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Communications Campaigns Specialist 🔥


POSITION TITLE:  Communications Campaigns Specialist

PROGRAM: Communications

SUPERVISOR: Communications Director

FOCUS: US Petrochemicals Digital Campaigns

LOCATION: Flexible within the United States  (preference for Washington DC, Ohio River Valley/Appalachia, or Gulf Coast)

SALARY RANGE: $65,000-80,000 depending on qualifications


SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

Expansion of petrochemicals production (ranging from plastics to agrochemicals, and their chemical precursors) has become the fossil fuel industry’s lifeline to buoy demand for its products and sustain its entrenchment in the economy. Unless halted, ongoing expansion of US petrochemical production capacity – alongside new subsidies and public support for false solutions acting as enablers – will lock in massive new facilities and infrastructure that threaten frontline communities and public health, and further entrench the political and economic power of the petrochemicals industry. 

The communications specialist (digital campaigner) will use strategic communications tools and strategies to drive CIEL’s campaigns to stop petrochemical expansion in the United States. The specialist will use rapid response communications to accelerate proactive advocacy campaigns and support regional coalition strategies at the epicenter of planned petrochemical expansion. 

The specialist will develop and implement bold digital campaigns centered on increasing corporate accountability, building people-power, dramatically reducing public and private investments that lock in fossil infrastructure and the fossil economy, and enabling real solutions commensurate with the urgency of this planetary crisis. Our ideal candidate will be enthusiastic and self-motivated, have a deep knowledge of the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries (or demonstrated ability to come quickly up to speed), have experience delivering nimble, high impact, coalition-driven campaigns, and be adept in working with a team to rapidly respond to real world events and proactively seize opportunities that affect campaign objectives, while staying aligned with long-term strategy. The specialist reports to the Communications Director while collaborating closely with the Fossil Economy Program.


RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communications Campaigns and Rapid Response: (40%)

  • Participate in strategic planning, informed by knowledge of petrochemical issues and the US movements opposing petrochemicals and carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as other relevant stakeholders and decisionmakers, and participate in the implementation of strategies and tactics developed to achieve CIEL’s objectives.
  • Design and implement short, medium, and long term high-impact digital campaigns to advance US Fossil Economy program goals.
  • Monitor and assess related current events and actively build a working knowledge of the political, policy, and movement landscape as relevant to the campaign in order to proactively pitch, generate leads, and drive narrative synergies across movements, crises, and media moments. 
  • Coordinate with Communications Team to leverage cutting edge research for greatest impact across earned, owned, paid, and social channels.
  • Create and capitalize on key moments by leveraging earned, owned, paid, and social media channels to engage target audiences and use rapid response to drive progress.
  • In coordination with the Media Relations Specialist, develop relationships with and build capacity of key reporters and outlets to effectively cover petrochemicals and CCS in the context of emerging moments.

Content Development: (25%)

  • Draft, edit, and proof clear, compelling written content including, but not limited to social media, newsletters, press releases, talking points, reports, and multimedia materials.
  • Develop and curate content for social media, and develop digital campaign actions that engage our supporters across the country.
  • Support development and design of publications and digital content (and where appropriate, movement content) to ensure consistent, high quality, and coherent positions and visions.
  • Work with relevant team members to produce outward facing materials of consistently high quality both in substance and design. 

Coalition and Partner Engagement: (15%)

  • Actively participate in and lead (when appropriate) communications, messaging, and narrative working groups and coalitions around the petrochemical buildout, carbon capture and storage, and other emerging priorities
  • In collaboration with the Communications Director, identify hooks and opportunities to connect local/regional campaigns to global narratives and movements
  • Provide technical assistance to frontline communities and coalitions around message development and communications strategy, including preparing for effective interviews, developing talking points, narrative hooks, and other assets, as necessary
  • Provide event support for rallies, lobby days, and community events when appropriate

Communications Team: (15%)

  • Bottom-line social media coverage in US time zones, in complement to Geneva-based social media specialist
  • Ensure alignment and coherence of campaign communications within CIEL’s broader vision and strategy.
  • Coordinate within the Comms team to achieve campaign goals, assisting in information flow within Comms and across other CIEL programs.
  • Play an active role in the communications team, including providing back-up support where necessary.

