Director, Communications, Climate & Energy Program

Third Way Health; Washington; Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid sick and vacation leave

Long-term Disability

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Third Way in Washington, DC, is seeking a Director of Communications for the Climate and Energy Program to lead the program's messaging, media strategy, and public outreach. You will supervise the CEP communications team, manage partnerships with media and stakeholders, and shape policy communications across earned, social, and paid channels in a hybrid work setting.

The role requires a track record in strategic communications, statecraft-level collaboration, budgeting, and a deep understanding

Qualifications

• Written and verbal communication excellence with ability to edit and synthesize complex ideas.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and budgeting experience.
• Experience developing strategy and managing staff in a political or policy context.
• Ability to navigate a crowded media environment and collaborate across teams.
• Graduate degree or undergraduate degree with exceptionally relevant work experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead CEP communications strategy and messaging across earned, social, and paid media.
• Oversee the CEP communications team, review drafts, and ensure consistent messaging.
• Manage public opinion research, partnerships with media, and policy outreach.
• Develop and manage CEP communications budget, including vendors and consultants.
• Coordinate with senior leaders on program strategy and storytelling.

Skills

Written Communication

Creativity

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Team management

Political awareness

Budgeting

Strategic Agility

Accountability for Self and Others

Respectfulness

Education

Graduate degree in a relevant field

Job description

Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas.Since our founding in 2005, we have served as a critical bulwark against political extremism by advancing values-driven, reform-oriented solutions on the defining issues of our time. Our work is grounded in the mainstream American values of opportunity, freedom, security,and democratic capitalism, and we advocate for the vital center across seven major areas: climate and energy, economy, education, health care, national security, politics, and social policy.

The Climate and Energy Program (CEP) at Third Way works to develop and galvanize support for deploying every technology needed to make energy affordable, reliable, secure, and clean.

Leading a talented team of communication staffers, the Director of Communications for Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program will build and implement the program’s communication strategy to advance an ambitious clean energy policy agenda and narrative in the United States. This position will oversee all earned, social, and paid media efforts, lead public opinion research, and manage the production and publication of position papers and research. The Director of Communications is responsible for shaping CEP messaging and ensuring all published products are strategic, message-aligned, and effective.

This position also partners closely with the Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy, Vice President for Policy, and the Senior Director for Philanthropy on program strategy, staffing, and program management.

We are looking for a talented communicator and manager with a passion for finding new and creative ways to stand out in a crowded media ecosystem. Some familiarity with the energy sector, climate mitigation, and US politics is preferred.

As the Director of Communications (CEP), a typical day might include…

• Crafting strong messaging designed to increase the popularity of clean energy technologies with key stakeholders, especially working class, rural, and other diverse communities;
• Developing and managing a quarterly and annual communications strategy and content calendar for the design, execution, and release of high-impact products, public opinion polling, earned and social media outreach, and other public-facing content that advances CEP’s goals.
• Educating internal and external stakeholders, including national and statewide campaigns, NGO and labor union partners, policymakers, and institutional and individual philanthropy, on Third Way messaging;
• Marketing our ideas to the traditional media outlets, podcasts, and emerging media voices, including on highly sensitive issues with complex political cross pressures;
• Leading, coaching, and developing the CEP communications team, including shepherding products from start to finish, reviewing and refining drafts, and ensuring consistent messaging across our work;
• Spearheading strategic partnerships to advance our goals and managing relationships with the media and complex networks of partners on and off the Hill;
• Overseeing special projects that communicate our policy objectives in new and creative ways, including measuring and communicating our impact to key audiences, creation of interactive maps and microsites, spearheading state-level communications efforts to test messaging on the ground, and researching and writing long-form research projects on effective communication in the energy space;
• Developing and managing the CEP communications budget, including paid media, polling, consultants, vendors, and special communications initiatives.

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Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000, annually

At Third Way, we are committed to non-discrimination and fair pay practices. The final starting salary offer will be determined based on your experience and qualifications.

