Job Title: Communications Manager
Type: Full-Time (Hybrid)
Start: October 2022
About Solar One
Solar One is a 501c(3) organization that empowers communities in the New York City metro area to thrive in the face of the challenges brought on by climate change and embrace a world that is low carbon, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive.
Initially founded in 2004 to manage Stuyvesant Cove Park, a two-acre native plant park and a small environmental education center, Solar One has grown into an award-winning organization with a thriving array of programs. Solar One's mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. We empower learning that changes how people think about energy, sustainability, and resilience by engaging and educating diverse stakeholders and beneficiaries.
Solar One seeks a skilled and motivated Communications Manager to join our team of 50 employees. The successful candidate will work closely with Solar One’s Development Director and in cooperation with organizational program leads, bringing communications expertise to effectively increase Solar One’s visibility throughout the New York metro area.
Responsibilities include:
Strategic Communications
• With Solar One program leads, identify needs and opportunities for media outreach, and create and implement strategic communication plans to support programmatic and organizational efforts
• Identify opportunities to connect our work to broader movements within the environmental sector, especially related to local climate action, an equitable transition towards renewable energy, and urban resiliency solutions
• Assist Development Director and Co-Directors of Programming in preparing reports, case studies, program one-pagers, program flyers, organizational one-pagers, and sponsorship materials
• Identify and execute creative new marketing approaches that are cost-effective and high-impact, including paid advertising, SEO strategies, and Google Ad Grant
• Participate in the development, creation, and scheduling of organizational email communications with Solar One’s Development Team
• Ensure that all marketing and fundraising materials are in line with Solar One’s brand and imaging
• Ensure that website, e-blasts, and social media efforts build awareness of and support for Solar One
Press Relations
• Draft, edit and disseminate communication materials such as press releases, media advisories, letters to the editors, op-eds, and other strategic mediums, in coordination with program leads; and monitor and manage inbound press inquiries
• Build media lists of relevant outlets and editors for targeted press pitching around key events and programs
• Develop and nurture relationships with external media, building Solar One visibility throughout the New York metro area and beyond
• Develop talking points and other informational documents to ensure consistent messaging around a topic
• Manage database of all press clips and mentions
Social Media
• Manage Solar One’s Social Media presence and activity, supporting teams as they generate engaging content for website, email, and social media, across multiple platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn)
• Establish protocols for Solar One to respond rapidly to questions and comments on all social media channels, engaging followers and building our relationship with audiences
• Enforce best practices and internal policies
Design + Web Development
• Create strategic plans for photo, video, and design needs; keep staff up-to-date with all pending deadlines
• Manage relationships with all creative vendors, including photographers, designers, web developers, printers, and merchandisers
• Oversee and address design needs for all staff members and programs, including designing basic print pieces and presentations
• Keep website up-to-date with accurate programming, volunteering, and educational information; serve as the main point of contact with the entire staff to keep information current
• Oversee and manage website changes
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree with five years of experience in communications/marketing
• Strong leadership and organizational skills
• Strong communication skills including in-person, email, phone, and video conferencing etiquette • Excellent creative problem-solving ability
• Demonstrated social media platform management fluency, including community building, analytics, campaign strategy, and management
• Advanced MS Office and computer skills, fluency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, and familiarity with other commonly used creative design tools and content management systems
• Some experience with WordPress is required
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is required for this position.
Pay and Benefits Position
Type: Full-time (35 hours)
Starting Annual Salary: $72,000 - $78,000
Solar One’s full-time employment benefits include:
• Health care and well-being programs, including medical, dental, vision, and EAP
• 3 weeks of paid time off that increases with tenure
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) retirement savings
Solar One is an equal-opportunity employer. Solar One strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of renewable energy and resilience and people in a rapidly changing world. Solar One recruits and employs through a lens of equity and encourages people of all races, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law to apply.