Senior Communications Manager

The Senior Communications Manager owns the day-to-day voice of the Climate Science Alliance. They keep our story visible, consistent, and compelling across every channel our community sees us in. This is a senior, high-autonomy role: the person in this seat leads our social media, newsletter, website, and internal/program communications from conception to publication. They build a foundation of content that makes all communications, including donor and fundraising campaigns, land with more impact.

The Senior Communications Manager leads and implements the organization’s day-to-day communications strategy; plans, creates, and deploys content independently from concept through measurable results; and is a trusted collaborator who brings the rest of the team along to ensure communications reflect and support programmatic work. They report to the Director of Development and partner closely with that role on unique, high-visibility campaigns, while owning full responsibility for the organization’s everyday communications output. They also work closely with the full program team to communicate the impact of our work and ignite passion for our mission in the community.

What Success Looks Like in the First 90 Days

• Has audited existing communications channels, contact lists, brand and media assets, and content calendars and presented a prioritized communications plan to leadership within the first 30 days.
• Has independently published content across Alliance channels (social, newsletter, website) with baseline metrics established for tracking growth.
• Has met with key internal partners across programs to understand current projects and identify story and content opportunities.
• Has established a consistent content calendar and publishing rhythm across Alliance channels.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This role advances the Climate Science Alliance's goals through four focal areas:

1. Communications Management and Content Creation
2. Design, Branding, and Digital Platforms
3. Program and Cross-Team Collaboration
4. Other

Communications Management and Content Creation (45%)

• Own and execute the organization’s day-to-day communications: social media, newsletters, blog posts, website content, and program-related outreach materials, from planning through publication.
• Develop and maintain a detailed content calendar and publishing cadence across all channels, and report progress against it to leadership on a regular basis.
• Independently plan, execute, and analyze social media, newsletter content, and blog posts—including scheduling, performance tracking, and interaction based on results.
• Write and produce polished, consistent content for newsletters, social media, blog posts, website updates, and internal program communications.
• Develop, implement, and manage the communications function of programs, coordinating work across the team to prepare education and outreach materials.
• Stay current on organizational activities to proactively identify story opportunities and keep the organization’s public presence active and relevant.
• Attend events to lead content development and gather media (photos, video, interviews) to tell the stories of our work and our partners' work.

Design, Branding, and Digital Platforms (25%)

• Design and produce visual materials—videos, social graphics, newsletters, signage, infographics, and promotional materials (posters, postcards, flyers, brochures).
• Ensure brand consistency across all materials and platforms, and advise leadership on public messaging.
• Oversee maintenance of public-facing websites and internal digital platforms (e.g., Notion), coordinating updates to layout and content.
• Support development of brand identity and visual elements for special projects and displays.

Program and Cross-Team Collaboration (20%)

• Act as a thought partner to leadership and program staff, proactively bringing communications expertise into organizational and programmatic decisions rather than waiting to be looped in.
• Manage, mentor, and coordinate team members, contractors, interns, or volunteers supporting communications work as needed.
• Lead the internal process for maintaining staff collaboration, creation, and awareness of communications related items.
• Collaborate consistently and visibly with the broader team to ensure day-to-day communications reflect program priorities.
• Partner with the Director of Development on high-visibility donor and fundraising campaigns, supporting messaging that is on-brand and well established through a strong, consistent foundation of content creation and publication.
• Support occasional media inquiries and press opportunities as they arise, in coordination with the Director of Development.
• Provide technical and logistical support to internal team members as assigned.

Other (10%)

• Contribute to programs and events by participating in planning and providing on-site event support as needed.
• Provide technical and logistical support to external partners as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is a senior, largely self-directed role, and we are prioritizing applicants with demonstrated experience over those with general familiarity of the following qualifications. We recognize that no one person will have every skill listed below, and we welcome applicants from a variety of experiences and backgrounds to apply, including Indigenous, Black, Latine, and/or LGBTQIA\+ individuals.

The minimum required qualifications include:

• A B.A./B.S. (or equivalent work experience) in communications, journalism, environmental science, or a related field.
• 5\+ years of professional experience in communications, content creation, or marketing, with at least 2 years of documented experience owning day-to-day communications from end-to-end (i.e. planning and executing content that was self-developed, not developed by someone else).
• A portfolio or writing samples demonstrating strong writing and editing across at least three formats (e.g., newsletter, social copy, website content, video production, program materials).
• Direct, hands-on experience independently planning and running organic social media content, including the ability to speak to specific metrics or outcomes you drove (growth, engagement, reach, revenue, conversions).
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects with multiple internal collaborators, including examples of leading or coordinating the work of others.
• Experience with non-profit communications that support program engagement and organization development.
• Familiarity with science communication strategies and a basic understanding of climate change and its impacts.
• Proficiency in Adobe (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro), Wix, Canva, Google Slides, and Microsoft PowerPoint, or equivalent tools.
• Ability to converse and connect with people across a variety of disciplines, cultures, and backgrounds.
• A commitment to the Climate Science Alliance mission.

Ideal candidates will also possess many of the following skills:

• Spanish language fluency.
• Experience with Notion or similar project management software.
• Experience working with or knowledge of international and Native communities.
• Prior experience mentoring or managing junior staff, interns, or contractors.
• Existing connections with San Diego or southern California media and journalism networks

TERMS

Position Type

• This is a 40-hour-per-week, in-office position with normal business hours 9:00am–5:00pm Monday through Friday, unless otherwise discussed or in the case of after-hours or weekend programs and events.
• On-site position based in La Jolla, California.
• Requires additional travel dependent on funding and project needs.
• Position salary is $35-40/hour based on experience.
• This position is contingent upon funding and performance.

Working Conditions

Requires a valid US driver's license and clean driving record. Requires occasionally lifting objects up to 40 lbs. and participating in community events in hot, dry, and sometimes wet conditions.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates must submit a resume, cover letter, and portfolio in

PDF format

to

[email protected]

. Please put “[Your Name] - Senior Communications Manager” in the email subject heading.

In your cover letter, include responses to the following:

• Why do you want to work for the Climate Science Alliance?
• Briefly, what is your greatest strength that you would bring to this role?
• When can you start?
• Have you read the position pay and terms, and are you comfortable with them?

For your portfolio, please include:

• A short written response (200–300 words) describing a social media campaign you led independently, including the outcome or metrics.
• Two to three writing samples spanning different formats (e.g., newsletter, social copy, website content, short-form video, program materials).
• Any other relevant examples that would help us better assess your communications experience and writing ability.

The position will remain open until filled.