Communications Associate

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is the world's leading certification and eco-labeling program for wild capture fisheries. Through its certification and labelling program, the MSC contributes to reversing decline in global fish stocks by identifying and rewarding and creating marketing incentives for sustainable fisheries.  

Position Overview:

The Communications Associate: Americas is a one-year, grant-funded position for the MSC and will be located in the MSC's Americas Regional Office in Seattle.  This position will report to the Communications Director: Americas, and has been funded to expand the capacity of the Americas communications team to conduct proactive communications outreach strategies.  

The Communications Associate will help implement the MSC's overall Marketing and Communications Strategy in the Americas Region.  The focus for the Communications Associate: Americas will be developing and delivering new marketing materials, updating existing materials, and assisting the communications team in other areas as directed by the communications director. 

The Marine Stewardship Council is experiencing significant growth in the number of fisheries in the program, and in the growth and interest from the commercial and retail sectors, including supermarkets, restaurants and distributors and others.  To support this growth the Communications Associate will proactively develop media outreach and trade and consumer marketing materials.  The list of materials will be developed in collaboration with the communications, commercial and fisheries teams and the Regional Director: Americas.

Responsibilities:

• Key role in helping to implement the MSC's marketing strategy in the Americas, with special emphasis on materials developed for print but delivered electronically.
• Supporting communications efforts overall in the Americas Region, consistent with the MSC's overall communications and marketing strategy and the MSC's mission and priorities.
• Contributing to raising the profile of the MSC among key audiences and potential new supporters in the Americas Region.
• Providing input on overall MSC communications and marketing items to ensure acceptability and effectiveness in the Americas.
• Liaising closely with the MSC's Communications staff to ensure coordination of materials, messages and event support.

Dimensions of the Role:

• This post holds no supervisory or budget responsibilities.
• Responsible for marketing communications materials.
• Provide overall communications support.
• Provide events support in the Americas.
• Emphasis on materials development for print but delivered in an electronic format.
• Interaction with external MSC stakeholders, clients and media may be required.

Organizational Structure:

•   Positions reports to Communications Director.

Qualifications:

Skills:

• Excellent written communication skills.
• Ability to convey complex scientific and technical ideas clearly and simply and in an interesting and persuasive style for different audiences.
• Ability to interact effectively with other team members.
• Ability to represent the MSC in interactions with external partners.
• Ability to organize and run events smoothly.
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work on own initiative and within budget.
• Proficiency in English. Spanish or French would be helpful but not required.
• Emphasis and commitment to team work.
• Good interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Good computer literacy, including proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Photoshop and web management software.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years experience in a marketing communications position.
• Proven track record of making a creative contribution to marketing communications activities.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering effective materials on time and on budget.
• Ability to cross cut teams, incorporate ideas and successfully manage and resolve differing opinions.
• Experience in planning and delivering a program of events, including consumer and trade shows, to achieve organizational goals.
• Experience in writing, editing and proofreading materials for publications in English.
• Experience in preparing publications for print, including writing a brief, commissioning design, artwork and print, liaising with suppliers.
• Understanding of North American mainstream media.
• Experience in preparing reports and briefings on progress against goals.
• Proven ability to communicate and engage with a diverse range of people.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective professional relationships.

Personal characteristics:

• Clear communicator.
• Attention to details.
• Ability to persuade audiences from different sectors and backgrounds.
• Creative thinker and problem solver.
• Very well organized and methodical.
• Flexible worker, able to manage complex and diverse workload successfully.
• A good understanding of sustainable development and related communications issues.
• Commitment to the MSC's mission.
• Commitment to MSC's policies on equal opportunities, environmental management, values, health and safety.
• Excellent team worker.

Compensation: $42,000 - $48,000 depending on experience. MSC offers a full range of benefits including health, dental and disability insurance coverage, 15 days vacation annually, and parking if needed.

Working hours:  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but hours may vary according to operational and personal needs. MSC works across different time zones, so there may be occasion for early morning, late evening, and/or weekend work to be required.  The post holder may be required to undertake some domestic travel and overnight stays. This is an exempt position and no overtime is payable.

Start date: As soon as practical, but not later than January 3, 2011.

Contract: One year, grant-funded position. Probationary period of three months. At this time, there is no commitment the position will extend beyond twelve months.  However, if the position becomes permanent, an open application process will take place in accordance with MSC's commitment as an equal opportunity employer.

Holidays: All Federal Holidays are observed.

Date written: November 2010

To Apply: 

Please send resume and 2 writing samples electronically by December 10, 2010. No telephone calls please.

The MSC Americas office has a no smoking, fragrance-free policy.   

Full details of Conditions of Employment are set out in the MSC Employment Contract, the main features of which are standard to all staff.

The MSC strives to be an equal opportunities employer and commitment to this process is expected.