Sr. Communications Manager

Type: Full-time; exempt

Salary: $70,000-$85,000

Location: Remote

Benefits: Health, dental, vision insurance, retirement contribution, personal time off, flexible work schedule

About the Position

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) seeks a dedicated and skilled Senior Communications Manager to lead our communications efforts and advance our mission of clean energy, equity, and inclusion. You will support communications about IREC’s regulatory program, which advances state-level policies that enable more clean energy on the grid, and communications regarding IREC’s work to increase energy resilience in Puerto Rico (professional-level Spanish proficiency strongly preferred). You will also be the primary contact for press inquiries and media outreach, facilitating connections between IREC staff and various media outlets. This role requires excellent writing skills, a strong knowledge of communications best practices, and a passion for clean energy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. 

Responsibilities

• Advance awareness of IREC’s Regulatory Program by managing press releases, blog posts, report development, and outreach campaigns
  • Develop and maintain familiarity with our technical policy recommendations on topics including interconnection, hosting capacity analyses, smart inverters, and more (training will be provided)
  • Support the production of the Energy Optimist podcast, which explores energy policy issues through interviews with leading experts 
• Advance awareness of IREC’s work in Puerto Rico by managing press releases, blog posts, and outreach campaigns (typically in Spanish)
  • Develop and maintain familiarity with our Puerto Rico programs, which include the development of community-led clean energy and microgrid projects, investment in Puerto Rico’s clean energy workforce, and the advancement of clean energy financing solutions (training will be provided)
• Serve as the primary contact for press inquiries and media outreach
  • Facilitate connections between staff and reporters across print, online, radio, and TV platforms
  • Conduct proactive media outreach to pitch staff for interviews
  • Respond to media inquiries based on information from program staff
  • Collaborate with other communications staff to maintain and ensure consistent use of talking points across the IREC website, social media, and other communication platforms
  • Draft and place op-eds and blog posts promoting IREC's work 
  • Oversee the IREC blog schedule, including writing original content and coordinating staff submissions.
• Advance IREC’s thought leadership at conferences and other events, including the submission of presentation proposals
  • Coordinate with staff on proposal submissions and assist with drafting as needed
  • Maintain an event calendar and identify opportunities for IREC staff to participate in physical and virtual events

Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Qualities for This Role:

Required 

• 4+ years of relevant work experience
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong knowledge of communications and marketing best practices, including websites, email, and media outreach
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to translate required deliverables into a project plan and timeline
• Proven ability to acquire and maintain media contacts and successfully place content in the press
• Passionate about clean energy, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility

Preferred

• An undergraduate degree in communications, writing, environmental studies, or another relevant field
• Professional-level Spanish proficiency

Apply with: Cover letter, resume, and at least three professional references who have worked with you directly in the past five years. All application materials must be submitted in English.

About IREC 

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a 501c3 nonprofit working toward a 100% clean energy future that is reliable, resilient, and equitable. Our mission is to build the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency to benefit people, the economy, and our planet. IREC provides independent leadership and trusted clean energy expertise through three interrelated strategies:

• Workforce Development - IREC leads initiatives to build a diverse and qualified clean energy workforce while ensuring that clean energy workers have access to family-sustaining careers.
• State Regulatory Engagement - IREC represents the public interest in state regulatory proceedings and develops/disseminates best practices to ensure that all distributed energy resources (DERs) have fair and efficient access to the grid.
• Local Initiatives - IREC supports communities to develop policies and practices that accelerate the equitable deployment of clean energy.

IREC Foundational Values

• We value diversity of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and thoughts and believe they result in better outcomes and greater organizational impact.
• We value the uniqueness and dignity of each individual and their right to be their true and complete self.
• We believe in the potential of the clean energy transition to advance equity in our nation.

IREC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and embracing a workplace with diverse voices and perspectives. We strongly encourage and seek applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. Applicants are not discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, medical conditions, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until October 1, 2024, or until the position is filled.

Applicants must be based in and authorized to work in the United States