Communications Manager, Climate and Energy Program

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 succeeded in pushing leading banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi and Royal Bank of Canada to pass policies that curb extreme investments in companies that contribute to climate change, deforestation and the human rights abuses that are routinely an accepted byproduct of these deals. 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 and redirect funding into renewable energy projects.

The successful candidate will be deeply committed to fighting climate change, ending deforestation, and protecting 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 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 or existing relationships with related media projects 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 relationships with regional and national reporters and producers, pitching and placing stories, 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 editorial 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 may be required.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable enthusiasm for 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 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

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

• 2 plus years 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 Climate and Energy Team and a member of the Communications 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, eligible for a 3 month fully paid sabbatical.

Please send resume and letter of interest to: HR, Rainforest Action Network, 425 Bush St., Suite 300, SF, CA 94108, fax 415.398.2732, or e-mail: resumes@ran.org. No phone calls, please.