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21 Apr 2023

Full-Time Communications Associate

Sierra Club Maryland – Posted by [email protected] College Park, Maryland, United States

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Job Description

Job Title: Communications Associate
Department: Maryland Chapter
Location: Maryland Chapter office near College Park, MD. (Currently, all staff members are working remotely until COVID-19 protocols allow for in-office work.)
Reports To: Chapter Deputy Director
Supervises: n/a

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of togetherness. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel inequity, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our democracy. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it.

Sierra Club is comprised of staff across the country and a network of volunteer leaders and local chapters that support our grassroots engagement. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with two labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: The Sierra Club seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and equity-focused Communications Associate to advance the Maryland Chapter’s work. The Maryland Chapter advocates for the protection of our land, air and water as well as a just and equitable transition from dirty, fossil fuels to a clean energy future for all. The Communications Associate will work with Chapter staff, volunteers and partners across Maryland to support communications via emails campaigns, social media & web presence, and press. This position supports regular communications, including monthly E-News, chapter & group mass emails, and communications that happen seasonally, such as during the legislative session.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

  1. Leads the development of a strategic communications plan, including goals, strategies, and tactical timeline. Reports on progress toward established goals and objectives and engages staff and volunteers to achieve those goals. Also periodically reports on the effectiveness of communication strategies.
  2. Manages the Chapter public-facing communication systems, including website, social media, earned media, mass emails, newsletters, and others.
  3. Writes, edits, and reviews educational and advocacy materials.
  4. Coordinates internal Chapter communications including local groups, listservs and calendar.
  5. Supports other staff and campaign work as needed.
  6. Handles miscellaneous projects and duties as assigned by the Chapter.
  7. Implements Sierra Club best practices regarding the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing and justice, equity, and inclusion practices and goals.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

  • Strategic Coordination. Demonstrated skill and experience in coordinating, preparing and managing communications for an environmental organization or non-profit. This includes newsletters, mass emails, websites, social media, earned media, and other formats. Demonstrated ease communicating complex policies to diverse groups including staff, volunteers, funders, decision makers and external partners. Demonstrated public speaking and media presentation ability.
  • Technical Proficiency with Communications Platforms and Systems, including websites, word processing, spreadsheets, and database management.
  • Excellent Written and Oral Communication Skills. Produces compelling written and digital materials: aims for accuracy and attention to detail. Can learn, internalize, and incorporate our “voice” across platforms. Skilled in quickly digesting and summarizing material and in communicating with technical and lay audiences. Organizes and shares information effectively — whether writing an internal email or delivering a presentation — across different groups of diverse stakeholders.
  • Collaboration. Ability to interact effectively with volunteers, members, staff and the general public. Experience and skills in managing meetings, developing clear agendas and moving a group towards equitable and time bound decisions. Ability to proactively communicate to resolve tensions within a team. Demonstrated track record of communication in a timely, respectful manner during times of conflict and stress.
  • Initiative: Demonstrated ability to work under your own initiative, handle multiple assignments simultaneously, and manage projects to completion.
  • Equity Analysis and Practice. You are aware of your group identities and how they have shaped your life and experiences at work. You have an analysis of how racism and other forms of oppression in society impact relationships, systems and culture. You bring experience and skills for working effectively with colleagues across group identities and position/role. Effective in empowering and engaging both with staff and non-staff volunteers.

 

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

  • Working knowledge of Spanish and comfort communicating in Spanish.
  • Consensus Builder. Strives for transparent and equitable, timebound processes that arrive at strategic decisions. Demonstrated track record of strong organizational skills and ability to work effectively with ambiguity and change.
  • Knowledge and advocacy experience in Maryland is a plus. This includes: knowledge of Maryland geography and ecology; experience with advocacy campaigning, knowledge of Maryland advocacy community; familiarity with Maryland politics, legislature, and power structures.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $65,000 – $72,000, non-negotiable.

This position is represented by a collective bargaining unit and is subject to the terms and conditions of the contract between Sierra Club and Progressive Workers Union or Sierra Employee Alliance, depending on location.

The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan.

This is a category 5 exempt, represented position.

Sierra Club is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. Sierra Club employees are not eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club Human Resources in consultation with the employee’s manager. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity.

How to Apply

Click here to apply online.

This position does not have an undergraduate education requirement. If you choose to include your education history, please remove your schools from your resume. You may leave your degree (e.g., "B.A. Philosophy"), but please remove any undergraduate and graduate school names.

This anonymous process is aimed at opening this opportunity to more candidates, reviewing applicants on performance assessments and mitigating bias in the decision-making process.

Lastly, we are intentionally not asking for a cover letter, so please do not send one in with your application.

We are accepting applications until May 8, 2023.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.

Job Categories: Climate Change. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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