Management and Administration: (5%)

  • Support fundraising efforts, such as proposals and reports, as relevant.
  • Maintain timesheets and submit them on time.
  • Meet periodically as requested with supervisor and other team members in both the Communications and Fossil Economy programs.
  • Participate in weekly staff and team meetings and other organizational activities, including a regular staff performance evaluation.
  • Meet target dates, prioritize tasks, and ensure high-quality work products.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

  • At least 5 years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, digital media, or communications, with at least 2 of those in developing and delivering high-impact digital campaigns.
  • Exceptional analytical, writing, and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to write clearly and compellingly for a variety of audiences, including policymakers and the public on different platforms.
  • Aptitude and willingness to work in rapid response circumstances where urgency is a necessity.
  • Experience with diverse coalitions and environmental or human rights policy campaigns, with a strong preference for experience related to plastics, human rights, toxics, and climate issues.
  • Able to oversee and deliver multiple priorities by target dates and perform a wide variety of tasks over the course of the workday.
  • Able to work both separately and collaboratively, in close coordination across teams.
  • Comfort admitting what you don’t know and recognizing that seeking and receiving feedback is part of the learning process.
  • Awareness of how your words and actions affect others, openness to and respect for others’ perspectives.
  • Able to travel, sometimes for extended periods (public safety guidelines permitting).

Desired Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated expertise on the issue of petrochemicals (including agrochemicals) and related false solutions (CCS, Hydrogen) experience with relevant national and international policy fora, and familiarity with relevant movements
  • Proficiency in Spanish

A successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies: 

  • Action-Oriented: Makes things happen. Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of curiosity, proactivity, and constructiveness.
  • Nimble Learning: Approaches unfamiliar tasks proactively and with an open mind. Can quickly adapt to new situations and to draw on past successes and failures to solve current problems.  
  • Effective Communication: Understands the value of effective communication. Can deliver messages in a clear, compelling, and concise manner. Actively listens, checks for understanding, and adjusts content and style to meet the needs of different stakeholders.  
  • Collaborates: Brings people together to leverage their skills, talents, and knowledge to achieve a common purpose. Creates synergy resulting in a combined effort with greater results than what can be achieved by individuals.  
  • Resourcefulness: Is able to make the best of limited resources and find a way to get things done even when the odds are against them. Can look beyond the obvious for viable approaches to accomplish the goal. 

This is a full-time, exempt position. CIEL offers a strong benefits package including employer-subsidized health, dental, and vision; paid vacation, sick, and parental leave; a 5% contribution of gross annual salary into a 403(b) retirement account; a relocation stipend; dedicated professional development funding; and paid sabbatical leave after 7 years. CIEL is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in the US, and full-time employees qualify for the US Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program [1]

While this position has flexibility to be based out of many locations within the United States, we have a preference for this person to be located in Washington DC (the location of our office), the Ohio River Valley/Appalachia, or the Gulf Coast (i.e., Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida). You must have your own work authorization; CIEL cannot sponsor visas.

Application instructions: This position will close on June 4. Desired start date: August 21st, 2023. Please submit a cover letter, resume, and any other required materials or responses. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. No telephone calls, please. Note that CIEL does not sponsor visas of any kind. You must have prior work authorization in the country from which you will be working.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: In accordance with CIEL’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, CIEL requires US candidates to furnish proof of full COVID vaccination status in order to be hired for this position. ​​If you are not eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or vaccination is contraindicated by a licensed medical professional, you must provide documentation verifying this ineligibility or contraindication.

About CIEL: For 30 years, CIEL has used the power of law to protect the environment, promote human rights, and ensure a just and sustainable society. CIEL’s dynamic team of international attorneys and experts work together in a collaborative and supportive work environment to tackle some of the most interesting and challenging issues facing people and the planet. 

We are an equal opportunity employer, actively committed to the principles of multiculturalism and building an organization that is as diverse as the communities we serve around the world. We know that diversity and inclusion make us stronger, and we actively encourage qualified applicants with various backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and (dis)abilities to apply. If you need an accommodation or assistance with this application, please contact Human Resources at jobs[at]ciel.org.


  1. https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

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