Communications Manager

BACKGROUND

About Energy Trust of Oregon

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. We serve Oregon customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista, and SW Washington customers of NW Natural. Year over year Energy Trust is recognized as one of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon.

Our Vision

Clean, affordable energy for everyone.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We recognize the lack of diversity in our industry, and we actively seek to address it with our hiring and retention practices as well as our values. We believe every person and their lived experience is integral to building a vibrant culture and delivering effective services to all customers we serve. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience to apply.

Our Location

Energy Trust provides a range of work location options, including remote, hybrid and in-office work. This position will represent Energy Trust in public settings and potentially at community events. We are open to candidates who live throughout Oregon and Washington. The Communications Manager would be expected to report to the office on a quarterly basis, at minimum.

What We’re Looking For:

The Communications Manager is responsible for managing and delivering communications activities that enhance understanding of Energy Trust’s purpose and role among the organization’s key stakeholders and internal staff. This individual is responsible for helping meet the organization’s objectives of transparency and public accountability.

Based in the Communications & Customer Service (CCS) group, the Communications Manager will oversee the Communications Team, which develops stakeholder-facing communications products, performs internal communications and reporting functions, manages crisis communications as needed, and supports communications for the organization’s strategic planning, multiyear planning and budgeting processes. Marketing isnotpart of the scope of this role, and PR, advertising, brand and social media are performed by members of brand and program marketing teams.

The Communications Manager works closely with senior staff and colleagues across the organization to provide stakeholders with technical, program and market information on energy efficiency and renewable energy topics.

The successful candidate is a highly skilled written and verbal communicator with attention to detail and experience in effectively communicating complex content for a variety of audiences. They will bring experience in communications management at a government agency or complex organization accountable to the public; knowledge of energy efficiency, renewable energy and related policy concepts in the Pacific Northwest; managerial skills and strong resource management skills. They will have excellent critical thinking, judgement, and problem-solving skills. They will thrive in a fast-paced work environment and be able to juggle multiple competing priorities.

What You’ll Do:

• Manages the Communications Team, including providing day-to-day oversight of all activities, hiring staff and interns, conducting performance reviews and coaching/developing staff.

• Advises and delivers on organizational communications strategy related to strategic planning, multiyear planning and budgeting, including creation of strategies, presentations, and materials to support engagement of Energy Trust stakeholders and the public.

• Collaborates with senior staff and colleagues across the organization to provide stakeholders with technical, program and market information on energy efficiency and renewable energy topics.

• Oversees public reporting and organizational transparency, ensuring delivery of standard public reports and data, as well as processes to improve reports and communications. Leads responses to data requests from stakeholders and manages and trains staff in available on-demand reporting tools.

• Oversees internal communications to support staff awareness of and engagement with organizational priorities, including collaboration with HR and CCS Director.

• Provides communications support to the Executive Director and senior staff, including complex issues synthesis, communications strategy and delivery of communications products, presentations, and speeches.

• Leads or supports miscellaneous organizational communications and crisis communications as needs arise, such as major program changes.

• Manages the development, review, and delivery of stakeholder communications to ensure consistency, readability, and alignment with Energy Trust objectives.

• Maintains awareness of current policy concepts and market trends and conditions and their potential impact on Energy Trust’s programs and services.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

• Performs all functions of the job in a safe manner.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position supervises a team of communications staff and manages professional services contracts.

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, political science, or related field.

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration or commensurate experience working in a policy environment or government relations role, preferred.

• Minimum seven years of experience as a communications project manager or manager, producing tailored communications and reports for staff, stakeholders, and consumers. Specific experience in a government relations setting is preferred.

• At least two years of experience supervising staff and/or managing a team.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong presentation skills and sound judgment in determining relevance of information based on context.

• Experience producing communications and reports targeted to organizational stakeholders.

• Experience producing high-quality, accurate public communications, including speeches, presentations, reports, newsletters, case studies and press releases.

• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

• Experience prioritizing and executing tasks in a high-pressure environment.

• Ability to write and edit copy, applying Energy Trust’s organization style. Knowledge of AP style preferred.

• Advanced user-level understanding of Microsoft Office suite, especially MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint. Experience using SharePoint preferred.

• Must be a proactive professional who has proven success in a fast-paced, highly demanding work environment, and who can be flexible and responsive to changing context and communication opportunities.

• Must be able to interact with a diverse workforce and be comfortable working in culturally diverse settings and groups.

The above information is designed to outline the functions and position requirements of this job. It does not identify all tasks that may be expected, nor address the performance standards that must be maintained.

What You’ll Get:

• Health/dental/vision insurance

• Employer sponsored and paid life/disability

• 401(k) with a company contribution of 6% of your salary after 90 days of employment

• TriMet pass

• Access to health and dependent FSA/HSA accounts

• Generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick days

• Paid volunteer hours

• Employee assistance program

• Career advancement opportunities

• Great colleagues and culture

• Flexibility to work from home and/or an office space at the Portland, OR location

• Work from home laptop provided

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit your resume, a cover letter, and attach a writing sample:

Check out our open roles at Energy Trust’s website www.energytrust.org/About/careers ).

Attn : Communications Manager

Energy Trust of Oregon is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, mental and physical disability, political affiliation, union membership, status as a parent, military or veteran status or other non-merit based factors. We will provide reasonable accommodation throughout the application, interviewing and employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, contact us. Energy Trust of Oregon is an E-Verify employer. This policy is applicable to all phases of the employment relationship, including hiring, transfers, promotions, training, terminations, working conditions, compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and People of Color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Energy Trust we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace—if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Energy Trust is committed to pay equity. Energy Trust is committed to fair employment practices and non-discrimination, including pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class (race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation) in the payment of wages or screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. We determine salary by completing a review of your application materials to evaluate your related education, experience, and training.

Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, and certifications in the pay equity assessment to determine equitable salary placement.

Starting Compensation : $90,500 – $115,700