Communications Associate - Texas Campaign for the Environment

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Texas Campaign for the Environment Fund (TCE Fund) works to build power within communities and across coalitions to fight fossil fuel and petrochemical pollution and advance a sustainable, clean energy future. We utilize grassroots organizing and media strategies to shift corporate and public policy. 

We seek a creative, detail-oriented and hard-working Communications Associate to help advance the mission and objectives of TCE Fund and its affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, TCE, among our allies, persuasion targets and the general public.

The TCE Fund Communications Team builds its work around three core functions: 1) organizing support; 2) identity management; and 3) strategic communications and public relations. This role will primarily focus on organizing support and identity management, working closely with our Communications Coordinator, Digital Organizer and Organizing Team to create and deliver content and facilitate the public outreach efforts of our staff and frontline partners.

The intense environmental and political landscape of Texas, especially as it relates to energy and the environment, guarantees that this will be a fast-paced, high-energy job.  Joining TCE Fund will give you an opportunity to work in a dynamic setting alongside a passionate team dedicated to combating the systemic injustices and long-term threats of industrial pollution in Texas. We value attitude and energy alongside experience, and will work to make sure that you are trained and supported in the role. At the same time, you can expect to be given significant autonomy and ownership over your work. 

You should have the ability and desire to work directly with stakeholders from frontline communities and allied non-profits as well as our own base-building teams embedded in impacted areas throughout the state. There will be travel opportunities across Texas to work with our staff in Houston, Brazoria County, Corpus Christi and Austin, as well as the potential to attend conferences and visit communities impacted by pollution, especially along the Gulf coast. You will also assist in other areas of our work, such as community engagement, volunteer events, direct actions, donor organizing,  and media production.


Responsibilities Include:

Social Media

• Collaborate with our organizing and digital teams as well as external stakeholders to conceive, create, schedule and deliver timely, unique content across all channels that is consistent with our identity guidelines
• Record and edit video content (e.g. Instagram reels)
• Create interactive stories and posts (e.g. surveys) and execute timely responses
• Manage livestream events (e.g. Facebook Live); track viral stories, content, and trends; and make strategic recommendations 
• Amplify relevant news and allies' content
• Track metrics and provide summaries of topline engagement and performance 

Communications

• Work closely with staff and external stakeholders to create and edit a broad range of communications materials including flyers, mailers, presentations, petitions, forms, videos, photos and digital content
• Collaborate with staff and stakeholders to draft, edit, schedule and send statewide and regional emails and text blasts
• Support the planning and execution of TCE Fund virtual events including meetings, workshops, and fundraisers

Media Relations

• Assist with outreach to and maintenance of media contacts (e.g. journalists, editors, and other traditional / new media professionals)
• Collaborate with staff and stakeholders to write and edit press releases and media advisories
• Assist with management of media events such as press conferences, community forums, and protests,Track and catalog media hits and provide regular summaries of trends and successes
• Support efforts to pitch media stories, including scheduling  interviews and drafting talking points 

Website Maintenance 

• Own regular website updates for TCE Fund, TCE, and some affiliate websites

Compensation and Position Details:

Annual salary begins at $40,688 commensurate with experience. Benefits package includes insurance coverage (medical/dental/vision, including an HSA account with employer contribution), paid time off and flex/comp time, paid holidays, sick leave, one week off in the Summer, one week off in the Winter, retirement plan with employer matching contribution. TCE Fund is a union workplace; our employees are represented by Texas Environmental Workers Union (TEWU) who are members of Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 6143. This position is included in TEWU's bargaining unit.

Qualifications:

• 1-3 years experience in communications / public relations, social media management, journalism, or a related field
• Outstanding writing and editing skills
• Superior graphic design and video editing skills
• Proficiency using social media, especially for public education and advocacy campaigns 
• Familiarity with Google Suite/Workplace, Action Network, design tools such as Canva or Illustrator / InDesign, and Squarespace 
• Understanding of advocacy strategies
• Competency working with diverse audiences and centering equity in communications
• Experience working within alliances, organizing volunteers, or supporting public awareness/engagement campaigns for non-prots and/or political campaigns is a plus
• Spanish speaking and writing skills are a plus
• Must live in Texas or be willing to relocate to Texas

Personal Characteristics:

• A commitment to advancing the overarching goal of environmental justice, with an understanding of the range of current challenges and opportunities
• Ability to work and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• A team player who inspires collaboration yet operates decisively
• Strong critical thinker and strategic planner
• Emotionally mature and self-confident, with a diplomatic touch and sense of humor to maintain balance and perspective

Application Instructions:

Submit your application through our online portal. Applicants are asked to fill out a pre-screening questionnaire, which requests work samples. We recognize that great candidates may not meet every qualification outlined in this job description and we welcome any applicants who believe they would excel in this role.

About Texas Campaign for the Environment / TCE Fund:

TCE Fund's mission is to engage people and communities through face-to-face public education, grassroots organizing, and action-oriented research for a cleaner and healthier Texas. TCE Fund directly influences public policy through community-based lobbying. Both organizations lead local, statewide and national issue campaigns to fight pollution, especially fossil fuel and petrochemical facilities that harm communities and worsen climate pollution. TCE Fund, and its affiliated organization TCE, promote clean economy solutions such as Zero Waste and renewable energy.

See more at TexasEnvironment.org and TxEnvironment.org.

TCE Fund and TCE strive to live by the organizational values of intentionality, justice, respect, teamwork, and vision. All employees and the organization as a whole use these values to guide the work that we take on and how we go about doing that work. These values are core parts of our identity and are used in our organizational strategic planning and our individual performance evaluations.

TCE Fund is more than an equal opportunity employer. We are actively seeking to build a diverse and inclusive team with a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills to support the incredible diversity of grassroots organizing across Texas. TCE Fund encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction.