Strategic Communications Officer

Strategic Communications Officer

Permanent

Communications

Union of Concerned Scientists

Remote – EST working hours

Bargaining Unit Position: Yes

Our Organization

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is an independent nonprofit that puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future. We envision a peaceful, healthy, and just world where science serves people and the planet by guiding policy decisions, reducing risks, and improving lives.

For over five decades, we have been working as scientists, engineers, economists, advocates, and everyday people to create and advocate for innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems—from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting disinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war. Values informing our work include:

• Science in the service of people and the planet.

• Justice and Equity for people of all races and incomes—now, and for future generations.
• Courage to take principled, science-based stands in the public arena.
• Integrity to always examine evidence critically, openly, and honestly.
• Democracy to promote a voice for all in government decisions.
• Action inspiring and mobilizing people to build a healthier, safer, and more just world.

The Position

The Strategic Communications Officer develops and helps implement strategies and tactics to maximize communication impact and earned media for UCS issues, experts, and products. This position leads the coordination of program and campaign team communications; is responsible for ensuring a steady drumbeat of activities are completed that advance goals across a variety of channels including digital, print, and multimedia; and balances and prioritizes overall communications work in ways that best advance campaign goals and needs.

UCS employees center their work on UCS’s core values of racial equity and environmental justice. They work collaboratively to ensure the effective operations of the program/department, center anti-racism and equity in internal and external work, and foster a welcoming, inclusive, and transparent environment where all staff can thrive and grow.

Responsibilities

Strategic Communications and Project Management

• In collaboration with program/campaign and communications team members, develops and implements communication/media strategies to ensure the right mix of analyses, publications, blogs, online resources, earned media, creative formats, engagement opportunities, and marketing channels are used to advance strategies, reach key audiences, create newsworthy products, and help achieve campaign goals.
• Convenes quarterly strategy meetings to map out priority activities, analyses, and leverage points. Identifies and fills gaps, to ensure a regular drumbeat of campaign visibility/engagement.
• Helps identify, scope, manage and deliver final communications projects in collaboration with the creative, digital, and editorial teams.
• Collaborates with communications and program/campaign colleagues to co-create and ensure completion of messaging and other program/campaign communications documents.
• Actively participates in annual program planning and provides feedback to inform communications strategy development and implementation.
• Serves as primary communications department contact and liaison for campaign/program staff.

Media Relations

• Establishes relationships with journalists to garner coverage of UCS issues, experts and products in print, radio, TV, and podcast news outlets.
• Pitches stories, promptly responds to interview requests, and identifies opportunities to insert UCS into the news cycle.
• Ensures the writing, editing and distribution of media materials including alerts, press releases, statements, op-eds, letters to the editor, and talking points.
• Represents UCS campaigns in coalitions, assisting with communications content and strategy.

Writing and Editing

• In collaboration with the editorial and web teams, writes, edits, publishes, and maintains accurate web content, ensuring it meets UCS standards.
• Reviews digital, editorial, and creative team copy for social media posts, video scripts, and other projects.

Tracking and Analysis

• Tracks UCS press hits and impact of communications strategies. Contributes to ongoing metrics reporting to internal stakeholders.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Maintains understanding of UCS issues and positions, communication strategies, and editorial standards.
• Maintains awareness of role as representative of UCS; ensures activities and statements enhance organization’s reputation and credentials among press, public, funders, and private sectors; and advances organizational objectives.

People Management Authority

Manage communications consultants for specific projects as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• 5-7 years of experience in content creation, media outreach, and communications strategy across multiple channels.
• Strong writing, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Superior project management and collaboration skills.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, problem-solving, and mentoring skills.

• Strong facilitation skills with the ability to interact with staff at all levels.
• Must be proficient with the PC/Windows environment, especially MS Word.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred.
• Familiarity with CMS such as Drupal and WordPress
• Familiarity with media outreach platforms such as Cision.
• Familiarity with Google Analytics, and SEO best practices.
• Communications experience at a nonprofit or advocacy organization.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time.
• Continuously operate a computer and must have the ability to control a mouse and keyboard.
• Communicate in verbal and written formats with internal staff and external constituents.

Work Schedule

Regular office hours that accommodate the East Coast media market. Any modifications to this schedule must be agreed to by employee and their supervisor. Occasional work at nights, weekends, and may be on call at certain times throughout the year.

Travel Requirements

Occasional domestic overnight travel 2-5 times/year.

Details

This is a full-time remote position, with EST working hours. For those who meet all position requirements, the salary is $97,090. UCS offers excellent benefits and a rewarding work environment. *CA Resident Only, we offer a 12% salary differential*

Information about the organization is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.

Comparable training and/or experience can be substituted for degrees when appropriate.

More About the Team

Our team is made up of a dedicated group of researchers, scientists, communicators, campaigners, and advocates from wide-ranging backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and a collaborative and supportive work environment where all staff can thrive. We continually strive to create an environment which is a welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, parents, empty-nesters, and people with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds.

To Apply

We know there are great candidates who won’t check all these boxes, and we also know you might bring important skills that we haven’t considered. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. Please upload a cover letter and resume. In the cover letter, please confirm that the listed salary meets your expectations. Upload materials in Word or PDF format only. No phone calls, please.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

Covid Mandate for New Hires:

For in office roles, UCS employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Employees are considered fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC. All new hires who will be reporting to an office location must provide notice of their vaccination status and vaccination documentation, on or before their first day of work. For all others, UCS strongly encourages full vaccinations among its employees, up to and including booster shots, even if working remotely.

All new employees must comply with the mandatory vaccination requirements outlined in UCS policies as soon as practicable. Union of Concerned Scientists will notify candidates for employment of the requirements of this policy before the start of employment.

Deadline: Until filled.

EEO Statement

UCS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital or partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic predisposition, veteran or military status, parental status, political affiliation, union status, status as a victim of domestic violence, a sex offense or stalking, or any other class or status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. All UCS employees, including but not limited to recruiting personnel and hiring managers, are required to abide by this policy.