Market Engagement & Communications Lead

New Energy Nexus•Berkeley, CA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is a not-for-profit organization that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, services, and networks. The New Energy Nexus California Chapter (NEX CA) is accelerating California’s clean energy transition by championing entrepreneurs, commercializing technologies, and co-designing strategies that scale innovation, build trust, and grow industries. NEX CA is seeking an experienced marketing leader and storyteller to help create new channels for startups across its portfolio of programs, including CalSEED, CalTestBed, and PowerForward. This role will design, launch, and execute campaign messaging across three distinct audiences: startups in our portfolio, corporate enterprise buyers, and external funding partners. The Lead will drive both the market positioning and campaign execution for new customer-connection services, marketing these offerings to startups to maximize participation, pitching corporate decision-makers to secure their involvement, and crafting the overarching impact narrative for funders and sponsors. This is a limited-term position through June 2028, with an opportunity for extension.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in market engagement marketing, communications, or multi-stakeholder storytelling within climate tech, open innovation, venture capital, or tech accelerator.
Track record of tailoring communications for distinct groups: entrepreneurs, corporates, and institutional funders/sponsors.
Prior experience working within California clean energy or policy ecosystems.
Strong dedication to New Energy Nexus's mission, with a demonstrated understanding of and alignment with organizational goals.
Excellent copywriting, campaign architecture, and visual narrative skills.
Ability to story-tell and produce content that simplifies complex narratives for broader accessibility and understanding.
The ability to develop and execute a strategic communication plan that aligns with the organization's mission and objectives.
Proficiency in using digital platforms, social media, and email marketing tools to reach and engage target audiences.
Proficiency in website content management systems (CMS) and website design principles to increase website traffic and improve user experience.
Knowledge of event planning and management, including logistics, promotion, and audience engagement strategies for virtual events.
Strong project management skills, with experience setting project scope and timelines, collaborating with people with different backgrounds, and tracking progress against goals.
Strong understanding of communication analytics tools to track and assess the impact of communication efforts.
Strong ability to adapt tone and voice when communicating the organization's mission to different audiences.

Responsibilities

Design targeted campaigns to educate portfolio startups on the value of new commercialization offerings.
Drive high startup enrollment and participation in customer mapping exercises, corporate adoption clinics, reverse pitches, and workshops.
Develop messaging toolkits and guides to help founders translate technical milestones into customer-centric value propositions for enterprise buyers.
Develop messaging campaigns tailored to utilities, OEMs, developers, and procurement agencies.
Market program event offerings to secure decision-maker attendance and participation from off-takers.
Frame program value propositions around corporate risk reduction, pilot readiness, and access to pre-vetted tech solutions.
Conduct structured outreach and interviews with corporates and customers to assess need and interest in working with portfolio startups.
Craft the core narrative for the commercialization initiative, positioning the program as a critical bridge between early-stage innovation and market adoption.
Package findings from market landscape research, commercial matches, and joint development agreements into high-impact case studies, reports, and presentations.
Author storytelling assets for funding partners and prospective sponsors to demonstrate program impact and attract future support.