Strategic Communications Officer

Union of Concerned Scientists•Washington, DC

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Strategic Communications Officer develops and helps implement strategies and tactics to maximize communication impact and earned media for UCS issues, experts, and products. This position leads the coordination of program and campaign team communications; is responsible for ensuring a steady drumbeat of activities are completed that advance goals across a variety of channels including digital, print, and multimedia; and balances and prioritizes overall communications work in ways that best advance campaign goals and needs. UCS employees center their work on UCS’s core values of racial equity and environmental justice. They work collaboratively to ensure the effective operations of the program/department, center anti-racism and equity in internal and external work, and foster a welcoming, inclusive, and transparent environment where all staff can thrive and grow.

Requirements

5-7 years of experience in content creation, media outreach, and communications strategy across multiple channels.
Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.
Superior project management and collaboration skills.
Strong interpersonal, leadership, problem-solving, and mentoring skills.
Strong facilitation skills with the ability to interact with staff at all levels.
Must be proficient with the PC/Windows environment, especially MS Word.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred.
Familiarity with CMS such as Drupal and WordPress
Familiarity with media outreach platforms such as Cision.
Familiarity with Google Analytics, and SEO best practices.
Communications experience at a nonprofit or advocacy organization.

Responsibilities

In collaboration with program/campaign and communications team members, develops and implements communication/media strategies to ensure the right mix of analyses, publications, blogs, online resources, earned media, creative formats, engagement opportunities, and marketing channels are used to advance strategies, reach key audiences, create newsworthy products, and help achieve campaign goals.
Convenes quarterly strategy meetings to map out priority activities, analyses, and leverage points. Identifies and fills gaps, to ensure a regular drumbeat of campaign visibility/engagement.
Helps identify, scope, manage and deliver final communications projects in collaboration with the creative, digital, and editorial teams.
Collaborates with communications and program/campaign colleagues to co-create and ensure completion of messaging and other program/campaign communications documents.
Actively participates in annual program planning and provides feedback to inform communications strategy development and implementation.
Serves as primary communications department contact and liaison for campaign/program staff.
Establishes relationships with journalists to garner coverage of UCS issues, experts and products in print, radio, TV, and podcast news outlets.
Pitches stories, promptly responds to interview requests, and identifies opportunities to insert UCS into the news cycle.
Ensures the writing, editing and distribution of media materials including alerts, press releases, statements, op-eds, letters to the editor, and talking points.
Represents UCS campaigns in coalitions, assisting with communications content and strategy.
In collaboration with the editorial and web teams, writes, edits, publishes, and maintains accurate web content, ensuring it meets UCS standards.
Reviews digital, editorial, and creative team copy for social media posts, video scripts, and other projects.
Tracks UCS press hits and impact of communications strategies. Contributes to ongoing metrics reporting to internal stakeholders.
Maintains understanding of UCS issues and positions, communication strategies, and editorial standards.
Maintains awareness of role as representative of UCS; ensures activities and statements enhance organization’s reputation and credentials among press, public, funders, and private sectors; and advances organizational objectives.
Manage communications consultants for specific projects as needed.