Communications Director, Chispa AZ

League of Conservation Voters • Phoenix, AZ

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The League of Conservation Voters, Inc. (LCV), a non-profit organization, builds political power to protect people and the planet. We envision a world in which tackling the climate crisis, confronting environmental injustice, and strengthening our democracy lead to cleaner and healthier communities, good, well-paying jobs, and a more just, equitable, and sustainable planet for all. Chispa, a program of LCV, works to ensure that Latine communities and leaders have a strong voice in the movement for climate justice and within the environmental movement and influence the environmental policies and decisions that impact our health and environment. Chispa has programs in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and Texas. Chispa Arizona is a leader in advocating and organizing for clean energy and clean air, climate justice, public lands and parks, and fighting for a reflective democracy in the federal, state, and municipal governments. Our fight for climate justice is at the Arizona Legislature, the Arizona Corporation Commission and the municipalities. LCV is hiring a Communications Director to join our Chispa Arizona, Phoenix-based team. The Communications Director will be responsible for elevating our program profile, establishing relationships with traditional and non-traditional media, creating relatable and culturally competent environmental messaging, and amplifying our work and impact to local and national audiences. This position will be joining a team that is motivated by and invested in taking action in the fight against polluters and climate change, and making progress on promoting clean air, clean energy, clean water, access to public lands, and a free and fair democracy for all. The ideal candidate is a creative, innovative, ambitious, and skilled leader who is bilingual in English and Spanish, goal-driven, and has experience in human impact storytelling, media relations, and movement building. This position is classified as Regular Hybrid Work , which means the position is assigned to an LCV office where they spend one to four days per week and work the rest of the week remotely. This position is required to work in-person in the Phoenix, AZ office two to three days per week. Applicants must be located in and legally authorized to work in the United States. Applicants must reside in the location listed above.

Requirements

• At least 5 years experience in communications.
• Experience developing, implementing and evaluating communications plans for short and long-term campaigns or programs.
• Experience managing and supervising volunteers or staff.
• Successful track record of pitching press, developing relationships with media, and strong storytelling experience.
• Must be bilingual in English and Spanish and demonstrate cultural competence when messaging environmental priorities and movement issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management, and supervisory skills, and the ability to delegate, prioritize, and effectively manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced work environment.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to amplify the voice and leadership of Latinx communities in Arizona and advancing progressive issues and campaigns.
• Flexibility, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, cultural competence, and ability to juggle multiple tasks, solve problems, and set priorities in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.
• Detail-oriented, with good organizational skills and follow-through.
• Ability to work under own initiative, as well as part of a team.
• Creative and innovative thinker that considers themselves a problem-solver and resourceful during challenging or new situations.
• Demonstrated awareness of how ones life experiences influence ones personal attitudes, biases, and assumptions.
• Demonstrated commitment to continual learning and ability to successfully deliver culturally responsive services.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture.
• Understands how environmental issues intersect with racism, economic and social inequality in the U.S. and has a passion for working to dismantle these systems.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Arizona communications and/or campaigns experience.
• Experience in website development.
• Experience using social media platforms to advance program goals, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
• Experience with speaking on-the-record to press.
• Familiarity with Arizona and in-state community preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Chispa AZ external and internal overall messaging and communications strategy.
• Develop systems, tools and structures that provide the team strong clarity/direction on Chispa AZs communications processes.
• Build relations with English- and Spanish-language press to share and amplify Chispa AZs message.
• Pitch traditional and nontraditional media on campaign-specific needs, perform follow-up calls with press after events, cultivate Spanish- and English-language press lists.
• Draft statements, op-eds, press releases, quotes, blogs, and other materials related to Chispa AZ program and work.
• Work cross-departmentally with staff in the Communications and Legal departments to review and approve materials.
• Work with the Digital Campaigns Coordinator to amplify organizational campaign and advocacy goals, pro-climate justice messaging and educational material.
• Provide coaching and management for the Digital Campaigns Coordinator, develop individualized and detailed goals and work plans and support via mentorship and weekly check-ins on progress to meeting goals.
• Collaborate with the Chispa AZ staff on developing communications workshops for our community members so they can be active and empowered in the movement for environmental justice and community health.
• Identify the need for effective training, develop curriculum and execute sessions for staff and community that relate to communications skills, and practices and understanding of communications strategies.
• Work with the Chispa Arizona Democracy and Organizing Directors to identify opportunities for members and program participants to participate in communications activities and to integrate communications education into the members/participants training, development and leadership roles.
• Gather quotes and stories from community speakers for inclusion in Chispa AZ materials.
• Coordinate media activities for Chispa AZ events, including assisting with logistical support and speaker preparation.
• Support membership messaging and strategy on multiple platforms to engage supporters and unique target audiences in the growing work and story of Chispa AZ.
• Provide timely reports to the Chispa Arizona Executive Director about communications campaigns and grants, including metrics on the program.
• Serve as on-the-record spokesperson for the Chispa AZ program.
• Conduct in-office responsibilities from the Phoenix, AZ office on average two to three days per week, including meetings with staff, press and/or partners as well as attending Chispa AZ events and member workshops.
• Travel up to 10% for in-person work outside of Phoenix, AZ, including for events, staff retreats, meetings, conferences, and professional development opportunities, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• LCV offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes vacation, sick and parental leave, personal days, paid holidays, health insurance (two plan options for staff to choose from), dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance (short- and long-term), Flexible Spending Account, 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contribution, commuter benefits program, sabbatical, and student loan assistance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees