Senior Communications Manager
Help More People See, Understand, and Care About the Coast
The American Littoral Society seeks a talented, collaborative Senior Communications Manager to strengthen our public voice, expand visibility, and help and help more people understand and participate in protecting healthy coasts. For more than 60 years, the Society has protected and restored the coast through habitat restoration, education, advocacy, fisheries science, and community engagement.
We are launching a modernized website and brand, expanding our public voice, and improving how we communicate the breadth and impact of our work.
We need a communications leader who can organize and sharpen our storytelling, improve internal processes for communicating our work, and ensure high-quality communications reach the communities we serve.
Position Summary
The Senior Communications Manager will lead the Society’s external communications and partner with the Executive Director to implement an organization-wide communications strategy. This role oversees the editorial calendar, publications, website, social media, media relations, branding, and major communications projects; supervises part-time staff, interns, and selected contractors; and helps staff translate the Society’s work into clear, compelling public stories.
The Senior Communications Manager will independently manage routine communications, make sound editorial decisions, and move projects from concept through publication.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead Communications Strategy and Production
- Develop and implement a practical communications strategy, budget, editorial calendar, and production schedule.
- Identify priority audiences, messages, campaigns, media opportunities, and calls to action.
- Establish clear assignments, deadlines, workflows, and approval processes.
- Serve as the Society’s lead editor and communications project manager.
- Produce or oversee executive, organizational, advocacy, and high-priority communications.
- Use performance data to evaluate results and improve future communications.
Oversee Publications and Digital Communications
- Lead production of Field Notes, event newsletters, member emails, biannual newsletters, Underwater Naturalist, annual reports, and impact materials.
- Manage schedules, editing, design, approvals, production, and distribution.
- Serve as the primary internal owner of the Society’s website and keep content current, accurate, and engaging.
- Lead social media, email, and digital campaign planning and quality control.
- Expand the effective use of photography, video, staff voices, field stories, and public participation.
- Maintain consistent standards for accuracy, accessibility, tone, and visual quality.
Strengthen Storytelling, Visibility, and Brand
- Identify compelling stories from staff, programs, members, volunteers, partners, and coastal communities.
- Leverage and translate coastal restoration, science, policy, fisheries, and education work for public audiences.
- Build relationships with reporters and pitch relevant stories, projects, and experts.
- Prepare or oversee press releases, media advisories, talking points, opinion pieces, background materials, and interview support.
- Coordinate timely communications around emerging issues.
- Strengthen consistency in messaging, design, photography, merchandise, and visual identity.
- Manage designers, photographers, videographers, printers, website contractors, and other creative vendors.
Support Organizational Priorities and Lead the Team
- Partner with Development on cases for support, donor materials, appeals, membership communications, sponsorship packages, stewardship, and event promotion.
- Support advocacy and public-engagement campaigns with clear messaging and calls to action.
- Supervise part-time communications staff and interns and manage selected freelancers and consultants.
- Set priorities, assignments, deadlines, and performance expectations.
- Create simple systems for staff to submit communications needs, stories, photographs, and results.
- Help integrate communications into program planning.
- Assess future staffing, technology, and contractor needs.
What Success Looks Like
During the first year, the Senior Communications Manager will help ensure that:
- The Society has a clear communications strategy, budget, calendar, and workflow.
- Publications, campaigns, and major communications are coordinated and released on time.
- The website and public materials reflect the quality and breadth of the Society’s work.
- The Society’s brand and visual presentation become more consistent and effective.
- Staff have reliable systems for submitting communications needs and content.
- Complex work is translated into clear, engaging public stories.
- Media outreach becomes more proactive and generates stronger coverage.
- Communications better support fundraising, membership, advocacy, events, and public participation.
- Routine communications no longer require the Executive Director to manage production.
Qualifications
Strong candidates will bring many of the following:
- Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, journalism, public relations, digital media, editing, publishing, nonprofit work, or a related field.
- Excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and storytelling skills.
- Strong project-management skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and contributors.
- Experience overseeing publications, websites, newsletters, social media, media relations, or integrated communications campaigns.
- Strong editorial judgment and the ability to translate complex information for public audiences.
- Experience supervising staff, interns, freelancers, contractors, or vendors.
- A strong visual sense and experience coordinating design, photography, and production.
- Experience preparing media materials, working with reporters, or pitching stories.
- Familiarity with content-management systems, email platforms, social media tools, analytics, Canva, Adobe products, or similar platforms.
- The ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and move projects forward.
- A collaborative approach and comfort working with leadership, program staff, Development, Board members, and community partners.
- An interest in the coast, conservation, environmental science, wildlife, education, or community engagement.
The Person We Are Looking For
The strongest candidate will be:
· An excellent writer and thoughtful editor
· Creative, organized, dependable, and comfortable leading people, projects, and processes
· Able to balance strategy with hands-on execution
· Collaborative, confident, and receptive to feedback
· Skilled at understanding audiences and communicating effectively with them
· Comfortable making routine decisions and moving work forward independently
· Motivated to build and grow a communications program around meaningful coastal work
· Comfortable moving between office strategy, publications, media needs, public events, and field activities
Opportunity for Growth
This senior manager role may grow into a Communications Director position as the communications program, team, visibility, and organizational needs expand.
Growth will be based on demonstrated leadership, sound judgment, effective team management, improved communications systems, increased public visibility, strong editorial and creative quality, and readiness to assume greater strategic responsibility.
Why Join the American Littoral Society?
You will help lead the next chapter of a respected coastal conservation organization while working alongside scientists, educators, restoration practitioners, advocates, community leaders, anglers, volunteers, and supporters.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated salary range is $76,000–$87,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The American Littoral Society offers:
- Health insurance
- Retirement contributions
- Generous paid time off
- A flexible hybrid work environment
- A collaborative and mission-driven team
- Opportunities to participate in field programs, restoration visits, community events, and coastal conservation activities
Regular in-person collaboration at our Sandy Hook headquarters will be required, along with participation in selected programs, events, and field activities. Some regional travel and occasional evening or weekend work will be necessary.
How to Apply
Please submit:
- A résumé and brief cover letter describing your interest in the position and the American Littoral Society
- At least three relevant work samples, with a brief description of your role in creating each sample
Send materials to [email protected] with Senior Communications Manager and your last name in the subject line.
Priority review begins August 24, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply promptly.
The American Littoral Society is an equal-opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Pay: $72,000.00 - $87,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Professional development assistance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have at least five years of professional experience in communications, journalism, public relations, publishing, digital media, or a related field?
- This role must coordinate staff, publications, digital content, media opportunities, and competing deadlines. How have you created systems that kept communications work organized and moving?
Education:
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Highlands, NJ 07732
