Senior Communications Specialist, Agriculture

Overview

Put your passion and skills to work for the planet. Climate change is the most urgent issue of our time, and we need people like you to help us build a vital Earth — for everyone.

We’re Environmental Defense Fund, a fast-paced nonprofit with a growing staff of more than 1,000 people in nearly 30 countries. We deliver game-changing solutions that cut climate pollution and strengthen people’s ability to thrive despite the effects climate change is already having. We work wherever we can have the most impact, from local communities to top companies to governments worldwide, and even in space.

Our culture, values and commitment to diversity make EDF an exciting and meaningful place to work. Every job here makes a difference. Won’t you join us?

Responsibilities

Locations

Remote-US, or based out of any of our EDF office locations in Boulder, New York, Raleigh, or Washington, DC.

EDF’s Climate-Smart Agriculture team works toward a future where farmers and ranchers are able to be productive and profitable in the face of climate change, while also reducing climate pollution and increasing climate resilience. We collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders to cut methane and nitrous oxide emissions from crop and livestock production, and boost agricultural and rural community resilience to the climate impacts that are already here.

Overall Function

The Senior Communications Specialist will report to the Senior Communications Manager, Climate-Smart Agriculture and work directly with members of EDF’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and communications teams. The Senior Communications Specialist will play the role of a generalist, utilizing skill sets in technical and journalistic writing, media relations and project management to advance strategic communications plans and campaigns.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Climate-Smart Agriculture communications team to implement our overall communications strategy with a clear focus on target audiences and calls to action.
• Develop and execute rollout and promotion plans for reports, white papers, webinars and other content.
• Copy edit and proofread technical writing with the goal of ensuring key messages are clear, concise and actionable for our audiences.
• Write blog posts, op-eds, media statements, talking points and social media posts to build thought leadership for EDF experts.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with journalists who cover agriculture and climate change, and proactively identify and pursue opportunities to make news or respond to the news.
• Project manage work with external vendors, including for graphic design, digital ad campaigns, conference sponsorships and photo/video shoots.
• Write web copy and coordinate with EDF’s web team to keep Climate-Smart Agriculture webpages updated.
• Prepare EDF spokespeople for media interviews and other speaking opportunities.
• Use quantitative and qualitative data to monitor progress toward campaign goals, report on metrics and identify opportunities to refine our strategies.
• Create and maintain media lists, monitor for news coverage of EDF and our topic areas, and save EDF press clips to be pulled into quarterly reports.
• Participate in advancing EDF diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences are connected, included and empowered to address environmental and organizational challenges.
• Additional relevant responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• A minimum of four years of relevant experience and a demonstrated record of success working in: environmental or agricultural advocacy; public relations; public affairs; journalism; science communications; or other communications and marketing-related field.
• Bachelor’s required; Advanced degree may substitute for up to two years of experience.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, collaborative workstyle, situational adaptability and proactive attitude.
• Ability to distill and communicate complex and detailed information for a variety of audiences (both technical and non-technical).
• Excellent copy editing and AP Style proofreading skills.
• Experience identifying key audiences and strategies to reach them.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and the ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders with diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Ability to balance multiple time-sensitive priorities and effectively work with colleagues on different teams across a matrixed and global organization.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, PowerPoint and Outlook).
• Knowledge of one or more of these topics: agricultural or environmental policy; climate change mitigation or adaptation; food systems or agricultural supply chains; equity or environmental justice; carbon markets; and crop and livestock production in the United States, European Union, India or China.
• Familiarity with SharePoint, Cision, Google Analytics, Twitter Ads, LinkedIn Ads, WordPress and/or Drupal is preferred.
• Global and/or rural communications experience is preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% of time.

Pay Ranges

We offer a strong total rewards package encompassing competitive salary, robust benefits, and professional development opportunities consistent with a modern global organization. We take into account factors such as candidate experience, skills, training, internal team equity and local norms.

The pay range for this role is shown below.

Please note that pay ranges are country specific. As a result, the stated currency is not meant be converted into any other currency.

Minimum Salary

USD $63,000.00/Yr.

Maximum Salary

USD $71,000.00/Yr.

EEO Information

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.