Alaska Fellows Program Position Description
Sealaska Heritage Institute – Sealaska Corporation
Communications Specialist Fellow
Juneau, AK
This position is part of the Alaska Fellows Program. All fellows live together, “in community,” in their respective host site. Each host site is unique and remarkable.
Fellows receive housing, a $1000 monthly living stipend and a $500 relocation stipend. The fellowship includes facilitated and funded opening and closing retreats.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you are applying to a position in Juneau, please note that the program will last seven months (October-April) while other programs will run nine months (September-May).
For other questions about the application process, email applications@alaskafellows.org.
Work Term: Oct 1, 2021 – April 30, 2022
Employer: Sealaska Heritage Institute – Sealaska
Contact: Matt Carle, Senior Director of Corporate Communications
Title: Communications Specialist Fellow
Organization Description:
Sealaska is a Alaska Native Regional Corporation created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 in settlement of aboriginal land claims. Sealaska is owned by more than 23,000 Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian shareholders. Sealaska draws inspiration from shared heritage to protect our community’s greatest and most important resources – the oceans, forests, and people of Southeast Alaska.
Sealaska was formed in 1971 as a result of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) – the largest land settlement in US history. Through ANCSA, approximately 44 million acres of traditional homelands were returned to Alaska Natives in the form of 13 regional corporations of which Sealaska, with more than 22,000 shareholders, is the largest. Sealaska’s land holdings in Southeast Alaska are roughly 1.6 percent of the traditional homelands that the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people inhabited for more than 10,000 years. Sealaska’s primary economic drivers are natural resources, land management, environmental services and seafood.
Sealaska Heritage was founded in 1980 by Sealaska after being conceived by clan leaders, traditional scholars, and elders at the first Sealaska Elders Conference. During that meeting, the Elders likened Native culture to a blanket. They told the new leaders that their hands were growing weary of holding onto the metaphorical blanket, this “container of wisdom.” They said they were transferring this responsibility to Sealaska, the regional Native corporation serving Southeast Alaska. In response, Sealaska founded Sealaska Heritage to operate cultural and educational programs.
Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. Sealaska Heritage also conducts social, scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.
Position Description:
The Communications Specialist Fellow will support Sealaska’s Corporate Communications Department in promoting the company’s marketing and communications activities. The Fellow will have the responsibility of copywriting and managing small projects for the team and helping support the design, communications and administrative functions of the department.
The Fellow will support the Corporate Communications team with pitching stories and helping produce content for the website and social media. The Fellow will be responsible for a variety of administrative duties in the areas of resource and project management, and tracking and creating reports about social-media and other metrics.
The Fellow will solicit ideas from shareholders and key stakeholders to help enhance Sealaska’s brand storytelling. The Fellow will help design and produce marketing materials, including flyers and one-pagers, using corporate branding standards and existing templates as well as updated content on external web pages.
The Fellow will support the department in specific aspects of public relations and social media activities. The Fellow will contribute to the promotion, communication, messaging, strategy, planning and product development of Sealaska’s brand for shareholders and external stakeholders.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a role that ranges from copywriting, cultivating and maintaining Sealaska’s media database, posting to and managing Sealaska’s social media channels, preparing presentations and reports, providing creative input on departmental activities and monitoring Sealaska public opinion as reflected in its digital channels. The preferred candidate will also provide needed project management and support in the implementation of the company’s overall brand strategy.
The position will be responsible for managing specific aspects of public relations and activities as assigned. This position will contribute to the promotion, communication, messaging, strategy, planning, and product development of Sealaska’s brand for internal and external stakeholders.
Key attributes and expectations with the role:
Acts as a resource to the organization on issues related to public relations and communications.
Communicates information positively and promptly both in person and in writing.
Provides technical and functional direction to assigned staff and reviews and controls quality of work to ensure communications and editorial content appropriately represents Sealaska and is accurate and factual.
Shares and receives information, opinions, concerns and feedback in a supportive manner.
Works collaboratively by building bridges and creating rapport with team members within departments and across the organization.
Handles both positive and negative interactions in a constructive manner and in accordance with Sealaska’s values.
We emphasize the recruitment and mentorship of Alaska Native applicants.
Application Materials: Cover letter, resume, and three references.
Submit materials to: Matt Carle (matt.carle@sealaska.com).
When submitting your applications, please also copy applications@alaskafellows.org.
