Digital Communications Specialist

American Petroleum Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

American Petroleum Institute is seeking an entry-level Public Affairs specialist in Washington, DC to draft clear digital communications for grassroots advocates, including Energy Citizens. You will write and edit emails, text messages, website copy, and social media content, and help manage content calendars and approvals.

You will assist with basic reporting, monitor engagement metrics, and support cross-team collaboration to advance energy policy communications at the state and federal level.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 0-3 years in communications, public affairs, politics, advocacy, marketing, digital media, or a related field.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and copywriting skills with careful attention to detail.
• Ability to write clearly for public audiences and adapt tone for emails, text messages, website copy, and social media.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and proofread digital advocacy content, including emails, broadcast text messages, website copy, social media copy, and other grassroots communications.
• Help manage routine communications to grassroots advocates, including Energy Citizens, to support acquisition, cultivation, and activation efforts.
• Assist with building, scheduling, and sending messages through the team's digital communications platforms, including email, landing page, and text messaging tools.
• Support the development and maintenance of cultivation email journeys, onboarding messages, and state-specific engagement communications.
• Maintain the grassroots communications calendar and coordinate with Public Affairs team members to keep content organized, timely, and aligned with campaign needs.
• Route draft content through the quality control and approvals process, track feedback, and make requested edits accurately and on deadline.
• Help monitor basic performance metrics for email, text, and organic engagement campaigns, and assist with pulling results for team updates.
• Support Energy Citizens social media content by drafting posts, coordinating updates, and helping maintain an engaging advocacy presence.
• Assist data, targeting, and campaign partners with content needs related to advocate acquisition, cultivation, and activation.
• Help maintain documentation and step-by-step process guides for the platforms and workflows used to communicate with advocates.
• Provide general support to the broader Public Affairs team as needed.

Skills

Strong writing

Editing

Copywriting

Digital communications

Public affairs

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce CRM

Marketing Cloud

Texting tools

Job description

Job Summary

This entry-level role supports API's Public Affairs team by drafting clear, accurate digital communications for grassroots advocates, including Energy Citizens. The Specialist will help write and edit emails, text messages, website copy, social media copy, and other advocacy content. The role will also help manage communications through the platforms used to reach advocates, support content calendars and approvals, and assist with basic reporting so the team can understand what content is engaging advocates.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and proofread digital advocacy content, including emails, broadcast text messages, website copy, social media copy, and other grassroots communications.
• Help manage routine communications to grassroots advocates, including Energy Citizens, to support acquisition, cultivation, and activation efforts.
• Assist with building, scheduling, and sending messages through the team's digital communications platforms, including email, landing page, and text messaging tools.
• Support the development and maintenance of cultivation email journeys, onboarding messages, and state-specific engagement communications.
• Maintain the grassroots communications calendar and coordinate with Public Affairs team members to keep content organized, timely, and aligned with campaign needs.
• Route draft content through the quality control and approvals process, track feedback, and make requested edits accurately and on deadline.
• Help monitor basic performance metrics for email, text, and organic engagement campaigns, and assist with pulling results for team updates.
• Support Energy Citizens social media content by drafting posts, coordinating updates, and helping maintain an engaging advocacy presence.
• Assist data, targeting, and campaign partners with content needs related to advocate acquisition, cultivation, and activation.
• Help maintain documentation and step-by-step process guides for the platforms and workflows used to communicate with advocates.
• Provide general support to the broader Public Affairs team as needed.

Key Relationships

• This position reports to the Senior Analytics Manager and works closely with Public Affairs campaign managers, Government Relations partners, and team members involved in grassroots advocacy, digital communications, and campaign execution.
• The role will use writing, collaboration, organization, and digital tools to help support communications related to natural gas and oil policy at the state and federal level, including government relations, advocacy, and legislative activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 0-3years of experience in communications, public affairs, politics, advocacy, marketing, digital media, or a related field. Relevant internship experience may count toward this requirement.
• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and copywriting skills with careful attention to detail.
• Ability to write clearly for public audiences and adapt tone for emails, text messages, website copy, and social media.
• Interest in grassroots advocacy, public affairs, policy communications, or online engagement.
• Comfort learning and using digital platforms for email, text messaging, landing pages, social media, and content approvals.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and rounds of feedback.
• Collaborative team player who can work with internal partners across departments.
• Basic understanding of social media platforms and digital communications best practices.
• Familiarity with Salesforce CRM, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, peer-to-peer texting tools, or similar platforms is helpful but not required.
• Willingness to learn, ask questions, follow processes, and improve content based on performance and team feedback.

Physical Requirements

• Able to remain in a stationary position working on a computer
• Move about the office to access office machinery, meeting rooms, etc. on occasion
• Operate a computer and other office machinery such as printers and copy machines
• Transport items and equipment up to 10 lbs. on occasion

Travel Requirements

• Up to 10%

Percentage of travel time expected for the position, where the travel occurs, such as locally or in specific countries or states, and whether the travel is overnight.

This job outline describes the typical accountabilities and requirements of the position and should not be construed as anall-encompassingdescription of every duty performed by or expected of the incumbent.

EEO Statement

API is an equal opportunity employer. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workplace. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. Our success in maintaining a reputation for professional excellence depends on selecting the best qualified candidates. Achieving this objective means that no employee or applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, age, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, and reproductive health decisions), genetic information, national origin, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, matriculation, credit information, the status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sexual offense, or any prohibited basis under federal, state or local law.

API is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to the Human Resources Department via email at [e-mail].

This salary range is DC based and may be adjusted accordingly based on the candidate's geographic location. Candidates are typically hired at a point in the salary range based on prior experience, education, and market demand for the role; candidates are also compared internally to their peers.

API offers a comprehensive benefits package for our employees and their families. More information about our benefits may be found at api.org/about/careers/benefits.