Communications Associate

Open Position: Communications Associate

https://www.eesi.org/about/careers

Position based in Washington, D.C.

Application deadline: October 27, 2024

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan Congressional caucus to provide timely, credible information for policymakers and influential stakeholders, and promote innovative environmental and energy solutions. Today, our mission is to advance science‐based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges in order to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. For more information, please visit eesi.org.

Alongside its federal policy work, EESI’s On-Bill Financing team helps rural electric cooperatives and public power utilities develop innovative programs that save their members and customers money through clean energy projects. These programs help families of all incomes reduce their energy use while improving home comfort.

EESI is committed to building a community of staff, board members, advisors, donors, interns, volunteer fellows, and partners that holds diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. This commitment strengthens the organization, improves our overall effectiveness, and helps ensure the policies we advance and programs we implement promote an equitable transition to a decarbonized, clean energy economy.

EESI is seeking a Communications Associate focused on the execution of key aspects of our overall communications strategy. The Communications Associate will create content, including articles and infographics, and update our website and social media channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, and X); edit and prepare content for publication, especially for our biweekly newsletter, Climate Change Solutions; assist with researching, scripting, and audio editing our podcast, The Climate Conversation; track media mentions; and assist with other communications-related projects.

 Our approach requires thorough research and analysis to support fact-based information, conclusions, and policy recommendations. We communicate to a wide audience that includes Members of Congress and their staff, federal officials, business and industry leaders, advocates, reporters, educators, and diplomats.

The Associate will report to the Vice President of Communications and is a key member of the communications team.

Responsibilities:

In collaboration with and support of our communications team, the Communications Associate will have shared or individual responsibility to:

• Edit and format materials written by EESI staff, including web articles, fact sheets, and other publications.
• Draft outreach materials and web content, including articles, flyers, newsletters, topic pages, and more
• Create, plan, and schedule content—including graphics—for EESI’s social media channels.
• Develop infographics for articles and fact sheets.
• Publish materials on EESI’s website, including web articles, fact sheets, reports, and other publications.
• Prepare and schedule email blasts.
• Analyze social media metrics; recommend and implement ways to increase followers and interactions.
• Promote and support our informative and acclaimed Congressional briefings and webinars, which are a key source of information for policymakers.
• As needed, help research and script EESI’s podcast, 

The Climate Conversation.

• Track media hits in our internal database and on EESI’s website.
• Contribute ideas to develop and recalibrate EESI's communications strategy.
• Help mentor interns and participate in their professional development.
• Perform additional duties as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience (including relevant internships).
• Outstanding editing and writing skills.
• Talent for graphic design and layout (EESI uses Canva).
• Experience with social media planning and content creation across the platforms that EESI has a presence on, as well as relevant applications such as Hootsuite and Later.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, research and analysis skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work autonomously to meet deadlines.
• Capacity to contribute creative ideas for outreach and messaging strategies.
• Enthusiasm for the issues and mission of EESI.
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative, collegial, and supportive work environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Ability and interest in learning new software applications.
• Experience with website Content Management Systems (CMS), website and social media analytics, e-mail marketing software, and HTML. EESI uses Expression Engine for its website CMS and Salesforce Marketing Cloud as its email platform.
• Experience or knowledge of marketing.
• Knowledge of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change issues.

We have done our best to outline what it will take to be an outstanding Communications Associate at EESI. If you do not meet every requirement we encourage you to apply and tell us why you would succeed in the position.

Application Requirements

Please note you will need the following to apply:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Two writing samples or excerpts on any topic (1‐2 pages each), in a concise, engaging, and reader‐friendly style (please do not submit academic papers).
• Two examples of graphic design (e.g., infographic) or document layout work (e.g., webpage, brochure, report).

For reasonable accommodation, contact David Robison at drobison@eesi.org

Starting salary from $54,000. EESI offers an excellent benefits package, including:

• Family health insurance and dental coverage.
• 15 days of paid vacation (year 1) to 20 days (year 2-5) and then 25 days.
• 15 paid holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan—EESI contributes 9% of salary after one year of service (no employee match requirement).

EESI is committed to creating a diverse environment. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.