Senior Communications Manager

Our Story

Our lives depend on the ocean, the life support system for our blue planet.  Industrial pollution, destructive overfishing, oil spills, noise, nearshore habitat loss, and warming and acidifying waters caused by climate change are choking the ocean and endangering all life on Earth—including ours.

The ocean’s future is in our hands. At the Seattle Aquarium, our mission is Inspiring Conservation of Our Marine Environment. At this defining moment for our ocean and our planet, this mission matters more than ever. The Seattle Aquarium has a vision to make ocean conservation a global imperative, a community value, and a deeply personal priority for all— – starting here on Seattle's waterfront.

The One Ocean, One Future campaign – the most significant campaign in our history – will enable us to create the Ocean Pavilion, an iconic center for ocean advocacy that extends our ocean story from Seattle to the Indo-Pacific. The Ocean Pavilion will be the first of three phases in the Aquarium’s transformation as a leading ocean conservation institution with national and global impact.  As the first phase, creating the Ocean Pavilion will enable the Aquarium to expand our global species recovery and research efforts, put ocean conservation at the center of our city and the hearts and minds of our visitors, and build a movement of ocean advocates to shape a hopeful, flourishing future. The Seattle Aquarium seeks a Senior Communications Manager to help carry this important mission forward for generations to come.

The Seattle Aquarium is the ninth-largest aquarium, by attendance, in the United States, with a typical annual attendance of 850,000 visitors on-site, and including our community-outreach and beach-based programs, we reach over 1.2 million people annually. The Aquarium employs 135 full-time employees, supports more than 1,200 volunteers,

Our Vision

The Seattle Aquarium aspires, through its example, to help define the role of a great aquarium in the 21st century as a catalyst for public engagement in the wonder, science and future vitality of the oceans and Puget Sound. We intend to be a leader in each component: life sciences, interpretive exhibits, educational outreach, research, public policy, and economic impact. We strive to be an inclusive and welcoming pillar of the Puget Sound, reflecting the diversity of our region in our people and audience.

S.A.L.I.S.H Values

Adopting and promoting, internally and externally, practices that improve ocean health Awe-inspiring

Creating captivating experiences for all audiences Learning & Improving

Fostering, evaluating, and applying knowledge and discovery Inclusive Community

Recognizing that diversity is critical to achieve our mission Scientific Integrity

Ensuring our credibility with evidence-based practices Honoring Place

Using our location and history as a lens for larger understanding

Your Role

Working under the guidance of the Director of Marketing and Communications and leading a team of 2-4 staff, the Senior Communications Manager will deliver critical storytelling that positions the Aquarium as a conservation leader, improves our value proposition, excites and engages our community, drives them to action, and supports significant growth in fundraising. This role is dynamic and vital to the ongoing success and expansion of the Seattle Aquarium, and while no two days will look alike, you should expect to focus your time and talents in the following areas:

• Communications Strategy – Working across the organization, develop and implement a communications strategy that aligns messaging for both internal and external stakeholders, supporting the Executive team as needed for crisis communication.
• Writing - Lead the team to write, edit, and proof written marketing content. Contribute to the development of the Aquarium’s messaging framework, integrating themes and evidence from all departments into messaging that will resonate with multiple audiences.  Assist in writing executive speeches and talking points for board members.

• Content development - Oversee creation of a diverse portfolio of content that expresses our storytelling, brand and values including web copy, blogs, videos, scripts, presentations, reports, collateral, the annual report, CEO reports and Board of Directors handbook.
• Campaign Collaboration – As the Aquarium completes a $160 million capital campaign for the new Ocean Pavilion and plans for similarly sized campaigns to come, you will partner with the marketing, PR, and philanthropy teams to support successful campaign execution by driving communications strategy, messaging and content development, and media engagement.
• People management – Leading a team of 2-4 staff and a flexible cohort of parttime technical staff, you will embody the S.A.L.I.S.H values and ensure that the Aquarium continues to be a collaborative, inclusive, and empowering place to work.

What you bring  

Candidates will be evaluated on the full range of their lived and learned experience and core competencies. The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Interest in and curiosity about ocean conservation and marine life.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including a knack for translating complex or scientific topics in a way that is understandable, engaging, and enriching for all audiences yet sophisticated enough to influence donors, civic leaders, and the public.
• Experience overseeing the creation of assets across mediums, including written stories and blog pots, photography, videos, and other visual media.
• Skill for collaborating effectively across stakeholders, both internal and external, and across roles and functions.
• A track record of working decisively in a deadline driven and collaborative setting
• The ability to manage multiple projects, campaigns, and urgent asks with a high level of detail orientation and polish.
• Knowledge of local market demographics and media is a plus, as is an understanding of fundraising methodologies.
• A bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, or analogous professional experience is required.

To be Considered 

This role will remain open until filled. Candidate materials are reviewed on an on-going basis and initial interviews will begin by late February. The salary range is set at $90,000 - $110,000 plus a comprehensive benefits package. This role can be performed onsite or remotely if that remote location allows at least 1-2 days per week onsite. To be considered, please submit a resume as soon as possible addressed to the hiring manager, Kat Willson, at: valtasgroup.recruiterbox.com/jobs.

In lieu of a cover letter, please address the following questions as a cover page attached to your resume:

• What interests you about the position at the Seattle Aquarium and how does it align with your career goals?
• From everything you know thus far about the Seattle Aquarium and this role, tell us about the skills and knowledge you can bring to our organization/team.
• Describe an example of excellent storytelling that you have seen in the marketplace.  What makes your example excellent?

You may direct questions or make referrals to Chris Cannon or Ed Rogan at the Valtas Group.