Senior Manager, Strategic Communications and Outreach

Job Type

Full-time (35 hours per week), Exempt

Travel

Some US and international business travel may be required, including overnight stays.

Start Date

Available immediately.

To Apply

Please submit the following:

• A cover letter of no more than two pages, including:
  • Your interest in the work of the Pacific Institute and specific fit for this position.
  • A summary of your qualifications.
  • The DEI statement described below.
• Your CV/Resume.
• Three writing samples, including at least:
  • One press release.
  • Two examples of media coverage you’ve helped place.
  • One example of a multimedia campaign you’ve led or contributed to, with a preference for science-related content.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Pacific Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Diversity is a core value at Pacific Institute. We are dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team and culture for two reasons:

• To stay true to our values and principles: We recognize that historical and current injustices have left out certain voices and perspectives from decision-making about accessing and managing water resources. We acknowledge that the representation of these groups in water-related decision-making and careers is an important step towards addressing past and current injustices. Because Pacific Institute participates in water-related decision making, we recognize that hiring and retaining a diverse staff can contribute to a broader need to address systemic injustices.
• To better achieve Pacific Institute’s mission and vision: We know that having diverse perspectives makes for better research and creative solutions and can help us achieve our mission. We value a diverse team with varied perspectives, skills, and experiences, which is essential for generating and scaling innovative ideas to solve increasingly complex challenges. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, heard, validated, empowered, and celebrated across different identities and cultures. Our approach to DEI evolves to reflect best practices, as does our water and climate research.

To support our commitment to DEI, we require all applicants to include a brief statement in their cover letter. Please describe how your skills, experiences, and perspectives will strengthen our DEI initiatives and contribute to creating an inclusive workplace culture.

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Strategic Communications and Outreach will report to the Director of Communications and Outreach as a key member of the Communications and Outreach team. This role is ideal for a professional with significant experience in public affairs, media relations, strategic communications, and outreach, particularly on water and climate issues at the state and/or federal level in the United States. The Senior Manager will work strategically with an impact-oriented approach, collaborating with programmatic staff to reach project, program, and organizational goals.

The Senior Manager will develop and implement strategic communications and outreach plans across the Pacific Institute’s programmatic portfolio, including Water Efficiency & Reuse, Nature-Based Solutions, Water Equity, Corporate Water Stewardship (excluding the CEO Water Mandate), and cross-cutting themes such as global Water Conflict. They will work to build awareness of specific water challenges and drive the adoption and implementation of solutions recommended by the Pacific Institute. Collaborating with program staff, the Senior Manager will drive awareness and direct uptake of solutions by state and federal resource agencies, utilities, companies, frontline communities, and other implementers, as well as influence policies and mobilize key levers of change to expand adoption.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Communications & Outreach Leadership (60%)

• Planning: Lead development and implementation of Communications and Outreach plans for regional, national, and, at times, global projects in alignment with Pacific Institute’s organizational strategy.
• Media Relations: Lead proactive and reactive earned media strategies for programmatic issues in the portfolio, both in the US and globally.
• Messaging & Content: Develop messaging and content strategies in collaboration with programmatic staff across social media, websites, newsletters, and other channels. Contribute to impact reporting for projects in the portfolio.
• Multimedia Content: Oversee the content strategy for social media, website, newsletter, and other channels. Manage multimedia content development and distribution, maintaining style guides and report designs.
• Launches: Plan and execute report launches for portfolio outputs, focusing on interactive presentations such as story maps, data storytelling, infographics, and interactive reports.
• Outreach: Collaborate with programmatic teams to develop and implement outreach plans for projects, programs, and launches. Coordinate events and speaking engagements to position thought leadership with key audiences.

Project Management (25%)

• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external vendors to implement plans and ensure on-budget and on-time outcomes.
• Finance/Budgeting: Work with project leads and finance teams to manage budgets for Strategic Communications & Outreach. Develop systems to manage funding from various project budgets with variable funding levels.
• Fundraising: Support funding for Communications & Outreach work in collaboration with project leads and the Development Team.
• Metrics: Leverage analytics and metrics in planning and evaluating strategies, goals, and tactics, managing metrics at monthly, quarterly, and annual intervals.
• Presentations: Present strategies, tactics, and outcomes at internal team meetings, project meetings, and partner/advisory group meetings.

Administration (15%)

• Collaborate across the Communications and Outreach team to support the Pacific Institute more broadly.
• Conduct regular grant and budget reporting.

Required Experience / Minimum Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 8 years in strategic communications, public affairs, media relations, policy communications, or outreach with a track record of delivering measurable outcomes.
• Budget and Vendor Management: Proven experience in managing complex budgets, timelines, partnerships, and metrics.
• Media Relations: Existing contacts with US media focused on water, environmental public affairs, climate, corporate sustainability, and/or environmental justice.
• Social Media and Digital Communications: Proven experience in social media and digital multimedia strategies.
• Attention to Detail and Deadline Management: Strong skills in managing competing deadlines and responding to emerging or crisis communications.
• Writing and Messaging Skills: Exceptional writing and messaging skills, with experience managing writers for various communication formats.
• Passion for Water Issues: Deep passion for water issues in the US and technical understanding of climate change impacts and water practices.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Ability to negotiate and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Policy and Legislative Experience: Familiarity with the legislative process at the state and federal level.
• Experience with Water-related Organizations: Experience working with water-related organizations in the US and internationally.
• Digital Tools: Knowledge of emerging digital tools for making technical information accessible, such as interactive maps and data portals.
• Advanced Degree: Relevant advanced degree.
• Spanish Fluency: Fluent in Spanish.

Compensation and Benefits

The position includes paid vacation and a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and a retirement plan. Salary: $85,000 – $100,000, adjusted for geographic location if selected for an interview.

Recruitment Process

1. Application Review
2. Phone Screen with HR Manager
3. Group Interview with Hiring Manager and Team
4. Second Group Interview
5. Reference Calls
6. Offer

No immigration or relocation assistance is available. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. No phone calls, please.

Learn more here