NATIONAL CONSTITUENT AFFAIRS MANAGER

Location: Silver Spring, MD (embedded with NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) S

Supervisor: Program Operations Manager with On-Site Coordination with ONMS Chief of Staff

Status: Full-time Exempt

What We Need

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, is seeking a National Constituent Affairs Manager, a position responsible for implementing and communicating the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ Strategic Plan and supports related Outreach, Science, and Policy Team efforts. Working with the Directors’ office, the Manager acts as the point person for matters related to constituent affairs and for system-wide federal legislative affairs. As point person for all constituent and legislative matters, the Manager serves as ONMS’ lead on information gathering and exchange, as related to constituent groups and congressional members. The Manager works closely with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Policy Manager to support open communication and strategic planning.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is committed to a culture of inclusion, equity, and belonging. We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We honor experiences, perspectives, and unique identities, and welcome the contributions that you can bring to the dedicated team. With a diverse team of employees, we can grow and learn better together and achieve our mission to protect the health of the ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes for current and future generations.

What You’ll Do

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain relationships with key external partners and national level constituent groups through timely and effective written and oral communication and information exchange.
• Expand the national constituent network and strengthen support base to increase program visibility, with specific attention to environmental NGOs, historic preservation organizations, and organizations focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Engage with stakeholder constituent organizations to research and interact with new constituent organizations to grow relationships and diversify the support bas for ONMS and keep constituents apprised of ONMS decisions and announcements.
• Organize and coordinate annual constituent roundtables and additional meetings between key constituents and ONMS leadership.
• Develop and distribute key messages and information to diverse audiences through various mechanisms (communication plans, constituent newsletters, web stories, constituent notifications, meetings, events, etc.)
• Attend relevant conferences and meetings hosted by constituent groups to further engagement with key partners.
• Coordinate national legislative matters and congressional engagement, including by initiating and coordinating messaging and opportunities for congressional member/committee and/or staff interaction with ONMS leadership.
• Develop presentations, visual aids, and talking points for ONMS leadership for congressional briefings.
• Organize and track all congressional briefings and additional congressional member and committee staff visits to sanctuary sites, including on-water field excursions, site tours, and partner facility visits.
• Track relevant congressional (including hearings, markups, and briefings) and legislative activity to keep ONMS leadership informed of developments in Congress.
• Ensure the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s efforts to support national marine sanctuaries and co-managed marine national monuments and the Office of National Marine Sanctuary are relevant, recognized, and publicized in local, regional, and national areas.
• Coordinate the release of all ONMS public facing policies, outreach, and science products, including by managing all ONMS rollout plans.
• Ensure consistent messaging and timely execution of communication of ONMS decisions across multiple divisions (science, education and communications, policy) to key internal and external audiences.
• Coordinate respond, and track all internal (ONMS/NOS/NOAA/DOC leadership) and external (Congressional and constituent) information requests in a timely manner.
• Initiate and coordinate regionally or locally focused constituent and congressional outreach efforts and engagement opportunities across geographically dispersed offices throughout the National Marine Sanctuary System.
• Synthesize, interpret, and/or communicate scientific information, recreational opportunities, community/volunteer opportunities, education, and policy as it pertains to the program’s public image and scientific credibility.
• Coordinate and develop annual accomplishment reports for each national marine sanctuary site.
• Ensure timely and effective internal communications between sanctuary sites and ONMS leadership by coordinating and distributing a weekly situation report to highlight accomplishments, news, and upcoming event from across the sanctuary system.
• Synthesize and report key accomplishments for the National Marine Sanctuary System on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis to NOS/NOAA/DOC leadership.
• Support joint policy and engagement efforts with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation including: National Marine Sanctuaries Caucus, constituent fly-ins, CHOW, Blue Beacon series, etc.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in administration, management, public relations, Journalism, mass communications, or related field.
• At least three years of related experience.
• Computer skills, including general office software applications, spreadsheets, and database management.
• Ability to prepare routine correspondence, reports, and analyses, and to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to keep accurate and detailed records.
• Ability to apply organizational skills efficiently with attention to detail.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work effectively in a multi-task environment.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and confidential situations.
• Tact, diplomacy, and the ability to interact in a positive manner with a wide range of individuals.
• Ability to work independently.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in a municipal or governmental setting and in dealing with the public.

Why You Will Love Us

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (“Foundation”) is a leading voice for U.S. protected waters, working with communities to conserve and expand those special places for a healthy ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes. The Foundation works in close partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase stewardship of our ocean and Great Lakes through on-the- water conservation projects, and education and public outreach activities, and by support for research. Together, we safeguard species and the places they call home, and support coastal communities and economies.

• Dedicated and passionate staff committed to marine and Great Lakes Conservation
• Generous leave policy, plus paid time off the week between December 25 and January 1; and 12 paid holidays
• Health benefits: Medical with an FSA option; dental, and vision
• Foundation paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Preparing for the Future: 403(B) with employer contribution after one year of service
• Commuter Benefits

Compensation and Benefits: $70K-$77K based on experience. The Foundation offers a competitive benefits package.

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references. Applications received before April 23rd will be preferred.

Location: Washington D.C. based (Silver Spring HQ office location), with an ability to work remotely as needed.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This commitment applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. The Foundation makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.