Manager, Program Communications

U. S. Energy Foundation•San Francisco, CA

4d•$129,600 - $144,000•Remote

About The Position

The Manager, Program Communications, is an individual contributor on U.S. Energy Foundation’s (USEF) Program Operations Team. This role is responsible for translating USEF’s and Energy Action Fund's (EAF) programmatic work into compelling communications for key external audiences, including funding partners and partner organizations, such as grantees. The role centers on three interconnected areas of work: (1) drafting high-quality funder grant proposals and reports, along with supporting partner communications; (2) owning the content strategy for USEF’s/EAF's Program Dashboard; and (3) developing and managing an organization-wide process for grantee communications. The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer who can synthesize complex clean energy policy and program content into clear, persuasive narratives—working closely with USEF Program staff, the EAF team, and Strategic Partnerships (SP) colleagues to ensure consistency, accuracy, and impact across all funder- and grantee-facing products.

Requirements

Deep experience in program communications, grant writing, development communications, or a closely related field within a nonprofit, foundation, or advocacy organization.
Exceptional writer and strategic thinker who can work both independently and collaboratively in a complex, matrixed environment.
Deeply committed to USEF's mission and values.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to synthesize complex programmatic, policy, and technical content into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences, including donors and partner organizations.
Strong editing and copyediting skills, with the ability to refine and polish existing content as well as adapt and repurpose materials for different stakeholder audiences.
Strong storytelling instincts and a track record of proactively engaging expert colleagues to gather the information needed to tell cohesive, impact-driven stories.
Decisive and detail-oriented project manager with superior organization, time management, and prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
Comfort leveraging new technology (including large language models, such as Claude) to enhance the efficiency and quality of communications work.
Familiarity with the major issues and trends in climate and clean energy advocacy.
A high degree of cultural competence and emotional intelligence, with experience contributing meaningfully to a workplace where equity and inclusion are core values in both internal and external work.
An entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to think creatively, take initiative, and work independently, while knowing when to seek support.
A genuine service orientation and commitment to helping the organization fulfill its mission.

Nice To Haves

Writing samples will be requested.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary first drafter for funder grant proposals and reports across USEF/EAF portfolios.
Work closely with Program team experts to identify the most compelling content to highlight, synthesizing input from across the organization into cohesive, persuasive documents.
Align all funder-facing products with USEF’s overall narrative strategy to ensure consistency of voice and messaging.
Distill complex programmatic initiatives across priority geographies, sectors, key venues, and strategic imperatives (e.g., advancing equity) into clear and motivating funder communications.
Leverage new technology, including Claude, to support efficient content creation, drafting, and knowledge management.
Provide support on USEF and EAF partner communications products, including funder updates and Impact Reports, as needed.
Remain informed on key USEF/EAF initiatives and the broader climate and clean energy policy landscape to write with accuracy, context, and credibility.
Develop and manage an organization-wide process for communicating with USEF and EAF grantees, ensuring consistent, timely, and meaningful engagement across the portfolio.
Partner with Program and Grants staff to define the goals, cadence, and format of grantee communications, helping staff contribute in effective and efficient ways.
Work with grantees and USEF/EAF staff to gather the information needed to tell the story of funded work and its impact, including soliciting updates from Program team members on priority areas.
As appropriate, collaborate with the SP team for brand and risk review.
Coordinate with the Grants team to ensure grantee communications are aligned with grants management processes and that touchpoints with grantees are consistent and well-sequenced across the organization.
Identify opportunities to strengthen grantee relationships through improved communications practices, and propose and implement improvements over time.
Serve as the content owner for USEF’s/EAF's Program Dashboard (Dashboard), a funder-facing communications platform that provides real-time updates on USEF’s/EAF's work.
Ensure a steady cadence of Dashboard content in collaboration with Program team and EAF staff, with updates that are timely, accurate, and reflect organizational priorities.
Work with Program teams to surface the most relevant developments, milestones, and impact data for Dashboard publication.
Partner with the SP team and relevant technical staff to ensure Dashboard content aligns with the broader funder communications strategy and organizational voice.
Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the funder experience on the Dashboard, including content organization, navigation, and presentation.
Strategize with Program Operations on continuous improvement of internal knowledge and content sharing related to program activities.
Serve as a resource to Program team staff on communications activities, offering guidance and thought partnership on framing and impact communications.
Participate in team meetings and cross-functional convenings to stay current on organizational priorities and emerging developments.
Oversee consultant contracts, where necessary, to support communications outputs.