How to apply for Senior Communications Manager, Ending Ocean Plastics

About Ocean Conservancy

Ocean Conservancy is a 50+ year-old, evidence-based ocean conservation nonprofit that unites science, people, and policy to tackle climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. It is unique for its large, public-facing campaigns—like the International Coastal Cleanup—and its direct influence on state, federal, and international ocean policy. Working here means joining a mission-driven team where communications can shift corporate behavior and government action on a global scale.

About the role

This Senior Communications Manager will own the communications strategy for Ocean Conservancy’s Ending Ocean Plastics program, one of its largest and most visible bodies of work. You’ll act as a strategic advisor to policy and science leaders, translating complex research and policy into compelling stories that drive media coverage, public engagement, and policy change. The role spans state, federal, and international policy, so you’ll shape narratives that influence decision-makers and the public across multiple levels.

A typical day

A typical day might involve meeting with policy and science teams to align on messaging for an upcoming report, drafting a press release or op-ed, pitching a story to a national outlet, and reviewing social media content for a campaign. You might also advise a senior leader on talking points for a congressional briefing or international negotiation, and track media coverage to adjust strategy in real time.

Who Ocean Conservancy is looking for

• 5–8+ years of communications experience, with a strong track record in environmental policy, advocacy, or science communications—ideally including plastics, oceans, or climate issues.
• Proven ability to translate complex scientific and policy material into clear, newsworthy content for media, policymakers, and the public.
• Experience serving as a strategic communications advisor to senior leaders, with the confidence to recommend approaches and push back when needed.
• Strong media relations skills, including pitching national and international outlets, and experience managing rapid-response and proactive campaigns.
• Familiarity with state, federal, and international policy processes (e.g., UN plastics treaty negotiations, federal legislation) and the ability to work across time zones in a remote team.

Tips for this application

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight specific communications campaigns you’ve led on environmental policy—especially any work related to plastics, waste, or ocean issues.
• Demonstrate your ability to work with scientists and policymakers by including examples of how you translated technical information into media coverage or public-facing content.
• Show familiarity with Ocean Conservancy’s Ending Ocean Plastics program: mention their reports, campaigns, or policy positions (e.g., their work on the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act or the UN plastics treaty) in your application.
• Since the role is remote, emphasize your experience managing communications across distributed teams and multiple time zones, and your ability to build relationships virtually.
• Include metrics: media placements, engagement rates, policy wins influenced, or audience growth. Quantify your impact to stand out.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your strategic communications approach: how you identify compelling stories, develop messaging, and execute multi-channel campaigns that drive policy change.', 'Specific examples of translating complex science or policy into media coverage or public engagement—ideally related to plastics or ocean conservation.', 'Your experience advising senior leaders and working cross-functionally with policy, science, and advocacy teams.', 'Why Ocean Conservancy and the Ending Ocean Plastics program specifically: show you understand their mission, their approach, and the current landscape of plastic pollution policy.']

Research before applying

• Read Ocean Conservancy’s recent reports and campaigns on plastics, such as 'Plastics in the Ocean' or their work on the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.
• Follow the latest developments in the UN plastics treaty negotiations and understand Ocean Conservancy’s position and advocacy efforts.
• Explore Ocean Conservancy’s broader communications channels (website, social media, press releases) to understand their tone, key messages, and target audiences.
• Look into the background of key leaders in the Ending Ocean Plastics program and the organization’s communications team to understand their priorities and style.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you develop a communications strategy to support a major policy push, such as the UN plastics treaty negotiations or federal plastics legislation?
• Describe a time you had to translate a complex scientific report into a compelling story that earned media coverage. What was your process?
• How do you balance proactive storytelling with rapid response in a fast-moving policy environment?
• Give an example of how you’ve advised a senior leader on a communications decision—especially if you had to recommend a different approach than they initially wanted.
• How would you measure the success of the Ending Ocean Plastics communications program? What metrics would you prioritize?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn’t mention plastics, ocean conservation, or Ocean Conservancy’s specific work—this role requires genuine passion and issue expertise.
• Focusing only on traditional media relations without demonstrating digital, social, or multi-channel campaign experience, which is essential for modern advocacy communications.
• Neglecting to show how you’ve worked with scientists or policy experts; this role requires strong collaboration with technical teams, so failing to highlight that is a major gap.