EcoRise seeks Communications Specialist

EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. Our school-based programs activate more than 300,000 youth each year to tackle real-world challenges in their schools and communities through programs focused on sustainability, climate justice, and green career exposure. If you are passionate about climate justice, youth activism, and environmental education, and you have versatile skills to tell meaningful stories and activate others as storytellers, we invite you to contribute your skills, ideas, and voice to our mission to embolden the next generation of green leaders!

POSITION OVERVIEW

EcoRise seeks a Communications Specialist to help execute the organization’s communication strategy and develop brand- and mission-aligned communications materials that represent the breadth of work EcoRise does with educators, youth, and partners. The Communication Specialist will demonstrate familiarity with brand writing, versatile content creation, climate-related topics, and youth engagement. The specialist will work with the Communications & Design Manger to manage EcoRise’s social media presence; communicate about climate change, social and environmental justice, and education topics to build organizational visibility and thought leadership; create relevant and timely content; and support cross-channel brand awareness, education, and fundraising campaigns. There will be opportunities to identify innovative ways to leverage language, data, design, and media to educate, expand, and engage EcoRise audiences. The Specialist will report to the Communications & Design Manager and work with other team members and contractors as needed. This is a remote position with some flexibility in work hours, but occasional availability on nights and weekends will be required.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Include but are not limited to:

• Work closely with the Communications & Design Manager to implement the organization’s communications strategy and support the school program team, youth program team, and development team with communication needs as requested
• Manage social media for the organization including maintaining the social media calendar; creating and curating relevant and timely written and visual content; drafting posts for approval; executing cross-channel campaigns that achieve engagement, education, or fundraising goals; and monitoring/responding to user interactions
• Create graphics and visuals to accompany and enhance communication assets
• Provide additional communications support to the Youth Programs Team which may include attending virtual meetings/events, writing copy, and determining strategies to leverage youth work and engage program stakeholders and youth alumni on Instagram and other social media platforms
• Track key performance indicators related to social media and other communications and leverage data to inform improvements to communication activities/strategies
• Provide support for storytelling efforts which may include concepting, writing, and/or editing written communication pieces; storyboarding videos; conducting interviews; sourcing quotes; or working with team members for asset approval, as needed
• Support digital accessibility efforts (i.e. providing alt text for images and closed captions for videos) 

ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS

• Develop a deep understanding of EcoRise curricula, programs, stakeholders, audiences, and technology tools
• Ensure the consistency of brand standards and integrated messaging of our mission, vision, and values in any internal and external communications with consideration for the audience
• Familiarity with working within iterative design processes and feedback loops
• Ensure that equity and anti-racist frameworks are used to develop and deliver all communications and designs 
• Keep informed about media topics related to climate, education, and social justice in order to draft commentary from the EcoRise lens

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, or a closely related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered
• At least two years of experience in communications, marketing, content creation, social media management, journalism, or climate activism, preferably with a nonprofit
• Proven work experience implementing brand communications and strategies on Instagram and other social media platforms
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with demonstrated experience in brand writing, blogs writing, social media copy writing, and integrating equity into communications
• Passion for addressing the climate crisis with lived experience or a demonstrated commitment to addressing climate, sustainability, or environmental justice through a racial equity lens
• Excellent organization skills, specifically with time and project management; must be detail-oriented and self-motivated
• Comfortable working with graphic design software, Zoom, Microsoft Office, Dropbox, Google Suite, Meta Business Suite
• Penchant for visual layout, illustration, and/or graphic design

Preferred: 

• History using online communications tools to amplify a non-profit organization’s core messages through storytelling and/or digital campaigns
• Knowledge of collecting, analyzing, and applying data to make informed communication and marketing decisions
• Background with visual and graphic design experience
• Experience with Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Sprout Social, WordPress, HTML, Mailchimp, Facebook Ads Manager, Facebook special ad category accounts
• Experience writing donation appeals and fundraising campaign communications

TIMELINE AND COMPENSATION

This is a contracted position, in a remote work environment, starting March 2023 through July 2023, with an option for contract renewal in August, the start of our 2023–2024 fiscal year. The hourly rate offered is $22–$30/hour, commensurate with experience, with 20–30 hours of work expected per week based on your availability.

To apply, visit this link. Position closes February 3.

EcoRise is committed to building a culturally diverse team and strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We value diversity of all kinds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where we learn from each other. As an equal-opportunity employer, we seek to hire, develop, and retain talented people from all backgrounds. Individuals from non-traditional backgrounds, historically under-served, or underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. We work at the intersection of sustainability education, climate resilience, and environmental justice by elevating youth voices and advancing student-led solutions to real-world challenges. We offer a range of curricula and programs for students, teachers, school districts, and partners, designed to advance environmental literacy, sustainable schools, and equitable access to green career pathways.