Communications Specialist

Job Title: Communications Specialist

Reporting to: Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs

Position: Full-time; Exempt

Organizational Summary:
The Climate Leadership Council (the Council) is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to promote the most effective, fair, and politically viable climate solutions.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Communications Specialist assists with all aspects of publicity and stakeholder engagement for the Council and reports to the Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs. The Communications & Public Affairs team works to break down complex climate policy topics with the goal of shaping public narratives, establishing thought leadership, and educating stakeholder audiences. To that end, the Specialist plays an essential role in writing/editing compelling messages, contributing to media efforts, and supporting the organization’s in-person and virtual meetings and events.

Responsibilities include:

1. Content Creation:
   Take the first pen on content including one-pagers, talking points, blogs, and various other written materials needed for elevating Council leadership and/or educating stakeholders.
2. Social Media Management:
   Lead drafting and idea generation for social media; identify and amplify news in real time, assist with social campaigns (organic and paid), create graphics, and manage the social schedule.
3. Event Support:
   Provide event support including vendor coordination, speaker coordination, registration tracking, promotion strategy and materials development, and day-of staffing. Support and often act as a staff lead on project tracking, event and leadership scheduling.
4. Media Relations:
   Actively engage and assist with media relations, including cultivating relationships with the media; maintaining press lists, identifying opportunities to actively pitch stories, drafting press releases and media advisories, creating prep materials for interviews, flagging news alerts in real-time, and assisting with internal daily news clips.
5. Special Projects:
   Conduct special projects as assigned by the Senior Director, Executive Vice President and/or leadership team, which may include research to support legislative and political activity, stakeholder engagement/development, and the preparation of memos or slide decks.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Undergraduate degree or higher in English, journalism, communications, public relations, or related area preferred.
• Minimum of 2-4 years of full-time communications and/or public affairs experience in a trade association, think tank, firm/agency, or other political or government setting.
• Strong research, writing, and editing skills including attention to grammatical detail, clarity, speed, and accuracy.
• Ability to multi-task, meet pressing deadlines, anticipate needs, and adjust in a changing environment.
• Strong internal communications skills and the ability to present in a group setting.
• Knowledge of climate policy a plus.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite or Canva a plus.
• Some media experience (social and traditional) required.
• Impeccable integrity and honesty and ability to maintain confidentiality.

Location:
This position is based in DC in a traditional in-office setting; subject to the organization’s telework policy. Currently, the organization is operating in a hybrid environment (3 days in office; 2 days remote).

Compensation:
Competitive salary based on experience; full benefits package.

Apply:
Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

The Climate Leadership Council is committed to fostering an equitable, diverse and inclusive working environment. The Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, military or veteran status and other such factors in accordance with U.S. state and federal laws.