Chief Communications Officer

ABOUT VOTE SOLAR

Vote Solar's mission is to realize a 100% clean energy future through a solutions-driven, people first approach. Founded in 2002, Vote Solar advances just and equitable clean energy policy in state legislatures and public commissions across the United States. Our expertise comes from a deep understanding of the legislative process, regulatory interventions, and the ability to identify and accelerate solar solutions. We are adept at bridging communities and bringing diverse stakeholders together to forge inclusive coalitions and winning campaigns. 

Our goal is to effect real, tangible change. And we have the track-record to prove we can do it: Twenty years in, our work has made it so that one in three people live in a state with a 100% clean energy commitment. We’ll not only expand that number, but ensure that more people can participate in holding utilities and decision makers accountable for greater equity and justice in our energy system.

 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE

Vote Solar is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in the workplace and in the communities with which we partner. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, including multilingual and multicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Applicants shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, color, marital status, or medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

 

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Executive Director, this position will serve as part of the Senior Leadership team, supervise and support a high-performing Communications team, and work in close collaboration with the Philanthropy team and Programs team team to lead communications initiatives across the organization. The Chief Communications Officer owns the Vote Solar brand, and oversees its implementation to ensure consistency and efficacy of digital, written and visual communications strategies across own-, earned- and paid channels. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief Communication Officer’s primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT (45%) 

• Develop strategic plan for the Communications team to ensure alignment around key priorities, direction, and strategic goals including earned media, social media, member engagement, events, thought leadership and digital advocacy
• Communicate clearly and often to proactively identify and support opportunities to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders regarding the Communications team’s overall strategic direction and annual priorities
• Coordinate learning and integration of new tactics, technology, and best campaign practices into Vote Solar’s communications strategies
• Guide communication strategies to embed data, testing and learning to increase the advocacy efficacy of Vote Solar and our partners
• Manage, coach, and develop a multilevel team of high-performing communications professionals to provide clear guidance, mentorship, manageable workloads, and strategic redundancy; design clear systems regarding accountability, feedback, decision-making, operations, and processes at all levels
• Hire, support, and cultivate the leadership and professional growth of communications staff, with an eye to scaling team expertise and impact
• Maintain an inclusive and effective environment where the Communications team is working collaboratively with other teams across the organization, including National Programs, Philanthropy, and Access & Equity
• Effectively engage in and resolve conflict while managing across lines of difference within a multi-racial organization, in alignment with Vote Solar’s internal culture goals

ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS (35%)

• Lead and coordinate the implementation of communications strategies to boost brand awareness and credibility, and support fundraising goals, and provide thought leadership to the executive director and c-suite in sharing organizational news and achievements
• Provide communications support to Philanthropy team on major projects including annual work plans, year end report and fundraising campaigns.
• Represent Vote Solar and lead non-state specific communications campaigns and strategies with partner organizations including events, publishing whitepapers, and national initiatives
• Support the application and iteration of Vote Solar’s Crisis Communications Protocol under the guidance of the Chief of Staff and Executive Director
• Own the Vote Solar brand, including mission, vision, and values to ensure all communications products follow brand guidelines (key messages, language, website and visual assets); ensure brand consistency and lead strategic iterations of Vote Solar’s brand across own, earned and paid channels to reflect organizational growth and changes
• Provide messaging and other communications guidance to enable Vote Solar staff to be effective spokespeople for the organization

ORGANIZATIONAL & EXECUTIVE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (15%)

• Work with senior leaders as a member of the Senior Leadership Team to inform the direction and strategy of the organization
• Provide strategic leadership around communications, including messaging and brand awareness
• Advise members of the senior leadership team around good communications practices and brand awareness
• Collaborate with the Executive Director on strategic communications efforts
• Collaborate with and advise Board members at the discretion of the Executive Director, as necessary

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE (5%)

• Work to embed equity in all organizational internal practices and culture, as well as our in external work
• Bring openness and engagement to personal, professional, and organization-wide learning on race, class, gender, justice, and equity
• Engage in ongoing personal learning and contributions to organizational work on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ)

 

REQUIREMENTS

WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED AND COMPETENCIES YOU’VE DEVELOPED

• Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in either issue-based communications or marketing, digital organizing, fundraising, advocacy campaigns, or a combination of experiences and a demonstrated track record in alignment with the role
• Experience developing and implementing omnichannel communications strategies for diverse audiences
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in advocacy, DEIJ, fundraising, or other issue-driven areas
• Strong management skills with an ability to help the team set goals, define roles, and prioritize growth and development
• Commitment to racial equity and social justice and familiarity with the ways that race and other identities intersect and play out in our work
• Strong time management skills with the ability to plan, organize and prioritize a heavy workload and handle several tasks simultaneously
• Ability to manage work effectively across teams in multiple locations and build collaborative partnerships across lines of difference
• Ability to learn and communicate about energy policy and the policymaking process

 

OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OR WOULD BE EXCITED TO LEARN HERE

• Prior work experience involving solar or other climate or energy policy concepts, policy advocacy and/or political campaigns
• Experience with digital grassroots organizing, email marketing and/or database management
• Success in applying data from tools such as polling, digital tests, and surveys to inform communications strategy
• Experience creating inspiring and informative content for both a range of audiences

 

MINDSETS

• A personal commitment to being a part of an inclusive and just workplace, including a commitment to being on a journey with Vote Solar to develop personal, and inter-personal core competencies related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice
• Passion for building new capacity at a growing organization
• An understanding that how we work (in collaborative, authentic partnership), is as important as what we work on

 

LOCATION

This is a remote position within the United States, with a preference for candidates based near a transportation hub. This position will require some national travel (one to three trips per year, typically for team or organization retreats.) Workplace arrangements are flexible, including options to work from a co-working space or work from home. 

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $178,700 - $188,600. At Vote Solar, we work hard to ensure that our compensation is equitable internally and aligned with our compensation philosophy and defined job levels. In order to ensure equitable compensation across roles in the organization, we do not negotiate new hire offers.

Vote Solar provides full-time staff with a competitive package, including 4 weeks of paid vacation, 12 days of sick leave, 4 days of personal leave and 16 paid holidays. We also offer 100% employer-provided health, dental and vision care for team members; a retirement savings plan with an employer contribution of 3.5%; and a paid parental and medical leave policy for all regular employees. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send a letter of interest and resume to Vote Solar. Reasonable accommodations will be made so that all qualified applicants may participate in the application process. Please inform Adrena Lambert at alambert@votesolar.org of accommodation requests at the time of application.