Social Media Specialist
Northwest Maritime, Port Townsend, WA, United States
There are rare moments when organizations have the combination of a talented and motivated staff, an engaged board, a healthy and productive work culture, are executing well on existing programs but still innovating and looking for the next step—we’re in that moment, and it’s exciting.
Northwest Maritime is dynamic, making a difference in our community, and taking an increasing role in the region. We serve individual students and program participants, but we also work to help solve community problems like systemic improvements in our public schools, economic development, job training, and working regionally to pair the opportunities in the maritime industry with the need to address systemic oppression in communities of color. Plus, all of the fun stuff like kids’ programs, festivals, and adventure races. Our waterfront campus is vibrant with a multitude of compelling activities—all of them done to meet or advance industry best practices. In the words of a board member: “We don’t do B work.”
On top of it all, you’ll get to work on the water in Port Townsend: natural beauty, heritage buildings, arts community, wooden boats, zero traffic jams. Northwest Maritime’s relative scale to our small town means that the effects of our success can be observed in the success of our community. You’ll be doing meaningful work for the place you live, and your efforts will make a tangible difference.
Right team, right moment, the right momentum, and the chance to move the needle for the prosperity of an entire community: That’s why we get excited to come to work in the morning, and that’s why we think you should want to be here too.
Northwest Maritime is an equal opportunity employer, striving towards being an antiracist and inclusive organization. Our staff includes a spectrum of racial, cultural, religious, sexual and gender identities, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people who have not seen themselves represented in the maritime industry, advocacy, and nonprofit work.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Social Media Specialist Northwest Maritime is hiring an energetic and inventive Social Media Specialist to lead social channels across an organization built on adventure, education, and community.
You’ll be responsible for all social channels across Northwest Maritime and our collection of activities and projects, telling the story of an organization that not only runs annual races, festivals, and education programs, but also stewards a year-round maritime community both in person and online.
There’s huge creative range and real responsibility in this role as we continue to scale our efforts regionally and nationally. You’ll help represent Northwest Maritime to sponsors, partners, donors, volunteers, media, and participants, and work as an integrated member of the Communications team. Your role will balance storytelling and accuracy, spontaneity and strategy, with heart and snark in equal measures.
This role calls for someone who can work in a flexible environment and be ready to go where the story is, on the water, at events, or behind a desk. Some days will be planned. Many won’t. You’ll be joining us at a fast‑moving moment. Your first stretch will include the Race to Alaska, a race that doesn’t care about your schedule or your content calendar. It unfolds in real time and asks a lot of the people documenting it.
If this sounds like your kind of work, you’ll know.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage social media channels, schedule, and content generation for Northwest Maritime and related brands, including R2AK, Wooden Boat Festival, Swan Hotel, and others, under the leadership of the Communications Director
Work with Communications Director, department managers, and Communications team to develop and execute social media strategies that promote brand awareness, drive participation in classes and events, engage followers with our mission, and grow our audiences
Generate and post compelling multimedia content for websites and social media—including written word, video, and photography—to tell the NWM story and achieve business goals
Manage social media ads, including building target audiences and working within advertising budgets to grow audiences, and drive ticket sales and class registrations
Monitor social media account activity and respond to comments and messages in a timely fashion
Aggregate relevant content and stories from program participants, race teams, boaters, photographers, industry professionals, etc., for reposting and sharing to our accounts
Work with Communications team and department managers to plan and execute “Race on” and “Festival on” social media strategies for the annual races and Wooden Boat Festival. This may involve being embedded with the media team during the Race to Alaska and SEVENTY48, and may involve evening and weekend work during event periods
Fulfill social media requirements for event sponsorships
Work with the Communications team on other projects as needed, which may include blast emails, copywriting, copyediting, graphic design, etc.
