Senior Director, Marketing and Strategic Communications

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee the strategy and implementation of integrated marketing and communications initiatives.

• Expand the audience base of the Pacific Institute and enhance its reputation as a leading authority on global water solutions.

• Establish visibility and positioning that promote partnership and funding growth.

• Manage a team that encompasses content, digital, media relations, and partner communications.

• Create audience definitions, positioning, campaign schedules, and campaigns measured by outcomes.

• Uphold the Pacific Institute brand and its associated sub-brands, including the CEO Water Mandate and Water Resilience Coalition.

• Direct content and audience strategy across the digital marketing framework.

• Develop analytics and reporting capabilities for marketing and communications activities.

• Collaborate with growth, research, and program leaders on revenue-generating campaigns and integrated communications.

• Enhance executive visibility and thought leadership initiatives, including media relations, speaking engagements, and rapid-response commentary.

• Represent the Pacific Institute externally regarding brand, marketing, and organizational positioning matters.

• Design and uphold communication processes, workflows, quality standards, and decision-making norms.

• Prioritize tasks, manage requests, sequence work, and address cross-functional challenges.

• Spearhead organizational media strategies and establish spokesperson guidelines and protocols.

• Provide strategic counsel to executive leadership on implications of positioning externally.

• Cultivate team collaboration, creative excellence, psychological safety, and a culture of continuous learning.

• Develop a scalable team structure and oversee team budget, workforce planning, contractors, vendors, and resource allocation.

• Establish strategic redundancy and shared institutional knowledge.

• Ensure the quality, consistency, and punctuality of external communications.

• Convert complex research, programs, and partnerships into messaging suitable for target audiences.

• Create publication processes, timelines, and quality checkpoints.

• Write, edit, and produce communications and campaign materials personally.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 14 years of progressive experience in marketing, strategic communications, media relations, or public affairs.

• At least 7 years in a leadership position managing and developing a communications team.

• Minimum of 5 years in a marketing leadership role with sole responsibility for a major brand.

• Proven experience in building or significantly enhancing communications systems, processes, and team structures.

• A record of transforming complex technical or research-based content into engaging narratives for varied audiences.

• Experience managing departmental budgets, workforce planning, vendor portfolios, and resource strategy.

• National or international media strategy experience, including earned media, spokesperson training, and crisis communications.

• Background in advising executive leadership or serving in an executive-level communications advisory role.

• Familiarity with AI tools for strategic advantage in communications and marketing, with ethical-use judgment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Policy, or a related field.

• Equivalent professional experience will be accepted.

• Exceptional writing and editing capabilities.

• Ability to distill complex information for diverse audiences and formats.

• Competence in strategic planning and practical execution.

• Capacity to prioritize, manage competing demands, make transparent decisions, and advocate at the executive level.

• In-depth understanding of digital communications, social media strategy, website management, email marketing, content management systems, and analytics platforms.

• Experience in brand management, visual identity, organizational positioning, and marketing infrastructure development.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, inclusive leadership style.

• Capability to function in a remote-first environment with a globally distributed team.

• Dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Preferred: experience in the nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven sectors.

• Preferred: knowledge of water, climate, environmental sustainability, or natural resource policy.

• Preferred: experience interacting with vulnerable communities, elected officials, corporations, community leaders, and the public.

• Preferred: proficiency in impact-data storytelling and cross-functional brand storytelling.

• Preferred: communications management experience during organizational growth, transition, or structural change.

• Preferred: fluency in additional languages.

• Preferred: experience with international organizations, multilateral institutions, or global sustainability networks.

• Must reside within the United States.

• No immigration or relocation assistance is provided.

🏝️ Benefits

• Paid vacation.

• Health insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Institute-matched retirement plan.

• Competitive salary based on experience.

• Fully remote work environment.

• Opportunities for domestic and occasional international travel.

• Comprehensive wellness initiatives.

• Engaging team-building events.