Right mission, right team, right moment. There are a few rare moments in an organization’s evolution when the planets align and you have a chance to be part of something extraordinary. Northwest Maritime is poised for that moment. We are seeking a Communications Director who is an experienced, energetic leader with the chops to help us reach our potential.
Northwest Maritime is what happens when an educational institution, world-renowned wooden boat festival, international adventure race, a unique Port Townsend campus, a hotel, and a magazine walk into a bar.
We are building on our 47-year history of engaging and educating through the powerful experiences of the sea. Our work is both broad and deep. From the largest Wooden Boat Festival in North America, adventure races like the Race to Alaska, and visitor services and experiences, to an extensive menu of program offerings for boaters and the boating curious, to a massive suite of offerings for K-12 students, including Maritime High School, our region’s first standalone maritime-focused high school, and a new regional initiative to connect new communities through maritime opportunities by connecting people to the intersection of environment, careers, and community.
We’re complicated and varied: we have content that is supported by advertising, messaging that advertises our offerings, and more standard non-profit communications to the community and supporters. Our theory is that our complication can be organized and leveraged and we can bring people closer to our mission no matter what their first point of contact.
That’s where you come in.
If connecting people to new experiences and community impact quickens your pulse, here’s what you should know about us before you throw your hat in the ring:
We’re a dynamic organization. We’ve grown a lot over the past decade. The cause and result is that we move fast. We’re looking for a Communications Director who moves fast, too. We don’t want you to struggle to keep up; ideally we’re catching up to you.
We’re looking for proven leadership and communication skills. We’re smart, ambitious, and have a reputation for the strength of our Marcom. We’re looking for someone who can bring together and support internal stakeholders to build on our strengths and take it to the next level.
We aren’t fake. We have a motto around here: “The sea is the most powerful teacher we know.” At the root of what we do are the hands-on, saltwater-in-your-face, real-world experiences of the sea. Our work and work culture reflects that ethic. We do a good job but we aren't sterile. To us, customer service isn't the forced smile and "Have a nice day" as people exit the plane, but honoring people enough to be present and human with them. Sometimes that looks like sharing someone’s inspiring story, sometimes it’s making fun of them in a way that lets them know we care.
We want to connect more people to the sea. We are working hard to make the sea an inclusive space. Gender, race, sexuality, ability, socio-economic status, geography, and indigeneity have all been reasons why people have been historically excluded from maritime culture & careers. We strive to welcome everyone into the blue parts of their world. That should matter to you, too.
We’re working to be an antiracist organization. We work in all kinds of communities; red and blue, black and white, urban and rural, wealthy and marginalized, and everything in between. We’re deep into figuring out how to live into our values and operationalize antiracism & inclusion in all of those contexts and communities. We’re looking for someone who can help us continue to communicate with inclusivity, authenticity, humor, and our brand of professionalism.
We Oxford comma. If you know, you know.
We meet people where they are and inspire them to reach farther. We are a learning organization, and we lead, follow, and get out of the way when it makes sense. We listen to all voices – our direct reports, our colleagues, our constituents, our community, our donors, and our board. The ideal candidate likes people and enjoys spending time with them; is able to listen well and hear differing points of view; and is a willing partner in helping their coworkers find communications success.
We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Sure, JFK might have said that about sending a man into space, but he might as well have been saying it about Northwest Maritime. If it were easy, someone else would already be doing it. This job won't be easy, but you’ll never be bored. You’ll be joining an incredible team of humans dreaming big and working together to pull off something incredible. We’re not going to save the world by ourselves, but when we’re successful the world will be a little more courageous, connected, resilient, hopeful, and filled with joy.
Sales pitch complete. Here’s the job:
The Communications Director will work with executive leadership, department managers, staff, and sponsors to maximize earned revenue, support engagement and outreach with stakeholders, and create and implement communications strategies, materials, and projects across our diverse business areas. You will lead a communications team of 3 and have the opportunity to shape our communications strategies as we grow.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Marketing & Communications Strategy, Planning, and Leadership
Work with colleagues in support of their desired outcomes to co-create and execute robust approaches to communications & marketing
Develop NWM communications both to position us broadly and regionally, while still staying relevant and beloved to the local community in Port Townsend.