Requirements:

Competencies:

• Written Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Team management
• Political awareness
• Budgeting
• Strategic Agility
• Accountability for Self and Others
• Respectfulness

This might be the job for you, if you have…

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible communications, public affairs, media, or advocacy experience, including experience developing strategy and managing staff;
• Strong relationships with national and trade press and a passion for advocating for a technology-inclusive approach to the clean energy transition;
• Excellent written and verbal ability, with a knack for editing and synthesizing complex ideas;
• A creative approach to marketing and drawing attention to our work despite a crowded and fractured media environment;
• A demonstrated ability to understand complex political and media environments, and deploy an array of tools, including public opinion research, social media, and earned media outreach, to advance our messages and policies in the press, with advocates, on the Hill and in the Administration;
• A compassionate, attentive, and thoughtful managerial style and strong ability to work collaboratively;
• A graduate degree or an undergraduate degree in a relevant field plus exceptionally relevant work experience.

In theThird Way Culture, we are looking for:

• Self-starters: People who see and seize opportunities, take risks, learn from failure, and will bring a sustained passion for our mission.
• Collaborators: People who work in teams—sharing ideas, brainstorming, co-authoring products, and advancing its shared priorities.
• Creators: People who fosters divergent thinking; that aren’t afraid to takeonthe orthodoxies of the left or the right. Team members come up with original insights, find unique ways to look at data, and challenge their preconceptions.
• Results-oriented: People who function with an organizational commitment to clear objectives, ambitious timelines, accountability for results, and a focusonimpact.
• Respectful: People who embrace the diverse perspectives of everyone and foster the values of non-discrimination and inclusivity at all times.

WITHIN 1 MONTH, YOU'LL...

• Participate in Third Way’s comprehensive onboarding program. You’ll learn about all aspects of Business Operations, which includes HR, Benefits, IT, Finance, and office operations.
• Meet your Third Way Buddy, be introduced to the entire staff, and start to learn the TW’s culture.
• Learn our current processes for payroll, compliance, and labor tracking, and how you will partner with Finance and the rest of the Business Operations team on these processes.
• Participate in weekly one‑on‑ones with your manager to ensure you fully understand the expectations of the job.
• Attend weekly team meetings. You’ll learn about the key goals of each member of your program, their progress toward these goals, what challenges they face, and how you will contribute.
• Develop an understanding of Third Way's unique approach to the energy sector and the politics of the climate and energy movement.

WITHIN 2 MONTHS, YOU'LL...

• Gain an understanding of each employee’s role and their contribution to the organization.
• Attend program overview sessions to learn more about each team’s contribution to TW’s mission.
• Incorporate TW’s Style Guide and Production process into your work products.
• Participate in, at least, one of our internal Professional Development trainings or a Center for Fun activity.

• Begin to oversee and execute rollout strategies for Climate and Energy Program research and analysis.

WITHIN 3 MONTHS, YOU'LL…

• Feel a sense of comfort and familiarity with the staff, your team, and your work.
• Continue to attend weekly departmental meetings with a stronger understanding of your team’s strategic goal.
• Bring new ideas and suggestions to your weekly one‑on‑ones with your manager.
• Attend and participate in external functions with other members of your team.
• Complete your 90-day self‑evaluation and performance review with your manager.
• Partner with your manager to establish your long‑term goals for the remainder of the year.

• Spearhead creative communications projects, including creating talking points on news‑of‑the‑day for policymakers, developing data visualization methods to compliment policy memos, and devising new ways to elevate our POV on social media.

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In addition to competitive salaries, your health and wellness is our priority. We offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance; Health Reimbursement Account (HRA); and Flexible Spending Account (FSA, DCA, Parking, and Transit); Life Insurance; Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance; Retirement plan; Accrued Paid Sick and Vacation leave; Long‑term Disability, Employee Assistant Program (EAP).

Third Way offers a hybrid work environment to support our employees’ healthy work‑life balance. This position is based in Washington, DC, and Third Way’s in‑office days are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Third Way is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to non‑discrimination. We will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable laws

Third Way does not provide employment‑based visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.