Overview

Maine Conservation Voters (MCV) and Maine Conservation Alliance (MCA), two state-wide, nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations, are seeking a creative and collaborative individual to join our staff as full-time Communications Manager.

Our vision for the future grows from the powerful commitment of Maine people to tackle climate change; safeguard our air, land, and water; protect voting rights; and nurture economic opportunities afforded by clean energy and good environmental stewardship.  Our strategic plan, approved in 2020, centers all of our work through a race equity lens, recognizing that racial justice is inextricably linked to our pro-climate, pro-democracy efforts.

Location: Maine. MCV/MCA has a physical office in Augusta, the state capital as well as a shared work space in Portland. This position allows for a hybrid in-person/remote work structure.

Supervisor: Deputy Director

Work Week: Full time

The Communications Manager will support our organizations’ missions, strategic plans, and priorities ensuring that MCV/MCA is a prominent and respected voice on protecting Maine’s environment, tackling the climate crisis, and safeguarding our democracy. The Communications Manager will play a pivotal role in engaging media and will work closely with policy, political, organizing, and development staff to lead communications efforts that elevate the visions of our organizations and our partners, engage diverse Maine communities in our work, advance racial justice, and forward our policies and campaigns.

We are looking to hire someone who brings baseline technical skills such as content development, graphic design, social media management, writing proficiency, and computer literacy, as well as strategic leadership capacity, reliability, creativity, self-drive, and attention to detail.

Given our focus on demonstrating our relevance to a more diverse constituency and engaging a more diverse base of stakeholders, it is particularly important that this new team member brings lived experience and/or training in cross-cultural communications and the ability to reflect and engage diverse audiences in the stories we tell and how we tell them.

Activities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Develop and execute organizations’ strategic communications and campaign messaging that drives climate, voting rights, equity, and conservation policy and campaign wins.
  • Use our brand and communications resources to elevate organizations that represent communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate and environmental impacts or other forms of injustice.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for the media, draft press releases, statements, and opinion pieces, and plan press conferences and support organizational media opportunities.
  • Help draft and manage blog posts and member and supporter emails.
  • Serve as the lead staff for the creation of video, digital, and printed communications materials. This includes working with outside vendors. Products include: MCV’s annual Environmental Scorecard, organizational videos, impact reports, and campaign materials.
  • Generate creative ways to mobilize MCV’s membership digitally to influence policymakers and win campaigns. This includes leading digital content design, growth, and engagement for social media, and maintaining organizational websites.
  • Learn, understand, and maintain familiarity with the EveryAction database and its full suite of capabilities.
  • Cultivate and foster relationships with key spokespeople and communications staff from partner organizations and determine how best to collaborate to advance coalition efforts.
  • Complete other tasks as needed to support the overall growth and organizational development of our family of organizations.

Participate in department and organization-wide planning and activities:

  • Develop annual goals, metrics, and work plans;
  • Evaluate and track communications results, and help develop strategies to improve performance;
  • Build on MCV/MCA’s internal and external goals to center racial equity;
  • Assist with building the budget for the department;
  • Participate in staff meetings and strategic planning and equity learning; and
  • Participate in conferences and trainings with our national partner, the League of Conservation Voters.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Shares our commitment to integrating justice and equity into the work we do and supporting an inclusive organizational culture;
  • Interested in environmental protection, climate action, a healthy democracy, and the political process;
  • At least 3+ years of communications or related experience;
  • Demonstrated experience with cross-cultural communications;
  • Proven experience in copywriting and editing;
  • Proven knowledge of web design and content production;
    Graphic design skills;
  • Demonstrated ability to use social media platforms effectively;
  • Demonstrated ability as a self-starter and problem-solver;
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines;
  • Working knowledge of MS Office; GSuite; common social media platforms; CMS platforms; photo and video-editing software is preferred;
  • Ability to travel periodically for meetings, events, and conferences; and
  • Familiarity with Maine and regional press, including print, television, radio, and digital outlets.

MCV/MCA is an EEO Employer committed to a racially just, equitable, and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status. Candidates from historically marginalized communities, who are on the front lines of harm caused by climate change and voter suppression, are encouraged to bring their lived as well as technical expertise to this position and the team.

The salary for this position is $62,500/year. MCV/MCA also provides holiday and paid time off, health/dental/vision insurance, and a 3% SEP IRA retirement benefit match. Federal Fair Labor Standards Act Exempt. The employee is not eligible for overtime payment.

Hiring Process:

The hiring process for this position will adhere to the following steps:

  • Step 1: Initial application period – Applicants submit a cover letter and resume through the link provided.
  • Step 2: Application review – MCV/MCA will review all applications for the position and reach out to those invited for an initial interview.
  • Step 3: Initial interviews – Select applicants will be invited to an interview via Zoom with two-three members of the MCV/MCA team. Interview questions and topics will be shared with interviewees ahead of time. Interviewees are welcome to ask questions as well.
  • Step 4: Second interviews – A subset of the initial interviewees will be invited for a second, in person interview. Topics/Questions will be shared ahead of time. Interviewees are welcome to ask questions as well.
  • Step 5: Reference Check – MCV/MCA will request three professional or community references from the candidates to check experience and qualifications from these third parties.
  • Step 6: Selection Process – MCV/MCA may reach out for a third and final discussion with one or two applicants OR will make a selection at this time.