Director, Editorial and Engagement

Clean Air Task Force; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 147,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Paid vacation & holidays

Sick leave & flexible time off

Home‑office setup support

Monthly internet stipend

Job summary

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is seeking a senior communications leader to shape editorial strategy, elevate our experts, and engage policymakers, donors, media, and other audiences. You will drive institutional storytelling and executive communications across CATF, aligning messaging with organizational priorities.

You will lead flagship content, strategic events, and external engagement, building impactful campaigns and high‑profile materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 10–15 years in strategic communications or editorial leadership.
• Proven ability to translate complex climate or policy issues into clear communications.
• Experience shaping organizational messaging and high‑profile content.
• Strong executive communications, thought leadership, and media relations skills.
• Experience leading teams and collaborating across cross‑functional groups.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement editorial strategy and content calendar for CATF.
• Maintain consistent messaging, voice, and editorial standards across channels.
• Lead flagship content including annual reports and impact case studies.
• Plan priority events, conferences, and executive engagements with messaging strategy.
• Create speeches, op-eds, talking points, and other executive communications.
• Build relationships with journalists and outlets for strategic media moments.
• Coordinate integrated content across editorial, media, and events teams.
• Supervise and develop staff, guiding cross‑functional collaboration.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Strategic comms

Media relations

Executive communications

Events strategy

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Climate policy knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Who We Are

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 30 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world.

What You’ll Do

CATF works to accelerate the solutions needed to achieve a zero-emissions future. As a senior leader within the Communications & Marketing team, you will shape how CATF tells its story, elevates its ideas and experts, and engages the audiences that can help turn climate and energy solutions into real-world impact.

You will bring together institutional storytelling, executive communications, strategic events, media relations, and other important communications opportunities. Working across CATF, you will help determine which stories we tell, where and how we show up, and how our communications support organizational priorities.

This role will build an integrated editorial and engagement strategy that connects CATF’s expertise with policymakers, industry leaders, donors, media, and other influential audiences.

Responsibilities

• Editorial Strategy & Institutional Storytelling – Develop and carry out CATF’s organization-wide editorial strategy and content calendar, turning organizational priorities and technical expertise into clear, compelling stories for priority audiences.
• Messaging, Voice & Editorial Standards – Maintain CATF’s organizational messaging, editorial standards, voice, and style guidance so communications are accurate, accessible, consistent, and aligned with CATF’s brand.
• Flagship Content Leadership – Lead or guide major institutional content, including CATF’s annual report, organizational and program milestones, impact case studies, and other high-profile content.
• Strategic Events & External Engagement – Develop an organization-wide approach to priority events and engagements, including conferences, climate weeks, convenings, speaking opportunities, roundtables, executive engagements, and CATF-led events. Help determine the audience, messaging, speakers, content, and communications strategy for each opportunity.
• Executive Communications & Thought Leadership – Develop communications strategies for CATF executives and senior experts. Identify opportunities and produce speeches, opinion pieces, commentary, presentations, talking points, and other executive communications.
• Media Relations & Reputation Building – Work with Communications & Marketing colleagues to build relationships with influential journalists and outlets, elevate CATF’s experts, and provide communications counsel during major media moments and sensitive or reputational issues.
• Integrated Content & Engagement Planning – Connect CATF’s editorial, media, executive communications, and event strategies through an integrated planning process tied to organizational priorities and audience needs.
• People Leadership & Team Development – Supervise, coach, and develop communications staff. Set clear priorities and standards while supporting independent judgment, collaboration, and professional growth.

What You’ll Bring

You are an experienced communications leader, writer, editor, convener, and strategist who understands how strong ideas become useful stories, conversations, and engagements. You can make complex climate, energy, technical, and policy issues clear without losing important context.

You bring sound editorial judgment and a collaborative leadership style. You can advise senior leaders, develop staff, and build alignment across functions, cultures, geographies, and time zones.

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• 10–15 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, editorial leadership, media relations, journalism, public affairs, external engagement, or a related field.
• Strong English-language writing, editing, and storytelling skills, including experience translating complex technical or policy issues into clear communications.
• Demonstrated expertise in editorial strategy, institutional storytelling, organizational messaging, and high-profile content.
• Significant experience developing executive communications and thought leadership, including speeches, opinion pieces, commentary, presentations, talking points, or other executive-level content.
• Experience developing proactive media relations strategies, working directly with journalists and editors, and advising on sensitive, rapid-response, or reputational communications.
• Experience developing strategic events and external engagements, including conferences, convenings, executive engagements, speaking opportunities, or similar forums.
• People leadership and cross-functional collaboration experience, including supervising and developing staff, advising senior leaders, and working with technical experts, policy professionals, development teams, and communications colleagues.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with climate and energy policy, advocacy, policymaking, environmental policy, clean technology, science, or a closely related field.
• Familiarity with engagement strategies for major international climate, energy, policy, business, or philanthropic forums.
• Experience developing editorial or event content for donors, funders, and other philanthropic audiences.
• Experience working in a global or geographically distributed organization.
• Experience in a nonprofit, think tank, research institution, philanthropic organization, government, journalism, or a similarly mission-driven environment.
• Additional language skills.

What We Provide

Join a team working to accelerate climate solutions while improving how CATF shares its work and engages the audiences that can help move it forward.

• A mission-driven role shaping how CATF communicates its work and engages influential audiences.
• Opportunities to collaborate with recognized experts and senior leaders on climate, technology, energy, and policy issues.
• Cross-functional work with Communications & Marketing, Development, executive leadership, and CATF’s programs and regions.
• A collaborative and intellectually curious culture where diverse perspectives are valued and bold, practical solutions to climate change are encouraged.
• A flexible remote working environment, with a preference for candidates based in the United States and the ability to work effectively across U.S. and European time zones.
• Periodic domestic and international travel for CATF meetings, conferences, strategic events, media opportunities, and other organizational priorities.
• Benefits designed to support health, financial security, time away, and flexibility.

Compensation & Pay Transparency

CATF believes candidates should have clear information about compensation and benefits so they can make informed decisions about opportunities with us. Our compensation ranges are based on the country of employment, and employees are paid in the applicable local currency. Any range listed below applies only to the country identified. For candidates working in other approved countries, compensation will be determined using the applicable local range, taking into account relevant market factors, role scope and responsibilities, experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity.

The expected base salary range for this position is:

• United States: $147,137–$176,565 USD annually

CATF does not consider an applicant’s salary history when determining compensation.

Benefits

For U.S.-based employees, CATF offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial security, time away, and flexibility. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, with CATF currently paying 80% of medical premiums and 100% of dental premiums for eligible employees; a 401(k) plan with a dollar-for-dollar employer match of up to 5% of gross annual salary; 25 working days of vacation per year for full-time employees; paid sick leave; U.S. holidays; and one flex day in December. CATF also provides employer-paid basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage, along with home-office setup support, a monthly internet stipend, and additional health, wellness, and voluntary benefit resources. Eligibility, coverage, costs, and plan terms are governed by applicable plan documents.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Clean Air Task Force is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.