Other duties as assigned
GENERAL OPERATIONS While the primary focus of this position is social media communications, the
Social Media Specialist
works as part of the entire NWM team, ensuring smooth operations. As a growing non‑profit, we all pitch in for the heavy lifting, whether it’s participating in all‑hands projects and events, assisting visitors, or occasionally doing some literal heavy lifting. Our working style is professional with personality. And our team brings their best self to create a welcoming environment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
2+ years managing organizational (business or nonprofit) social media accounts—at minimum Facebook and Instagram
Excellent storytelling skills and demonstrated ability to capture the heart and energy of community‑driven initiatives via photo, video, and written word
Solid understanding of social media algorithms, trends, and social media ad purchases
Excellent copywriting skills and ability to match various brand voices and graphic standards
Video editing skills (beginner‑intermediate is great; advanced is even better)
Demonstrated ability to multitask and set priorities
Demonstrated experience working as part of a creative team
HELPFUL QUALIFICATIONS
Love being on the water
Maritime knowledge and/or understanding of boating culture
Graphic design skills
Familiarity with WordPress
Experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign
Not afraid to stretch their copywriting skills and be a bit snarky
APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit your resume with the online application and answer all questions
Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Priority given to applications received before April 24, 2026. Interviews will be conducted after April 27, 2026
Ideal start date for this position is May 25, 2026
WORK LOCATION & SCHEDULE
Position will require the majority of the work to be conducted on‑site, at your main offices, located at 431 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368
Position is full‑time, averaging between 35 - 40 hours/week
Reports to: Communications Director
WAGE RANGE & BENEFITS
$25 - $28 per hour, non‑exempt
100% company paid Health, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance + contributions to HSA account
Matching contributions to a SIMPLE IRA retirement fund after 1 year of employment
Paid time off: accrues 2 weeks of vacation per year, 17 paid holidays in a calendar year, & 1 hour of sick time accrued for every 25 hours worked
NWM is committed to equal employment opportunity, striving towards being an antiracist and inclusive organization. We value the diversity of our staff and the communities that we serve, which includes a spectrum of racial, cultural, religious, sexual and gender identities, and abilities. We encourage applications from people who have not seen themselves represented in the industry.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Northwest Maritime is dynamic, making a difference in our community, and taking an increasing role in the region. We serve individual students and program participants, but we also work to help solve community problems like systemic improvements in our public schools, economic development, job training, and working regionally to pair the opportunities in the maritime industry with the need to address systemic oppression in communities of color. Plus, all of the fun stuff like kids’ programs, festivals, and adventure races. Our waterfront campus is vibrant with a multitude of compelling activities—all of them done to meet or advance industry best practices. In the words of a board member: “We don’t do B work.”
On top of it all, you’ll get to work on the water in Port Townsend: natural beauty, heritage buildings, arts community, wooden boats, zero traffic jams. Northwest Maritime’s relative scale to our small town means that the effects of our success can be observed in the success of our community. You’ll be doing meaningful work for the place you live, and your efforts will make a tangible difference.
Right team, right moment, the right momentum, and the chance to move the needle for the prosperity of an entire community: That’s why we get excited to come to work in the morning, and that’s why we think you should want to be here too.
Northwest Maritime is an equal opportunity employer, striving towards being an antiracist and inclusive organization. Our staff includes a spectrum of racial, cultural, religious, sexual and gender identities, and abilities. We strongly encourage applications from people who have not seen themselves represented in the maritime industry, advocacy, and nonprofit work.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Social Media Specialist Northwest Maritime is hiring an energetic and inventive Social Media Specialist to lead social channels across an organization built on adventure, education, and community.
You’ll be responsible for all social channels across Northwest Maritime and our collection of activities and projects, telling the story of an organization that not only runs annual races, festivals, and education programs, but also stewards a year-round maritime community both in person and online.
There’s huge creative range and real responsibility in this role as we continue to scale our efforts regionally and nationally. You’ll help represent Northwest Maritime to sponsors, partners, donors, volunteers, media, and participants, and work as an integrated member of the Communications team. Your role will balance storytelling and accuracy, spontaneity and strategy, with heart and snark in equal measures.
