Senior Communications Manager

Position Title: Senior Communications Manager

Reports To: Director of Communications

Direct Reports: None

Department: External Affairs: Communications

Location: Albany, NY or New York, NY

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000

Date: October 2025

About the Open Space Institute

The Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national leader in land conservation and efforts to make parks and other protected land more welcoming for all. Since 1974, OSI has partnered in the protection of more than 2.5 million at-risk and environmentally sensitive acres in the eastern U.S. OSI’s land protection promotes clean air and water, improves access to recreation, provides wildlife habitat, strengthens communities, and combats the devastating impacts of extreme weather.

Position Summary

The Senior Communications Manager is a new role and will be a key member of the Open Space Institute’s Communications team, responsible for amplifying OSI’s voice and advancing its mission. This role leads storytelling and media strategy across multiple channels - traditional, digital, and social – as well as cultivate new audiences through untapped outlets, with the goal of strengthening OSI’s visibility, elevating our work to new audiences, and increasing engagement among partners, funders, policymakers, and the public.

Working closely with the Director of Communications, the Senior Communications Manager will develop and execute creative campaigns, manage press and media outreach, create content, and oversee development of a wide range of collateral pieces - from press releases and features to social media, videos, and digital assets. The position is highly collaborative and will partner with program, development, and executive teams to ensure OSI’s conservation and community impact stories are told consistently and powerfully across platforms.

This is a fast-paced role for an experienced communicator with excellent judgment, superb writing skills, strategic instincts, and the ability to translate complex conservation work into clear, compelling narratives that inspire action.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Storytelling

Develop and execute comprehensive communications strategies that elevate OSI’s brand, projects, and conservation impact.
Translate complex environmental and policy issues into compelling stories for diverse audiences.
Partner with leadership, program, and development teams to create consistent, mission-aligned messaging across all channels and campaigns.
Draft high-impact materials including press releases, op-eds, feature stories, speeches, and talking points.

Media Relations

Cultivate relationships with journalists and media outlets at the local, regional, and national levels.
Proactively identify and pitch story opportunities to traditional and new media outlets that advance OSI’s visibility and thought leadership.
Coordinate interviews, media briefings, and press events with OSI staff, partners, and government agencies.
Draft and manage statements, Q&As, and rapid responses as needed.

Digital & Content Strategy

Lead social mediastrategy and execution, developing creative content and digital toolkits that expand audience engagement.
Oversee the OSI website, ensuring timely updates, strong storytelling, and alignment with campaign goals.
Manage video and multimedia production, from concept through publication.
Support targeted digital campaigns to grow awareness and fundraising outcomes.

Organizational & Partner Support

Collaborate with program and development teams to guide storytelling for donor materials, events, and publications.
Create briefing materials, remarks, and presentations for senior leadership.
Coordinate with external vendors and consultants to advance communications goals.
Provide communications guidance and support to internal teams and partners to ensure brand consistency.
Stay current on communications trends and tools, and identify opportunities to strengthen OSI’s digital presence and reach.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field required.
Ten to twelve years of progressive professional experience in communications, public affairs or a related field; nonprofit, government, or environmental experience preferred.
Familiarity with environmental issues, land conservation, or public policy strongly preferred.
Experience with marketing, digital strategy, or campaign management a plus.

Required Skills

Exceptional writing and editing skills, including experience preparing op-eds, press releases, feature stories, speeches, and talking points.
Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across teams and with external partners.
Proven ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling narratives for a variety of audiences.
Strong grasp of adapting messages for different platforms (e.g., website, print, video, and social media).
Demonstrated success in media relations, including cultivating press contacts and organizing media events.
Strategic thinker who can connect day-to-day communications work to larger organizational goals.
Strong project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across departments.
Sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Work indoors in an office with occasional outdoors work
Frequently sit, speak, read, write, and use a computer keyboard
Requires standing, walking, lifting, stooping, bending, lifting up to 30 lbs.
Fast-paced working environment
Occasional travel required
Have an appropriate home workspace for remote days.

Please note: If you do not wholly meet the above qualifications but believe you are otherwise well suited to meet the needs of this position, we encourage you to apply. 

Application

Apply here! Please include the following materials:

A short sample of your professional writing from the past two years that reflects your ability to communicate clearly and effectively. This could be a press release, article, op-ed, feature story, or other piece of writing that you authored.
A cover letter that includes where you learned about this job posting.
Your resume.

We will be actively reviewing applications on a rolling basis from the time of posting in October 2025, with earlier submissions receiving priority consideration. Please apply as soon as possible if you are interested in the role. You will receive an acknowledgment once your application has been submitted, and we will contact you if we would like to schedule an interview.

This is a full-time position requiring 37.5 hours per week within regular business hours; typically 9am-5pm. There may be the opportunity for flexibility (e.g. 8am-4pm) for the right candidate. The role involves working onsite at either our Albany, NY or NYC office a minimum of three days per week.

Pay for this position is $100,000-$110,000, commensurate with the candidate’s skill level and experience. The recruiting team is committed to sharing details regarding compensation based on the candidate's qualifications during the interview process.

OSI is an equal opportunity employer. We recognize that our conservation mission is best advanced by the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, and cultures. We are committed to cultivating and retaining a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters belonging.

OSI offers accommodations for individuals with disabilities in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email resumes@osiny.org with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

Consistent with New York State law, OSI does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, height, weight, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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Open Space Institute, Inc

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