Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Marketing and Communications leads The Marine Mammal Center's integrated marketing, communications, growth marketing, and retail function. The role turns the Center's rescue, research, and conservation work into stories, campaigns, and experiences that grow awareness, deepen engagement, and drive measurable support for the mission. The Senior Director sets MarCom strategy, leads a multidisciplinary team spanning brand, PR, content, digital, growth marketing, and retail, and is accountable for the full marketing funnel: audience growth, conversion, the donor and member pipeline, earned revenue, and conservation action. The role also has strategic oversight of the Monterey pilot retail space, launching in spring 2027.

Essential Functions

MarCom Strategy, Measurement & Impact (30%)

• Integrated strategy. Own the annual and multi-year integrated marketing and communications plan, aligned with the Center's strategic plan, with defined audiences, priorities, and success metrics.
• Full-funnel performance. Own the path from awareness to action: growing audiences and converting and retaining them as subscribers, donors, members, volunteers, and advocates. Set pipeline targets and report on the quantity and quality of MarCom-sourced and MarCom-influenced pipeline.
• Measurement and impact. Own a single measurement framework and CRM-linked dashboard, with consistent attribution across channels, that shows MarCom's contribution to the mission: reach, engagement, audience growth, conversion, earned media value, retail revenue, and influence on giving and conservation action. Use results to improve performance and inform the Chief Advancement Officer, Executive Team, and Board.
• Issues and crisis communications. Lead reputational, issues, and crisis communications, including high-profile animal cases and public health and environmental events, with the Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Team.

Brand, Content, Digital, Growth Marketing & Public Relations (20%)

• Sets direction and stays hands-on, regularly writing, editing, and producing core content.
• Brand. Own a consistent, accessible, and recognizable brand across all channels, publications, spaces, and products, supported by guidelines and templates used across the organization.
• Storytelling and content. Own the cross-departmental editorial calendar and a year-round flow of stories across video, photography, social, and print. Personally write signature pieces, including the annual impact report and supporter newsletters.
• Growth marketing. Through the Director, Growth Marketing, own the programs and systems that turn engagement into action: marketing technology, website optimization and testing, online forms, email and SMS automation, digital fundraising, and web analytics.
• Website, email, and social. Own a website that is on-brand, accessible (WCAG), and built to convert; an email program that deepens relationships and drives giving and advocacy; and social channels that build engaged communities across organic, paid, and emerging platforms.
• Advertising. Own paid media strategy, channel mix, and budget to measurably grow awareness, fundraising, retail, and visitation.
• Media, policy, and executive voice. Establish the Center as a go-to source for media and policymakers and its leaders as trusted voices in marine mammal conservation, and lead advocacy campaigns that move supporters to act. Personally draft high-visibility communications such as press releases, remarks, and bylines.
• Donor and partner visibility. Ensure major gifts, partnerships, and grant-funded programs receive public recognition that honors supporters and inspires further giving.
• AI and new tools. Lead responsible adoption of generative AI and creative tools, with clear standards for accuracy, attribution, image authenticity, privacy, and brand voice.

Retail Operations & Monterey Pilot (15%)

• Retail strategy. Own on-site, online, and event retail as a brand extension and an earned-revenue and engagement channel, with products and in-store storytelling that reflect the Center's sustainability values and lead customers to deeper engagement.
• Monterey pilot. Lead planning and the spring 2027 launch of the Monterey, CA pilot retail space with the Retail Manager, Finance, Operations, and Facilities, from business plan through opening.
• Retail performance. Own targets for sales, margin, inventory turn, conversion, and visitor-to-donor/donor capture, and use pilot results to recommend whether and how to scale.

Cross-Functional Partnership (10%)

• Development. Deliver integrated fundraising campaigns, year-end and giving-day appeals, stewardship content, and event marketing on a shared calendar, with shared audience segments and reporting.
• Conservation program leads. Turn animal care, science, education, and conservation work into accurate, compelling stories, advocacy, and communications plans.
• Organization-wide. Partner with senior staff on marketing-related decisions, serve on leadership committees, and attend Board meetings as assigned.

Leadership & Team Management (15%)

• Set the department's vision and build a high-performing, inclusive team: hire, coach, develop, and evaluate staff.
• Own the workflows, intake, and prioritization that let the team meet demand across the Center, and improve them continuously.
• Strengthen communication within the department and across the organization.

Budget & Financial Management (5%)

• Own the MarCom and Retail budgets, including growth marketing and marketing technology, retail revenue and cost-of-goods targets, and the Monterey pilot.
• Track return on marketing investment, shift resources toward the highest-performing channels, and report regularly on progress, budget, and revenue to the Chief Advancement Officer and leadership.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Support and integrate the Center's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging objectives.
• Perform special projects, research, and other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

Direct reports:
• Director, Growth Marketing
• Associate Director, Public Relations
• Communications Senior Manager
• Digital Media Manager
• Retail Marketing & Operations Manager
• Integrated Content Manager

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Deep commitment to the mission and strategic priorities of The Marine Mammal Center.
• Track record of building and executing integrated, multi-channel marketing and communications strategies for a large, complex, mission-driven or consumer-facing organization.
• Experience leading growth or performance marketing, and proven ability to measure impact: setting KPIs, building dashboards, interpreting analytics, and connecting marketing to audience growth, pipeline, and revenue.
• Experience working within a culture of philanthropy and partnering closely with fundraising teams; familiarity with donor and member journeys, acquisition, and stewardship.
• Fluency with the marketing technology stack, including social media management and listening, content and digital asset management, web analytics (e.g., Google Analytics 4), email and marketing automation, and CRM and fundraising databases (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge NXT).
• Working knowledge and responsible use of generative AI tools.
• Strong media relations, issues management, and crisis communications experience, including building executive thought leadership programs.
• Skilled writer and communicator who translates complex science and conservation topics for diverse audiences and builds strong relationships with staff, volunteers, partners, media, and the public.
• Knowledge of conservation, ocean, and environmental issues and policies.
• Strong strategic thinking, prioritization, and project management skills; able to balance long-term planning with fast-moving, real-time needs.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience building, leading, and coaching diverse, multidisciplinary teams, including managers who lead their own teams.
• Retail or earned-revenue experience preferred, such as e-commerce, point-of-sale systems, merchandising, or launching a new physical location.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word, Teams) and collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom).
• Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging programs.

Certifications and/or Licenses

None required. Valid driver's license required for travel between sites.

Preferred Education and Experience

A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, environmental science, or a related field; and 10 years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field, including at least 5 years leading teams. Experience with retail or earned-revenue programs and data-driven marketing is strongly preferred

Requirements

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• This position operates in a professional office, laboratory, and hospital environment, both indoors and outdoors, with access to other parts of the facilities via outdoor pathways.
• Routinely uses standard office equipment, requiring repetitive motion in tasks.
• Ability to work at a desk for extended periods using a computer.
• Ability to drive/operate a vehicle for extensive periods of time.
• Ability to move up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, crouching, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions).
• Limited exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases.
• May involve smells associated with animals and the care of animals.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, and Travel:

• This is a full-time, hybrid position, 2-3 days onsite/2-3 days at home.
• In-office requirements are dependent on a moderate internal meeting schedule and donor meetings.
• Days and hours of work may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required as job duties demand.
• Travel within California, the Hawai'ian Islands, and other national travel may be expected for this position

Benefits:

• Holidays, Sick Time, Vacation
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter with a brief description of how your experience aligns with the role.

Salary Description

$133,120 - $145,590