Communications Manager

Key Responsibilities

General Communications and Content Development

• Create stories and case studies, presentation decks, and other storytelling-oriented deliverables and accompanying talking points—for general audiences and in support of customized donor materials—that may be delivered through a variety of different media.
• Develop and execute an email newsletter strategy, including research and scoping, content creation (which could involve interviewing philanthropists and field partners and sourcing stories from internal and external sources).
• Manage CLI’s core messaging document and ensure that the emerging/evolving CLI brand is appropriately reflected across a variety of communications products delivered through a variety of channels.
• Collaborate across teams to develop materials for broad CLI audiences, such as the annual report to funders.
• Work with external designers to develop polished, high-impact deliverables, including infographics.
• With team members, participate in CLI’s first-ever branding initiative (to happen in the second half of 2023).

Website

• As part of a major organizational rebranding initiative, lead development of new web content that reflects updated format, messaging, and tone.
• Maintain CLI website content in partnership with CLI Communications Coordinator.

Events and Experiences

• Lead the development and execution of communications pertaining to donor events and experiences, including invitations, web copy, and follow-up materials consistent with CLI’s “voice” and reflecting CLI’s emerging brand and messaging.
• Serve as a core member of event-specific teams, working closely with programmatic content developers to ensure all event content is consistent and aligned.
• Provide multimedia support, including developing compelling presentation materials to accompany events.

Team Support/Project Management

• Be a creative thought partner to the communications team and across the organization bringing crisp, clear writing and making sure materials and messaging are consistent and aligned. 
• Serve as a resource to the entire team in editing and proofreading materials as needed, leveraging approved style guides.
• Work in collaboration with CLI’s climate strategy team to develop and manage an ongoing, streamlined process for writing, maintaining, and sharing brief, easy-to-access descriptions of climate solutions for our knowledge management system.
• Identify and share useful ways to collect information that streamlines the writing process.
• Leverage project management skills to oversee the production of content deliverables.

Ideal Candidate

Above all else, the incoming Communications Manager must be deeply motivated by CLI’s mission to mobilize philanthropy to address the most profound challenge of our time: climate change. The ability to genuinely convey the urgency and scale of the issue requires individuals who lead with a commitment to positive change and a belief in the power of philanthropy.

CLI seeks individuals who understand the impact of and potential for communications, with the ability to think strategically and execute quickly in a fast-paced, growing organization.

CLI is a highly matrixed organization the selected candidate will support projects across teams and diverse stakeholders, The role requires a strong “client service orientation” that is complemented by a clear point of view on how to most effectively present content to a sophisticated audience.

The ideal candidates will bring a track record of working on issue-oriented communications that present global challenges, movements, or causes. Distilling complex material into relatable and digestible content is imperative, while reflecting the complexity and depth of the issues at hand. The Communications Manager will be comfortable creating content for a variety of different media and understands how to leverage images, videos, and animations to deliver a message. We seek crisp, compelling copywriting that brings brevity and clarity to our materials while maintaining the content’s substance. The ability to make complex issues and jargon accessible and interesting is essential.

Qualifications

Candidates for the Communications Manager role will bring at least a minimum of five to seven years of experience in communications, consulting, or writing for a variety of channels. While expertise in climate is not required, it is helpful. Candidates must possess a deep passion for the issue area and experience with mission-oriented communications, preferably in an advancement context. Given CLI’s global footprint, familiarity with international NGOs is also helpful.

CLI is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. The preferred location for the Communications Manager position is the San Francisco Bay Area. Occasional travel may be required.

The salary range for the Communications Manager role is $129,000 to $137,000, depending on experience.