The Opportunity

Earthjustice is the nation’s premier environmental law organization, built on the belief that everyone has the right to a healthy environment. Since its founding in 1971, Earthjustice has tirelessly defended that right by using the power of the law to protect people’s health, preserve wildlife and wild places, advance clean energy, and combat climate change.

In 1965, the attorneys who founded Earthjustice (then known as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund), created a groundbreaking foundation for environmental law by taking on Walt Disney in a landmark case to defend California’s stunning Mineral King Valley from destructive development. Since then, Earthjustice has filed thousands of lawsuits on behalf of the environment and all the life that depends on it. Earthjustice partners with hundreds of organizations and thousands of passionate supporters to take on the most pressing environmental challenges of the day, such as climate change, fracking, air pollution and oil drilling in the Arctic. The organization focuses on bringing cases with the greatest possible impact – in order to set precedents for generations to come.

Over time, as the organization’s work has continued to grow and expand, Earthjustice has created an international program to address human rights, trade and environmental issues; a communications team to build a groundswell of public support for the issues and cases it takes on; and a policy and legislative team to craft laws that support and extend the organization’s gains and to prevent legislative efforts that undermine environmental progress. With a staff of 224, including 93 attorneys; more than 370 currently-active cases; a budget of $45 Earthjustice Advocacy Communications Manager, Healthy Communities Position Description The 360 Group 2 million; and 12 offices in 10 states, Earthjustice stands poised to expand and deepen its mission well into the future. As Trip Van Noppen, Earthjustice’s President has said, “We must lead by example so our younger generation understand that when we protect our environment, we help ensure a better quality of life for ourselves and future generations.”

Learn more about Earthjustice at www.earthjustice.org! 

Position Responsibilities

The Advocacy Communications Manager will provide communications support for the Healthy Communities program. The Healthy Communities program focuses on federal rules and standards related to toxic chemicals, pollution, clean air and clean water, and ensures that these rules and standards benefit all people, especially those who live in communities most impacted by environmental harms.

The Advocacy Communications Manager (ACM) builds relationships with clients, partners, and allies and, in coordination with them and program staff, drives the development of coalition-wide communications, media, and advocacy work. The ACM develops and implements the strategic communications of an Earthjustice program—including dynamic storytelling, media and public outreach—to support priority litigation and legislative advocacy. The ACM coordinates with attorneys, clients, coalitions and allies; manages contractors and outside vendors; and creates compelling and innovative communications tools and partners with other communications, program and fundraising staff to further programmatic goals and build the Earthjustice brand. The ACM will be engaged in the full range of communications tactics – such as earned media goals, drafting press releases, pitching reporters, and contributing content to Earthjustice’s website, blog and quarterly magazine as well as cultivating the partnerships needed to support program communications goals. 

Specifically, the Advocacy Communications Manager, Healthy Communities will be responsible for:

• Working with Healthy Communities Vice President of Litigation and key program and policy staff to develop and lead national, regional, or localized advocacy communications activities for top priority issues

• Working with partners and clients in developing coalition strategy and advocacy tactics including traditional and social media efforts

• Identifying, developing, and fostering partnerships with new and diverse groups and organizations

• Driving innovative storytelling projects involving clients and affected communities and consistently seeking out new and compelling ways to project and publicize these stories

• Using market research/polls and contracts or conducting focus groups/quantitative studies to help determine message strategies and to target optimal audiences efficiently for program outreach

• Targeting print, television, radio and online media for coverage of Earthjustice work; maintaining knowledge of reporters covering a particular issue and coordinates press conferences and other earned media opportunities

• Drafting content for Earthjustice’s blog, website and print materials

Profile of the Successful Candidate

Earthjustice seeks a communications professional who is curious in nature and creative in approach, and committed to Earthjustice’s mission. The Advocacy Communications Manager, Healthy Communities will have demonstrated experience setting strategy, managing advertising/PR programs, writing and producing publications, press releases or website content, and coordinating team participation in managing and executing outreach projects. In addition, the ACM will be an excellent communicator with outstanding organizational skills, with a proven ability to develop creative new ways to mobilize supporters for strategic impact. Finally, the successful candidate will have a strong work ethic with high personal and professional standards of transparency and accountability.

More specifically, Earthjustice seeks a professional who reflects the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public policy, communications, or environmental fields required; advanced degree a plus

• Strong background in social justice movements or in community organizing a plus

• Demonstrated experience in project management, with an emphasis on advocacy and communications

• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful advocacy campaigns

• The willingness to iterate a strategy and approach, with the ability to recognize the need to course-correct as necessary

• The ability to work effectively with a broad range of diverse groups as evidenced by excellent listening and communication skills, balanced and reasoned approaches to problems, ability to inspire trust and confidence, and flexibility and openness to differing points of view

• A persuasive oral and written communication style, rooted in keen interpersonal sensitivity and openness

• Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences

• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations

• Spanish-language proficiency a plus

Start Timeframe

We seek to have the successful candidate in place by summer 2016.

Compensation

This position offers competitive compensation and excellent benefits.

To Apply

All applications are held in strict confidence. Please submit your credentials and a letter of interest via email to The 360 Group at: [email protected] Applications should be directed to the attention of Vincent Robinson, Managing Partner. No calls, please. To be considered, The 360 Group must receive applications no later than 5:00pm Pacific time on Tuesday, April 12th, 2016.

At The 360 Group, we know that a richly diverse mix of professionals makes organizations more effective. As such, we make demographic and experiential diversity a hallmark of all our work, including search engagements.