Collaborate with NWM’s leadership team to develop an annual communications strategy, including alignment between print, digital, media, and PR strategies, organizational priorities, and revenue goals
Lead, support, and empower the Communications team of 3 as well as project-related contractors as needed
Work with departments to ensure coordination in outbound communications, balancing marketing & communication imperatives with our institutional identity as a whole
Manage website presence and content for NWM website and sub-brands’ websites
Advance brand identity of Northwest Maritime and its sub-brands, including visuals, voice, and online presence
Institutional Communications & PR
Steward NWM’s institutional Identity, and that of its sub-brands, projects, and activities
Oversee design and production of several annual and semi-annual publications including Annual Report, Stem to Stern, and others
Work with internal stakeholders to produce e-news, social media, and strategy across all platforms
Track, measure, adjust, and report to NWM leadership on the effectiveness of marketing and communications over time
Act as the Public Information Officer in the event of crisis communication scenarios for Wooden Boat Festival, Adventure Races, and other crises as required
Manage all media contacts
Place stories with key local, regional, and national press outlets to raise the profile of NWM’s activities & impact
Marketing & Earned Revenue
Work closely with department directors in Programs, Venue Rentals, the Swan Hotel, the Welcome Center, and Events to establish and implement marketing goals and strategies including print and digital advertising and communications, web info and forms, and social media.
Evaluate marketing efforts against revenue goals and identify opportunities for maximizing earned revenues
Support managers in developing budget estimates for marketing materials & related
Oversee creation and design of print/digital materials for NWM events & programs, and produce materials when needed
Lead the generation of online content that engages audience segments and leads to measurable action. Decide who, where, and when to disseminate
Collaborate with Communications Designer & Retail Specialist on branded merchandise across all programs and events
Work with Sponsorship team to ensure sponsor related deliverables are executed on time and to the spirit and the letter of NWM’s sponsorship agreements
Work with event directors to coordinate media teams for Wooden Boat Festival, Race to Alaska, SEVENTY48, and others as needed.
GENERAL OPERATIONS
While the primary focus of this position is communications & marketing, the Communications Director works as part of the entire NWM team, ensuring smooth operations. As a growing non-profit, we all pitch in for the heavy lifting, whether it's participating in all-hands projects and events, assisting visitors, or occasionally doing some literal heavy lifting.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Highly collaborative style with experience developing and implementing communications strategies
High energy, maturity, and leadership with the ability to execute at both the strategic and tactical levels
Commitment to working collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, board members, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
Proficiency in Google Suite, and other relevant marketing, communications, and project management software applications.
Excellent project management skills and magnetic interpersonal skills.
Alignment with and excitement about our activities and brands
HELPFUL QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in a leadership/communications role at a complex mid-sized nonprofit organization
Demonstrated success both in managing direct reports and collaborating across departments
Knowledge of effective marketing strategies for tourism-based businesses (?)
Proficiency in task management software such as Monday.com
Proficiency in the Adobe suite (Photoshop, InDesign, etc.)
APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit your resume and cover letter through the online application.
Deadline for applications: Open until filled, application review begins July 1, 2024
WORK LOCATION & SCHEDULE
Position will require onsite work; some work may be done remotely
Main NWM Offices are located at 431 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368
Position is full time, 40 hours/week
Reports to: CEO and COO
WAGE RANGE & BENEFITS
$85,000 to $104,000 annaully, exempt
100% company paid Health, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance contributions to HSA account
Matching contributions to a SIMPLE IRA retirement fund after 1 year of employment
Paid time off: initially accrues 2 weeks of vacation per year, 17 paid holidays in a calendar year, & 1 hour of sick time accrued per every 25 hours worked
Flexible schedule & employee discounts
Full details on benefits
NWMC is committed to equal employment opportunity, striving towards being an antiracist and inclusive organization. We value the diversity of our staff and the communities that we serve, which includes a spectrum of racial, cultural, religious, sexual and gender identities, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people who have not seen themselves represented in the industry.