Public Affairs and Communications Strategist, Northwest and Alaska Regional Offices

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization.  We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, individuals, and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet: until justice stands for all, we will never rest. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. 

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tallahassee, Honolulu, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Houston, Bozeman, Miami and Washington, D.C.

In addition to a talented cadre of environmental lawyers and legislative advocates, Earthjustice has an amazing communications department that works in partnership with every other department at the organization. The Public Affairs and Communications Strategist works closely with the attorneys, policy staff, clients, and coalition partners to develop and implement strategic communications—including issue management, government relations, dynamic storytelling, media, and public outreach and engagement—to support priority litigation and legislative advocacy in our docket and to help build Earthjustice’s profile.   

The Public Affairs and Communications Strategist serves as the liaison to the Northwest and Alaska regional offices. This role will collaborate closely with managing attorneys in these offices, as well as partners and clients, to develop communications strategies to advance toward just and favorable outcomes. These offices have wide-ranging dockets that include casework challenging fossil fuel extraction and development, bolstering the survival of endangered species, and protecting old-growth forests and other biodiversity hotspots. They often partner with Tribes, Indigenous communities, and BIPOC-led organizations to fend off threats to health and/or traditional lifeways arising from mining, fossil fuel extraction and other forms of industrialization. The position reports to the Public Affairs and Communications Officer for Lands, Wildlife and Oceans, and coordinates with a team of Lands, Wildlife and Oceans strategists on intersecting issues. 

This position may be based in our Seattle, WA, Anchorage or Juneau, AK, or San Francisco, CA offices (hybrid) or remote from within the United States provided the candidate can be available during business hours in Pacific and Alaska time zones.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Coordination (40%)  

• Partners with the Managing Attorneys in the Alaska and Northwest regional offices, and other key lawyers and policy staff, to set communication priorities and develop strategies that advance Earthjustice’s goals.
• Collaborates across the Public Affairs and Communications team to coordinate messaging and develop and implement comprehensive and creative advocacy communications strategies.
• Works with partners, clients, and coalitions on joint advocacy and communication campaigns, issue education, engagement and mobilization, and paid, owned, and earned media.
• Develops strategy documents and timelines, manages budgets, and tracks metrics to determine effectiveness, ensure accountability, and inform future strategy. Sets achievable measurements of success and strives to meet these goals.  

Media Relations (30%) 

• Works with traditional and new media to ensure coverage of Earthjustice’s work in target print, television, radio, and online media; maintains knowledge of, and relationships with, reporters covering key issues; and coordinates press events and other earned media opportunities.
• Creates and implements paid media strategies on key priorities.
• Works with our legal and policy staff to consistently improve and polish their media and social media skills, including spokesperson prep for priority media interviews.
• Works to elevate the voices of Earthjustice partners and clients in the press and contributes to coalition media efforts. 
• May provide strategic direction to a media relations specialist when collaborating on earned media work.  

Content Creation and Branding (25%)  

• Drives storytelling projects involving our clients and affected communities and consistently seeks out new and compelling ways to tell and amplify these stories. 
• Drafts content for the Earthjustice blog, website and print materials. 
• Develops internal message guidance for colleagues as needed. 
• Reviews, edits, and approves content and materials developed by Communications team members to ensure it adheres to brand standards and furthers strategic communications goals for the organization.  
• Develops innovative, new ways to tell the stories of Earthjustice cases and clients.
• Develops ways to raise the profile of Earthjustice’s priority issues. Drafts compelling content for the Earthjustice blog, website and print materials. Develops internal message guidance for colleagues.
• Maintains close fidelity to organizational branding requirements and as lead for respective regional offices and programs on communications at Earthjustice, serves as an advisor to colleagues throughout the Communications department and organization on ensuring messages on this work are on-brand and further our goals.
• Collaborates informally and formally to develop organizational strategy related to key issues in portfolio.

 Administrative (5%) 

• Manages project budgets and contractor invoices.
• Reports on analytics. 

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in nonprofit/advocacy communications, including setting strategy, managing advocacy campaigns, writing and producing content, and conducting media outreach.  
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, political science, campaigns, journalism, environmental fields, or related fields. Master’s degree a plus. 
• Experience working on issues relating to fossil fuel extraction and/or public lands conservation preferred.
• Background working with Indigenous communities or in social justice or environmental justice movements a plus.
• Excellent strategic sense and an ability to set goals and priorities, managing limited resources for maximum impact. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Media savvy with great depth of experience in successfully placing stories, opinion pieces, and narratives, with a history of influencing conversations unfolding in the media. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to lead teams, manage vendors, and coordinate projects with external partners and across coalitions.  
• Outstanding organizational skills with demonstrated ability to plan and coordinate a variety of detailed projects, sometimes under a very tight deadline. 
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations. 
• Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.    

*Supervisory Responsibilities: may manage the work of media relations specialists, manage regional press and campaign contractors and vendors.

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Compensation is based on experience and location. 

Salary range in San Francisco, CA: $113,100 - $125,700

Salary range in Seattle, WA: $107,600-$119,500

Anchorage or Juneau, Alaska: $101,900-$113,200

Salary range in Remote (US)*: $96,200- $125,700

*Salaries in remote US cities or locations may vary.

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit the following via Jobvite by October 16th at 11:59 pm PST:

• Resume
• Cover letter

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are given equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.