Communication Manager – Climate & Energy

Rainforest Action Network challenges corporate practices that threaten our

forests and our climate, protects the rights of communities that depend

on these resources, and promotes forward thinking strategies to preserve

our planet. A core principle in that effort is our commitment to finding

systemic solutions that challenge systems of oppression or injustice.

 

ABOUT THE POSITION:

 

Rainforest Action Network is seeking a Communications Manager to help shape

and execute the communications strategy for our Climate and Energy Program.

 

RAN’s Climate and Energy Program has a very successful history of challenging

some of the biggest drivers of climate change and extreme fossil fuel extraction.

RAN’s campaigns have succeeded in pushing leading banks like Bank of America,

Wells Fargo, Citi and Royal Bank of Canada to pass policies that curb investments

in companies that contribute to climate change, deforestation and human

rights abuses. The program has had incredible success calling on the leading

financiers of the coal industry, such as Bank of America, to end their underwriting

of coal completely.

 

The successful candidate will be deeply committed to fighting climate change,

ending deforestation, and upholding human rights. They will possess excellent

judgment, be adaptable to rapidly shifting programmatic developments, and

eager to seize media opportunities.

 

The ideal candidate will be able to produce compelling, high quality, detail-intensive

work often on tight deadlines. Exceptionally strong writing skills and an

ability to pinpoint effective messages are critical. Experience working

with traditional news media and a track record of taking projects to successful

completion are also highly desired.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Communications Manager will be responsible for leading

communications for RAN’s Climate and Energy Program. The Communications

Manager is primarily responsible for developing communications materials,

pitching and placing stories, building relationships with journalists and

producers, as well as serving as a spokesperson on related campaigns. In

addition, this position is tasked with coordinating, developing and executing

the messaging strategy for the Climate and Energy Program and the production

process for related communication materials. In particular the job duties

include:

 

• Work with Climate and Energy Program staff to develop and implement strategic,

media-worthy campaign events. Crafting long-term strategic vehicles for

promoting RAN and program messages and stories.

 

• Handle rapid response communication, developing messages, and writing

op-eds, letters to the editor, talking points and other media materials.

 

• Train and coach staff, volunteers and constituents for media availabilities;

act as media liaison during media events.

 

• Cultivate relationships with vendors and other strategic allies who can

help in furthering promotion of the program.

 

• Spearhead and manage production of creative print and online collateral,

including high-impact ads and clever web videos, shareable social media

content, etc.

 

• Conduct target- and market-specific media research as necessary to support

campaign objectives.

 

• Write and copy-edit material for RAN publications, RAN.org, RAN social

media channels and activist emails.

 

• Contribute to staff-wide strategy meetings, and stay current on developments

in energy, finance and climate issues.

 

• Create press lists and keep media contact database current.

 

• Regularly draft and post content for RAN’s social media channels, specifically

Facebook and Twitter.

 

• Some travel required.

 

• Demonstrable enthusiasm for and understanding of RAN’s mission, programs

and strategies, including the use of non-violent direct action as a core

strategy.

 

• Excellent writing skills.

 

• Knowledge of issues associated with climate change, clean and renewable

energy, investment and finance community, and/or social change movements.

 

• Demonstrable experience in media relations and/or public relations — a

journalism background alone does not meet the qualifications for this job.

 

• Excellent oral and written communications skills that are adaptable to

various offline and online media as well as public settings, organizational

meetings, and one-on-one interactions. • Strong framing and messaging skills.

• Demonstrable experience with online promotion and/or communications.

 

• Ability to flourish in a fast-paced, activist-oriented environment.

 

• Strong judgment assessing tactics and campaigns successful in attracting

media attention.

 

• Solid copy-editing skills and familiarity with AP Style.

 

• Demonstrated ability to set priorities effectively in a heavy workload

and coordinate complex projects.

 

• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility and creativity.

 

• A strong anti-oppression analysis and ability to work with Indigenous

and affected communities.

 

Highly Desirable

 

• Experience working within a racial justice and racial equity framework.

 

• 2 years prior experience as a media liaison or journalist in related areas.

 

• Prior experience with online promotion.

 

• Proven ability to build relationships with reporters (existing relationships

with environment, climate, business and/or finance reporters and bloggers

especially desired).

 

• Proven ability to work with advertisers and designers to develop creative

offline and online content.

 

• Familiarity with media database technology, ideally Meltwater.

 

The Climate and Energy Communications Manager will be a member of the Communications

Team while also embedded within the Climate and Energy Team. This position

will be supervised by the Senior Communications Strategist.

 

Salary: Salary is competitive and benefits include health, vision & dental

insurance, 4 weeks vacation, and a 401K-type program.

 

RAN strives to integrate values of equity and fairness into our work, which

includes bringing an intentional racial justice analysis to our programmatic

work and organizational structure. We are seeking candidates who have a

commitment to engage in this ongoing process and work with us to create

a just and inclusive work environment and world. RAN provides all people

with equal employment and volunteer opportunities. We encourage applicants

of color to apply for this position.

 

Salary is competitive for the Northern California non-profit market. Benefits

include full medical (employer funded Health Savings Account) coverage,

VSP & dental insurance, 4 weeks PTO (increases to 5 weeks after 2 years),

and a Simple IRA retirement plan with a 3% fully vesting employer match.

Additionally, after 5 years, employees are eligible for a 3 month fully

paid sabbatical.

 

Please send resume and letter of interest to resumes@ran.org with job title

and your name in the subject line. If possible please include online portfolio,

personal website, LinkedIn page or any other online resume you update. No

phone calls, please.

 

Supervisor: Campaign Communication Strategist

 

Status: FTE, Benefitted

 

Location: San Francisco