This role calls for someone who can work in a flexible environment and be ready to go where the story is, on the water, at events, or behind a desk. Some days will be planned. Many won’t. You’ll be joining us at a fast‑moving moment. Your first stretch will include the Race to Alaska, a race that doesn’t care about your schedule or your content calendar. It unfolds in real time and asks a lot of the people documenting it.
If this sounds like your kind of work, you’ll know.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage social media channels, schedule, and content generation for Northwest Maritime and related brands, including R2AK, Wooden Boat Festival, Swan Hotel, and others, under the leadership of the Communications Director
Work with Communications Director, department managers, and Communications team to develop and execute social media strategies that promote brand awareness, drive participation in classes and events, engage followers with our mission, and grow our audiences
Generate and post compelling multimedia content for websites and social media—including written word, video, and photography—to tell the NWM story and achieve business goals
Manage social media ads, including building target audiences and working within advertising budgets to grow audiences, and drive ticket sales and class registrations
Monitor social media account activity and respond to comments and messages in a timely fashion
Aggregate relevant content and stories from program participants, race teams, boaters, photographers, industry professionals, etc., for reposting and sharing to our accounts
Work with Communications team and department managers to plan and execute “Race on” and “Festival on” social media strategies for the annual races and Wooden Boat Festival. This may involve being embedded with the media team during the Race to Alaska and SEVENTY48, and may involve evening and weekend work during event periods
Fulfill social media requirements for event sponsorships
Work with the Communications team on other projects as needed, which may include blast emails, copywriting, copyediting, graphic design, etc.
Other duties as assigned
GENERAL OPERATIONS While the primary focus of this position is social media communications, the
Social Media Specialist
works as part of the entire NWM team, ensuring smooth operations. As a growing non‑profit, we all pitch in for the heavy lifting, whether it’s participating in all‑hands projects and events, assisting visitors, or occasionally doing some literal heavy lifting. Our working style is professional with personality. And our team brings their best self to create a welcoming environment.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
2+ years managing organizational (business or nonprofit) social media accounts—at minimum Facebook and Instagram
Excellent storytelling skills and demonstrated ability to capture the heart and energy of community‑driven initiatives via photo, video, and written word
Solid understanding of social media algorithms, trends, and social media ad purchases
Excellent copywriting skills and ability to match various brand voices and graphic standards
Video editing skills (beginner‑intermediate is great; advanced is even better)
Demonstrated ability to multitask and set priorities
Demonstrated experience working as part of a creative team
HELPFUL QUALIFICATIONS
Love being on the water
Maritime knowledge and/or understanding of boating culture
Graphic design skills
Familiarity with WordPress
Experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign
Not afraid to stretch their copywriting skills and be a bit snarky
APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit your resume with the online application and answer all questions
Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Priority given to applications received before April 24, 2026. Interviews will be conducted after April 27, 2026
Ideal start date for this position is May 25, 2026
WORK LOCATION & SCHEDULE
Position will require the majority of the work to be conducted on‑site, at your main offices, located at 431 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368
Position is full‑time, averaging between 35 - 40 hours/week
Reports to: Communications Director
WAGE RANGE & BENEFITS
$25 - $28 per hour, non‑exempt
100% company paid Health, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance + contributions to HSA account
Matching contributions to a SIMPLE IRA retirement fund after 1 year of employment
Paid time off: accrues 2 weeks of vacation per year, 17 paid holidays in a calendar year, & 1 hour of sick time accrued for every 25 hours worked
NWM is committed to equal employment opportunity, striving towards being an antiracist and inclusive organization. We value the diversity of our staff and the communities that we serve, which includes a spectrum of racial, cultural, religious, sexual and gender identities, and abilities. We encourage applications from people who have not seen themselves represented in the industry.
#J-18808-Ljbffr