Communications Associate

Professional Opportunity with SalmonState: a project of the New Venture Fund

Opening: Communications Associate

SalmonState, an 11-year-old initiative housed at the New Venture Fund, works to protect habitat and promote policies that will guarantee Alaska remains the SalmonState; the home of the world's largest, healthiest and most abundant wild salmon resource, providing culture, food, income, employment and recreation to Alaskans, Americans and the rest of the world.

“…salmon is a magnificent animal that holds its own to anything on the Serengeti - beautiful in its many phases; thrilling in its athleticism; moving on its strength, determination and courage; poetic in its heroic and tragic life story - and it would be sad if it disappeared. All of that is true but a more important point is that if salmon does not survive, there is little hope for the survival of the planet.”

Mark Kurlansky: “ Salmon, A Fish, the Earth, and the History of their Common Fate”

SalmonState’s reason for being is to motivate Alaskans to conservation action via the core value of salmon. We combine cutting edge data analytics with a team of highly experienced organizers possessing a wealth of professional experience and deep personal ties to Alaska as well as a team of communications experts committed to telling the stories illustrating how and why Alaska is the SalmonState. We are looking for a hard-working, experienced self-starter to join our highly skilled and passionate team.

Position Description

The Communications Associate will report directly to the SalmonState Communications Director, who has primary oversight of all SalmonState external communications. Additionally, this position will work with other SalmonState staff to support work throughout Alaska as needed.

This is an overtime-exempt / full-time position, starting at 32 hours a week, with up to 40 hours a week based on need and funding. For a 40 hours/week schedule, salary would be between $67,000 and $72,000. If fewer hours are worked, the salary would be adjusted accordingly.

Location: Juneau or Anchorage preferred but will consider all Alaska-based applicants.

Key Responsibilities

• • Generate ideas for, design, write, and schedule social media posts across multiple platforms and for multiple campaigns
  • Assist with writing projects as needed/requested by supervisor, including but not limited to press releases, opinion pieces, emails to grassroots, website copy, and the processing of salmon stories (interviews with people deeply connected to wild salmon, shared as first-person social media stories.)
  • Connect with partners and individuals across Alaska as needed and directed by supervisor for opinion pieces, salmon stories, etc. This will involve interviews, ideally (if for salmon stories and/or social media) on video.
  • Help us stay up to date and on the cutting edge when it comes to riding the social media algorithm. This may include noticing and helping us to capitalize on new trends, platforms and ways of garnering attention, as well as recording and posting vertical videos explaining different topics or piquing people’s interest, starring you or someone else.
  • Help gather media, including video and photography, for the SalmonState media library and dissemination on SalmonState platforms, to partners, and to earned media.
  • Keep projects on track, adjusting strategy and tactics when necessary;
  • Undertake special projects and other duties as assigned.

Core Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or a related field; or equal experience at work.
  • Exceptional written and oral communication and presentation skills;
  • A keen understanding of messaging, audience(s), messengers, tone, voice, and other key elements of effective communications;
  • Ability to write in different tones, voices and other key elements for different campaigns;
  • An ability to communicate clearly and without use of jargon, and to distill seemingly complicated concepts so that they are easy to understand;
  • Ability to stay on task, organized, and to track multiple projects with different deadlines;
  • Ability to self-motivate and manage your own time;
  • Ability to create compelling visuals, both still and video;
  • A familiarity with Alaska;
  • A passion for SalmonState missions and campaigns;
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively implement and manage diverse communications strategies and activities;
  • Strong creative thinking abilities and a willingness to learn;
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills with a high attention to detail;
  • Ability to build collaborative working relationships with the core SalmonState team and develop and maintain strong professional relationships and networks externally;
  • Interview and relationship-building abilities for storytelling purposes (SalmonState “Salmon People” storytelling series);
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Google Workspace, Facebook Business Suite required;
  • Ability to shoot video with iPhone and more professional camera setup (or ability to learn);
  • Design skills. More important than the software used is an understanding of layout, flow, use of white space, and how to craft compelling visuals;
  • Proficiency developing compelling email copy and creating blog posts required;
  • Ability to learn and to use new technologies as applicable;
  • An interest in learning and trying new things, and adapting to what works best in a constantly changing world ruled by algorithms;
  • A keen sense of design and attractive visuals; ability to design visually enticing infographics, pamphlets, memes, etc.;
  • Understanding of digital data; ability to issue regular reports clarifying what is or is not working on various platforms; ability to do A/B messaging tests; ability to conduct a digital “audit” of social and web presence in order to clarify paths toward improving digital and web presence, or ability to quickly learn.

Other Qualifications:

• Ability to be a self-starter
• Creativity and problem-solving skills
• Enthusiasm and passion for salmon and other conservation causes
• Ability to work independently and also as part of a team
• Ability to be flexible and adaptive
• Strong project management skills
• Experience working with diverse people of diverse backgrounds
• Enthusiasm for learning
• A sense of humor

Compensation:

For employees working more than 20 hours a week: Comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance; 3% automatic contribution and a 3% employer match on 401(k) contributions; pre-tax transportation benefits; and paid holiday, vacation, sick, and volunteer time off.

The salary range for this position is $66,000 to 74,000, per year if 40 hours are worked. The position starts at 32 and salary will be scaled correspondingly. Up to 40 hours/week may be worked based on need and funding.

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing samples (one to two narrative/longer form writing samples, one to four social media posts, and, if applicable, another relevant writing form of your choice); and two to four examples of visual products you have designed or otherwise created (still image, video, infographic, etc.) to View email address on click.appcast.io with the subject line of: Communications Associate. Position will be open until filled.

To learn more, visit SalmonState and Salmon Beyond Borders.

SalmonState is a project of New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. NVF is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding and enables each of us to realize our potential. NVF’s work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

E-Verify

NVF participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the United States. Job candidates and employees authorized to work may not be discriminated against on the basis of national origin or citizenship status.