover letter to careers@alaskawild.org. This position is open until filled. Priority will be given to those who apply by May 8, 2024. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience. Applications will be screened against the criteria listed in this profile and applicants will be contacted after May 13, 2024 if their qualifications match position requirements. 

When you apply, please remove the names of your undergraduate and graduate schools from your resume. There is no need to reformat your resume, but simplify it to “B.A. Economics,” for example. This process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments instead of resume proxies (e.g., where you went to school).   

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please feel free to email careers@alaskawild.org. 

 o Generous health insurance for individuals and competitive rates for families/dependents;

o Flexible Spending Account for eligible medical, childcare or elder care expenses;

o Life Insurance, Short-Long Term Disability;

o 3% contribution of employee salary to a 401K Retirement Plan;

o 24 Days of Paid Time Off (PTO) for employees with less than 5 years of employment;

o 29 days for employees with 5+ years of employment;

o 12 Paid Holidays and Birthday leave;

o Parental Leave;

o Communication Stipend for business-related mobile expenses;

o Discounts on leading name-brand outdoor apparel and gear.