What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Communications position at Energy Equity Project?
POSITION OPENING: Energy Equity Project’s First Communications Director
About us: Energy Equity Project is dedicated to ensure Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income communities have affordable, clean, uninterrupted energy and a prominent voice in energy planning and decision-making.
In 2022, we released the first comprehensive national Framework for Measuring and Advancing Energy Equity. Since then, we have focused on advancing energy equity by supporting more than 30 projects with frontline partners; developing a host of new tools, datasets, and factsheets; facilitating the creation of state-specific energy equity frameworks; testifying against rising rates and increasing energy shutoffs by investor-owned utilities; and by sharing our knowledge and perspective through workshops, trainings, and public communications. We have four areas of work: i) Frontline capacity building, ii) Democratizing the power of data, iii) Transforming public institutions, and iv) Influencing policy, regulation and public opinion. Our highest priorities are ending shutoffs and ensuring community-controlled, affordable, clean energy for all.
Today we are a small team of three full-time staff, eager to expand and increase the visibility and impact of our work through communications. To get a flavor for our work, we recommend exploring our blog, Tsunami of Shutoffs site, and resources section on our website. Our social media presence is limited at the moment and primarily on LinkedIn.
Position Detail: This is a full-time, exempt, fully remote position. The anticipated salary for this position is $85,000 - $100,000, depending on experience and qualifications; details on the benefits package are below. The preferred start date is as early as June 15th, and ideally not later than July 20th.
Our vision for this role: We seek our first communications director to advance the visibility, adoption and impact of EEP’s work. We are looking for someone who:
1) Unapologetically aligns with and affirms our mission and values,
2) Understands and has experience with energy, climate, and/or environmental justice,
3) Recognizes the power of communications to:
i) engage frontline communities,
ii) make technical tools and resources more accessible,
iii) shift attitudes of decision-makers and the general public, and
iv) advance bold policy agendas
4) Has a creative gift to craft language and visuals for training, advocacy, and thought leadership among a variety of audiences.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the creation and execution of an organizational communications plan
- Work with EEP staff to hone a voice that is playful, humorous and rooted in justice
- Adapt existing EEP resources and tools to speak to multiple audiences, including frontline communities, energy regulators, and policymakers
- Lead media outreach for new EEP releases of tools, resource hubs, analyses, and model policies
- Increase engagement with EEP’s tools and resources by target audiences
- Increase the accessibility, allure, and impact of EEP resources by adding design elements and copy editing
- Manage EEP social media and internal communications
- Secure forums for EEP thought leadership, including earned media and public presentations
- Track and evaluate the reach and impact of EEP communications
Qualifications:
Strong candidates will offer the following:
- Working knowledge of the U.S. energy system and energy justice issues
- At least 3-5 years of successful experience in a role responsible for multiple communications functions, including media outreach, communication through a variety of media external audiences (e.g. blogs, video, workshops, policy memos), and social media
- Experience creating and executing a holistic communications plan
- Ability to communicate about energy issues with nuance, authenticity, and through a justice lens
- Demonstrated commitment to justice, including racial, economic, social, and environmental
- A professional network that can be engaged to share EEP’s work, including journalists, thought leaders, and potentially elected officials
Additional skills that we value (preferred but not required)
- Experience working directly with grassroots organizations and majority Black, Brown, Indigenous and poor communities preferred
- Policy advocacy
- Web design, graphic design, and artistic ability
- Experience supervising students, interns, or staff
Benefits and Compensation: The anticipated salary for this position is $85,000 - $100,000, depending on experience and qualifications. This position is backed by three years of grant funding; our intention is that it remains a permanent position.
EEP is fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center and offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health care (free for individuals, highly subsidized for families), dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, 5% matching 403(b) contributions, 13 paid holidays, extensive paid time off, and access to professional development and travel funds. EEP prioritizes personal and collective care and well-being and supports all staff in navigating their own needs and life circumstances.
To Apply: Please submit a cover letter, resume / CV, and comms-specific work sample of no more than 5-pages to recruiting@energyequityproject.org by June 19th, 11:59PM Eastern. Your cover letter should speak to your interest in this position and how your qualifications align with the specific responsibilities of this role. We may begin to contact strong applicants for interviews prior to the application deadline and welcome early submissions.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Tides is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting qualified individuals regardless of their protected status. Employment at Tides is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. Tides prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion (all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), marital status, registered domestic partner status or civil union status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer and genetic characteristics, or HIV/AIDS related), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), reproductive health decision-making, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, military and veteran status (with respect to his/her terms, conditions or privileges of employment), or previous salary history, as well as any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall and termination.
Salary : $85,000 - $100,000