Position: Public Relations Specialist

Responsibilities:

Media Relations:

• Build and maintain positive relationships with journalists, reporters, publicists, producers, and other media outlets.
• Create and develop press releases, media kits, opinion editorials, and other written materials to share information about manatee conservation efforts.
• Pitch stories and secure media coverage for events, campaigns, and important announcements.
• Coordinate interviews and other media appearances for key members of the organization, including experts, researchers, and staff, to share insights and information about manatee conservation efforts with a broader audience.
• Monitor media coverage and respond to inquiries or concerns promptly.
• Coordinate annual holiday wall calendar radio giveaways and promotions.
• Provide approved photos, video footage, and other resources to the media upon request.

Content and Material Creation:

• Collaborate on developing compelling content for various platforms, including press releases, articles, and blog posts.
• Collaborate with the development team to ensure consistent messaging related to the Adopt-A-Manatee program and fundraising efforts across applicable platforms.
• Create visually engaging materials, such as infographics and videos, to support PR efforts.
• Collaborate with appropriate team members to develop materials that support educational initiatives and school outreach.
• Develop public service advertisements in collaboration with the development team to ensure cohesive messaging within each campaign.

Public Outreach:

• Organize and execute public outreach events, educational workshops and presentations, and community engagement initiatives.
• Coordinate with Volunteer Specialist to secure volunteers for tabling events.
• Represent Save the Manatee Club at public events, conferences, and meetings.
• Coordinate and host virtual presentations and webinars.
• Foster relationships with key stakeholders, partner organizations, educational institutions, authors, celebrities, and other groups and individuals to enhance our outreach efforts.
• Review books and other written material submissions by students, authors, and others for appropriateness and in accordance with mission statement.

Crisis Communication:

• Develop and implement crisis communication plans to address potential issues or emergencies related to manatee conservation.
• Manage communication with the media and the public.

Online Presence:

• Coordinate with the development team on maintaining online profile accuracy across the web.
• Coordinate with the Dir. of Web Development for website updates.
• Help maintain and update platforms to promote volunteer opportunities in collaboration with volunteer specialist.

Collaborations and Partnerships:

• Identify potential collaboration opportunities with other environmental organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, celebrities, and businesses.
• Cultivate partnerships and joint campaigns to amplify the reach of our conservation efforts.

Evaluation and Reporting:

• Track and analyze the effectiveness of PR campaigns and outreach efforts.
• Prepare regular reports on media coverage, social media perceptions, and outreach impact.

Administrative Activities

• Accurately record communications and other relevant information in database.
• Maintain SharePoint site of public relations materials.
• Use and maintain media PR software.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
• Proven experience in public relations, media relations, or communications, preferably in the nonprofit or environmental sector.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, specifically in the realm of science and conservation public communications.
• Strong interpersonal and networking abilities.
• Knowledge of environmental conservation issues, particularly related to manatee protection, is a plus.
• Familiarity with social media platforms and online communication tools.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Passion for wildlife conservation and dedication to the mission of Save the Manatee Club.

Commonly Used Software:

• Meltwater
• Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge
• Microsoft 365: Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive
• Asana
• Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: Express and PDF Reader, potentially InDesign and Photoshop
• Other associated applications available upon request and approval.

Note: This job description is a general outline and may be subject to change based on the organization's needs and priorities.