Public Relations & Communications Manager – Loggerhead Marine Life Center
Overview:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), located in Juno Beach, is one of the world’s most advanced sea turtle hospitals and one of Palm Beach County’s most visited cultural destinations. Our core focus areas are education, research, ocean conservation and sea turtle rehabilitation. Our campus is widely known for our world-class sea turtle hospital, our cutting-edge sea turtle research, our sea-side themed gift boutique, and out very popular public and signature events.
LMC seeks a Public Relations & Communications Manager with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience to join LMC’s marketing team with the goal of spreading awareness of LMC’s important mission, both locally and across the globe.
Position Description:
The Public Relations & Communications Manager is responsible for the public relations initiatives within Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) pursuant to its policies and objectives working under the direction and oversight of the Associate Director, Marketing & Communications. The manager creates, manages, and implements PR campaigns with the goal of enriching the organizations’ position within the public eye. The Public Relations & Communications Manager is also charged with acting as a liaison with various media outlets. This position is responsible for managing internal stakeholders and team members to ensure campaigns are distributed across traditional and digital channels.
Qualifications:
Must be a self-starter and be able to work independently as well as with a team. In addition, must have excellent organizational, writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills. Innovation and creativity is a must for this bright, energetic individual as well as strong attention to detail and ability to multi-task. Flexibility to attend occasional evening and/or weekend meetings and/or events is required.
Supervisor:
Directly responsible to the Associate Director, Marketing & Communications.
Job Responsibilities – Public Relations/Communications Duties:
+ Manage the Center’s local, national and global media relations strategy.
+ Prepare, edit and distribute LMC communications including, but not limited to: media releases, editorials, newsletters, grants, letters, verbal/written presentations for senior staff, annual report, etc. in keeping with LMC’s branding policy.
+ Create annual Public Relations plans in the annual Marketing Calendar in consultation with the Associate Director, Marketing & Communications.
+ Plan, implement and manage all press relations strategies and media campaigns.
+ Publicize scientific advancements in research, rehabilitation, and conservation to local, national and international news outlets in pursuit of LMC’s vision.
+ Pitch media stories supporting LMC’s groundbreaking research, rehabilitation, education and conservation goals, objectives, and imperatives.
+ Work with LMC staff to identify and develop story opportunities. Consult with the Associate Director, Marketing & Communications to ensure strategies and content meet organizational needs and messaging priorities.
+ Manage and arrange on-site media interviews and in station media interviews for LMC representatives per LMC’s media policy.
+ Manage media outreach and secure coverage with media releases, TV/radio interviews, feature stories, PSAs, press conferences, pitches, etc.
+ Serve as staff photographer, covering main campus events and day-to-day efforts, and maintain photo library on LMC server. Ensure that the photographic needs of the center are met, including photo releases.
+ Prepare, edit, and post weekly blog posts to LMC’s WordPress website.
+ Oversee, document and measure LMC’s news coverage internally and online through clipping service and in collaboration with Center’s social media strategies.
+ Research and plan programs to reach new audiences and monitor public relations programs’ effectiveness.
+ Actively pursue and secure publicity and promotion opportunities for education programs, special events, campus exhibits, membership, adoptions, camps, etc.
+ Create and maintain relationships with local media (television, print, etc.)
+ Update and maintain press kit contents including bios, fact sheets, photos, etc.
+ Create media lists and update press contacts as needed.
+ Serves as point of contact for all media/press inquiries and as center spokesperson when CEO is unavailable.
+ Attend and support marketing outreaches as needed.
+ Represent the Center at public and professional events as requested.
+ Conduct media tours as needed.
+ Perform other public relations and communications activities as assigned.
Job Responsibilities – Administrative Duties:
+ Develop editorial calendar and annual public relations strategies based on best PR practices.
+ Track, monitor and evaluate PR strategies and media impressions.
+ Create monthly PR/Marketing report as part of monthly Board Report.
+ Update job knowledge by participating in continuing educational opportunities.
+ Become knowledgeable with each LMC Department (Research, Rehabilitation, Education, Conservation, Development, Retail, Volunteer, Pier and Manatee Lagoon)
+ Other administrative tasks as assigned by the Associate Director, Marketing & Communications.
Skills Required:
Advanced computer skills required: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) Gmail, Outlook, Web & Social Media savvy. Must have strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to seamlessly communicate with a variety of different audiences and knowledge of media outreach (i.e. pitches to secure coverage, etc.). Experience with photography and Adobe Photoshop is required. Mac proficient is preferred.
Educational Requirement:
Bachelor’s degree or higher in public/media relations, communications, marketing or related field is required.
Compensation:
This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal role in the evolution of a fast-growing, highly respected organization. We are seeking an individual of outstanding quality with a respected track record. LMC is prepared to offer a competitive compensation package, including a base salary as well as health, 401(k), and vacation benefits.
Exempt Status:
This is a salaried position, which may require the supervision of one or more employees and requires significant exercise of independent judgment and discretion with respect to matters of significance and which directly relates to management and the general business operations of Loggerhead Marinelife Center. The job position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and no overtime will be paid.
Introductory Period:
It is the policy of LMC that all team members, including newly hired, transferred and promoted team members, will be carefully monitored and evaluated for an initial introductory period on the job. After satisfactory completion of the introductory evaluation, such team members will be evaluated on an
Annual basis.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates, please email a cover letter, resume,
and salary requirement, with the “PR Manager” position title
in the Subject line, to tlongo@marinelife.org
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center:
Unique among nonprofits, LMC is a totally free (no charge) facility in North Palm Beach County, FL. The Center relies on the generosity of guests, volunteers, and supporters to power their mission and vision. For more than 30 years, the center’s history revolved around community, family, conservation, and fun. In their current structure, LMC’s significant scientific expertise rests upon their strong legacy of community and family engagement, providing guests and collaborators with one of the most unique experiences available. LMC is one of the most visited Cultural destinations in Palm Beach County. In 2017 LMC’s beach-side campus attracted over 350,000 visitors’ half of whom were from outside of Palm Beach County.
LMC also operates the Juno Beach Pier and has an operating agreement in place with FPL’s Manatee Lagoon. Total guests served on an annual basis = over 500,000.
On an annual basis, LMC provides over $52m of annual economic impact to Palm Beach County’s economy.
LMC’s core focus areas are The Educational Institute at LMC: Over 50,000 registered students served in 2017. The Sea Turtle Hospital at LMC: Over 100 sea turtles, and thousands of hatchlings saved in 2017. The Sea Turtle Research Laboratory at LMC: Advanced scientists and technicians responsible for 9.5 of researching one of the most densely nested sea turtle nesting beaches on our planet. Global Ocean Conservation: A multifaceted team dedicated to global collaborations with a ‘one ocean’ perspective, expanding LMC’s mission to nearly every continent.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.