Local recruitment: Communication Manager

Climate Nexus

California, USA 🇺🇸

Oregon, USA 🇺🇸

Colorado, USA 🇺🇸

Home-based/Remote

Communications Manager The Water Hub at Climate Nexus

About the Water Hub and Climate Nexus

The Water Hub is a program of Climate Nexus that uses story-based strategies to advance water justice and resilience across the United States. We provide pro bono communications support to advocates and experts, from content creation to media and opinion research, training and coaching. We work to make water communications more accessible and activism more effective, so the people most impacted by water challenges have greater power to set the solutions. 

At a time when so many stories center on conflict, the Water Hub works to create new narratives of progress and possibility, spotlighting the water solutions taking root from urban neighborhoods to forests and farmland. We also work to broaden the conversation, uplifting the voices and stories of frontline communities, Tribes, and other underrepresented groups.

The Water Hub is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. We strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to apply, especially people from communities that have been historically underrepresented in the energy, climate and environmental sectors. 

The role

As a capacity builder and service organization, the Water Hub’s work is only as effective as our connections with groups on the ground. We refer to the groups we work with as partners, and are here to support their leadership with behind-the-scenes help with strategy, writing, research, design, media pitching, training, and more. While we work with a range of partners, we have a particular focus on serving frontline groups. 

The Water Hub’s portfolio of core campaigns and priorities is growing and we are hiring a Communications Manager to add project management and writing skills to our team. The person in this role will move people to action through their writing, from media pitches and blogs to social media posts. In addition to bringing their creativity and a passion for environmental justice and storytelling, the Communications Manager will support the build out of the Color of Water, a growing directory for reporters of 100 leaders of color in the water movement, and our role as communications partner for the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus. The manager will also work behind-the-scenes to maintain our organization’s press and partner lists, and media monitoring. 

The team shares responsibilities for network-building efforts like our newsletter, social media presence, and workshops. The Communications Manager will collaborate closely with the Digital Director to strategize, develop content, build relationships, and track analytics for the Water Hub’s social media, email, and websites. Additionally, the person in this role will pitch in on a variety of communications efforts, ranging from state and federal policy campaigns to creative projects, like #WaterAtWork. The Water Hub team splits its time between providing on-call support to partner organizations and pursuing longer-term proactive projects. 

This new hire will be part of a highly collaborative five-person team and will also be able to access the skills and experience of Climate Nexus colleagues. The ideal candidate will have a passion for community-driven change. Strong connections with the water, environmental justice, climate or health movements already is a plus, though we invite movement builders from other issue areas who bring valuable ideas and perspectives. We believe in leaning into people’s strengths to co-create our work plans, and there are ample opportunities for professional development and advancement.

Responsibilities

  • Project Management: Support two of the Water Hub’s priority programs, the Color of Water and our partnership with the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus
  • Color of Water: Work closely with the Relationships Manager to grow and deepen the Color of Water network. Support the back-end maintenance of the Color of Water directory including keeping member information up-to-date, tracking web analytics, and developing social media graphics featuring members
  • Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus: Work with the Director of Strategic Communications to draft digital and other written content such as fact sheets and media pitches
  • Digital media: Work with the Digital Director to strategize and develop content for our digital channels and partner campaigns with an eye to discerning opportunities for digital engagement and generating creative ideas
  • Social Media: Work with Digital Director to manage social media channels (currently Twitter and LinkedIn) by drafting social media posts, producing visual content (graphics, memes, short videos), and engaging in community management
  • Email: Support the drafting, production, sending, and reporting of the Water Hub’s newsletter, the Water Cooler
  • Website: Write succinct and engaging web-friendly content for the Water Hub blog
  • Influencer research: Occasional research support to identify digital content creators to help us educate and engage audiences in a more accessible way
  • Writing and Editing: Collaborate with our Media Director and other colleagues to draft, edit, and send written content such as media pitches, op-eds, fact sheets, and talking points
  • Organizational Systems: Help strengthen and maintain the systems that facilitate relationships with partners and reporters, such as our contact database, social media, and web analytics, and maintaining media lists and monitoring

Attributes

  • Demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and Water Hub values
  • A nimble project manager who can support multiple programs concurrently and pivot between short-term, tactical tasks and long-term projects effectively
  • Detail-oriented coordinator who stays on top of project timelines and internal reporting with a keen eye for proofreading and copy-editing
  • Proactive, creative, and excited to help build something impactful
  • A connector with emotional intelligence who shows up for partners with cultural humility and mutual respect
  • Open to giving and receiving feedback; willing to ask for help

Required skills and experience

  • 4-6 years of experience in social change communications or organizing
  • Strong interest in water justice, and willingness to study up and go deep on the issues
  • Strong writer with understanding of the elements of a compelling story and the ability to translate complex issues into simple language
  • Comfortable working with both earned and digital media

Preferred skills and experience

  • Familiarity with social media scheduling, media monitoring, graphic design, and project management platforms is a bonus. We use tools like Cision, Sprout Social, WordPress, Airtable, and HubSpot (and we’re happy to train the right candidate) 
  • Visual design experience is a plus, but not required. We currently use Canva to generate social media content for Water Hub channels and partners, in addition to working with freelance designers and illustrators on larger creative projects

Location

Flexible. The Water Hub team is fully remote and currently distributed across California, Oregon, and Colorado. For this role, we are open to hiring anywhere in the US and occasionally travel to co-work and meet with partner organizations. We have a desire to grow our geographic footprint and encourage candidates in the Gulf South, Southeast, Great Plains, or Great Lakes regions to apply.

Compensation and benefits

The starting salary range for this position is $75,000 – 90,000, dependent on experience. Climate Nexus offers a generous benefits package, including paid personal and sick leave; standard health, dental, and vision packages; employer contributions to 401k retirement account; parental leave; and commuter transit benefit.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter as PDF or Word files to jobs@climatenexus.org with “Water Hub Communications Manager” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through March 17, 2023.

Climate Nexus is a fiscally sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc., an equal opportunity employer. Climate Nexus is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages qualified persons of diverse age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity, or military or veteran status to apply.


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