Senior Associate, Strategic Communications

About RRI

The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of more than 200 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and particularly women within these groups. RRI’s members capitalize on each other’s strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. RRI leverages its global coalition's power to amplify local peoples' voices and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights.

RRI is coordinated by a Secretariat based in Washington, DC. The secretariat is led by the RRI President and Coordinator of RRI and supported by a mix of senior and junior professionals, country and regional experts, and internationally recognized field leaders. The Secretariat plays a diverse range of synergistic activities: operation and financial management, strategic communication and coalition management, Evidence-building and analysis, convening + connecting, country-level and regional engagement, innovation and incubation of initiatives and tools, and technical and strategic support of funding mechanisms.

If you are passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples to secure their rights, supporting women’s rights and governance, and combating climate change, this could be the place for you. RRI does meaningful work to make a positive difference at the global, national, and local scales. RRI strongly encourages candidates to apply even if they don’t meet every required qualification, as all applications will be accepted, reviewed, and evaluated equally. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Check out our current openings for more information about our inclusive and purpose-driven work. We are hiring for either Washington, DC, USA, or Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Applicants for the Washington, DC location should apply to this offer. To apply for the Montreal location, please visit: https://rights.bamboohr.com/careers/32

Senior Associate, Strategic Communications

The Senior Associate, Strategic Communications, plays a key role in advancing RRI’s global mission to secure the land and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Communications, the Senior Associate will craft compelling, digital-first content and support the strategic dissemination of RRI’s research and advocacy outputs.

The successful candidate will be a versatile writer, editor, and storyteller, capable of transforming complex research into engaging narratives that drive visibility and impact. They will lead and contribute to the production of blogs, impact reports, press materials, and advocacy content across print, web, and social channels—ensuring accessibility, accuracy, and alignment with RRI’s mission.

In collaboration with thematic and regional teams, the Senior Associate will coordinate the dissemination of RRI’s analyses, support media engagement and event promotion, and strengthen communications with coalition members through newsletters and shared storytelling initiatives.

Ideal candidates will have at least 4 years of experience in journalism or communications within the climate, human rights, or environmental sectors; possess exceptional writing and editing skills in English; and demonstrate a proven ability to manage multiple priorities with creativity and precision. This is an exciting opportunity for a purpose-driven communicator passionate about equity, climate justice, and amplifying local voices on the global stage.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC, and classified as exempt under the US Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); thus, it is not eligible for overtime. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the US and reside in the DC metro area by the start date. RRI currently has a hybrid work schedule with the opportunity to telework Mondays and Fridays.

Primary Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Director, Strategic Communications, and in close coordination with three other team members, the Senior Associate, Strategic Communications will:

Writer, Editor, and Storyteller (40%)

• Write and edit digital-first content applying SEO best practices, including but not limited to impact stories, blog posts, e-zine articles, social media copy, web content, slide decks, video scripts, and newsletters.
• Identify and lead creative written storytelling projects in collaboration with coalition members and for various RRI-led initiatives, such as the Strategic Response Mechanism, the Path to Scale, the Women in Global South Alliance (WiGSA), and more.
• Edit and proofread RRI’s flagship Tenure Tracking reports; thematic analyses on climate and conservation, rights and livelihoods, and gender justice; and other regional or national-level outputs/analyses, as applicable.
• Support the production coordination of RRI’s annual report, including writing, editing, proofreading, design, translation, and dissemination.

Research Dissemination, Strategy, and Event Promotion (25%)

• Plan, write, edit, and review dissemination strategy and execution for RRI’s analyses and other storytelling outputs.
• In collaboration with RRI’s thematic and regional programs, write, edit, and translate infographics and other advocacy materials in accessible formats to improve usability of RRI’s analyses and data in local contexts.
• Contribute thought leadership on how to effectively and respectfully generate and promote grassroots-led research and knowledge.
• Support RRI-planned virtual and in-person events by writing and editing concept notes, digital content, social media copy, print materials, speeches and talking points, and other outputs, as requested. This may include coordinating interpretation and translation and/or preparing media pitches.

Media Engagement (20%)

• Ghostwrite and edit opinion pieces, press releases, talking points, and other media-focused outputs.
• Be the primary Communications Focal Point for RRI’s Public Relations firm, responding to inquiries, coordinating responses with RRI leadership and coalition members, and ensuring timely resolution of interview requests or escalations.
• Coordinate with RRI’s Campaigns Specialist to identify media opportunities to promote coalition members’ campaigns in national, regional, and/or international-level news outlets.

Information Sharing and Relationship Management (15%)

• Support internal and external information management and sharing across program teams and the coalition, including managing RRI’s monthly internal staff newsletter and quarterly external newsletter.
• Manage and strengthen a network of Communications Focal Points across the RRI coalition, encourage information sharing, and respond to members’ requests for information.
• Contribute to process documentation and improvement, consultant contracting and management, and other administrative and continuous improvement initiatives, as required, ensuring adherence to RRI’s financial requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, or a relevant field is required.
• At least 4 years of experience working as an editor, climate journalist, or writer for a human rights or environmental justice organization, with demonstrated year-on-year increase in scope and responsibility.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills in English are required. A writing sample may be requested.
• Professional fluency in Spanish is highly preferred. A writing sample may be requested.
• Experience working with media and familiarity with journalism best practices.
• Experience writing and editing digital-first content with knowledge of SEO best practices, including for web and social media.
• Demonstrable experience transforming complex data and climate science into accessible and engaging stories and advocacy documents, with a focus on the creative use of imagery, graphs, and charts.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with demonstrated ability to adapt to changing environments and competing deadlines, and to work well under pressure with discretion and good judgment.
• Ability to work well both in a team environment and autonomously, and to draw on colleague and management support to drive projects forward.
• A passion for social justice, equity, and human rights.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Lived or work experience with Indigenous Peoples or rural communities and/or in developing countries and multicultural environments.
• Working knowledge of multimedia, design, and communications software, such as WordPress, WebFlow, Asana, Mailchimp, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Canva, and Hootsuite.
• Education or work experience related to marketing in a non-profit setting is an asset.
• Experience managing publishing projects and being comfortable coordinating deliverables across multiple teams while meeting deadlines is an asset.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, as required.

Salary band range: $58-$76,000k USD

Benefits:

Rights and Resources recognizes the value of benefits to employees and their families. We take great pride in offering our dedicated and committed employees a competitive benefits package. Our comprehensive benefit programs provide you with a reliable, effective, and affordable array of choices that will meet your needs and those of your family.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 100% coverage of employee premiums for the following: short-term/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, travel insurance, and the employee assistant program
• If eligible, 401(k) retirement plan (US) or Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan (Canada) with employer match
• 25 days of PTO, in addition to paid holidays
• Flextime and teleworking options
• Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year after 1 full year of employment
• Dynamic growth opportunities with merit-based promotion philosophy

Rights and Resources is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, RRI makes all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, political affiliation or belief, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, or any other category protected by applicable law.