Senior Editor

Rocky Mountain Institute in; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

403b retirement matching

Home office stipend

Job summary

Rocky Mountain Institute seeks a Senior Editor with a journalistic background and a proven portfolio of editing, writing, and storytelling to advance energy transition narratives. This role partners with program experts and leadership to shape content strategy and thought leadership across RMI's portfolio.

The Senior Editor translates complex energy and policy topics into accessible stories, guiding editorial standards, mentorship, and audience-focused content that elevates RMI's mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, public affairs, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of professional experience in journalism, editing, writing, communications, content strategy, publishing, or related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, reporting, and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated experience translating complex technical, scientific, policy, or research-based content into compelling narratives.
• Experience developing thought leadership content and audience-centered communications strategies.
• Strong understanding of content strategy, audience engagement, and storytelling.
• Experience working with subject matter experts and senior leaders to develop high-quality communications products.
• Ability to use audience insights, engagement metrics, and content performance data to inform editorial decisions.
• Strong collaboration, stakeholder management, project management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent judgment, curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for RMI's mission and commitment to accelerating climate and energy solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, edit, and produce high-impact content including research reports, articles, newsletters, op-eds, annual reports, profiles, executive communications, and long-form features.
• Partner with subject matter experts to transform complex technical analysis into compelling and actionable narratives.
• Research, report, write, and edit original content about energy and the energy transition.
• Ensure content consistently meets high standards of accuracy, clarity, accessibility, editorial quality, and audience relevance.
• Help establish and uphold editorial standards and best practices across content formats and channels.
• Partner with program teams and communications colleagues to shape narrative approaches and editorial strategies for major reports, campaigns, initiatives, and thought leadership efforts.
• Advise colleagues and subject matter experts on message development, narrative framing, content structure, and storytelling approaches.
• Translate technical research and policy insights into audience-centered stories that support influence and engagement goals.
• Identify emerging trends, conversations, and storytelling opportunities across energy, technology, finance, policy, and policy sectors.
• Contribute to the development of integrated content strategies that support communications, policy, market, and organizational objectives.
• Apply audience-centered communications principles to develop content for policymakers, business leaders, technical experts, funders, journalists, and broader public audiences.
• Use audience insights, engagement metrics, and content performance data to inform editorial decisions, improve storytelling effectiveness, and refine content approaches.
• Partner with colleagues across digital, marketing, and analytics functions to identify opportunities for greater audience reach and engagement.
• Ensure digital content meets editorial, accessibility, usability, and SEO standards.
• Collaborate closely with communications, marketing, design, web, development, events, social media, and program teams to deliver integrated content experiences ensuring consistency of narrative and audience experience.
• Work effectively with external partners, freelancers, vendors, and consultants to support content development and production.
• Support recurring content products, including newsletters and editorial series, while continuously improving audience engagement and performance.
• Mentor and coach colleagues, communications professionals, and subject matter experts in writing, storytelling, editorial processes, and content development.
• Serve as a trusted editorial advisor to program teams and communications partners.
• Provide expertise, institutional knowledge, and editorial best practices to strengthen content quality and storytelling capabilities across the organization.

Skills

Editorial leadership

Storytelling

Content strategy

Audience insights

Stakeholder management

Project management

Collaboration

Multi-priority handling

Editorial judgment

Curiosity and creativity

Mission-focused

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, public affairs

Tools

WordPress

Job description

Job Description: Overview

RMI is seeking a Senior Editor with a journalistic background and a strong portfolio of editing, writing, and storytelling skills, with topical expertise in the areas of energy, the energy transition, and climate. As a member of the Strategic Communications Team, the Senior Editor serves as a strategic editorial partner to program experts, communications colleagues, and organizational leaders. Reporting to RMI's managing editor, this role combines exceptional editorial craft with the ability to shape narratives, develop thought leadership content, advise on content strategy, and strengthen audience engagement across RMI's communications portfolio. The Senior Editor works across programs, operations, design, marketing, development, web, social, and with external partners to create compelling, audience-centered content that advances RMI's mission and influence. This role requires strong editorial judgment, deep curiosity, and the ability to translate complex technical analysis into accessible and engaging stories that resonate with diverse audiences. The ideal candidate is an experienced editor and storyteller who thrives in collaborative environments, demonstrates strong strategic thinking, and is passionate about accelerating the clean energy transition.

What You'll Do

Editorial Leadership & Content Development

• Develop, edit, and produce high-impact content including research reports, articles, newsletters, op-eds, annual reports, profiles, executive communications, and long-form features.
• Partner with subject matter experts to transform complex technical analysis into compelling and actionable narratives.
• Research, report, write, and edit original content about energy and the energy transition.
• Ensure content consistently meets high standards of accuracy, clarity, accessibility, editorial quality, and audience relevance.
• Help establish and uphold editorial standards and best practices across content formats and channels.

Narrative Development, Storytelling & Thought Leadership

• Partner with program teams and communications colleagues to shape narrative approaches and editorial strategies for major reports, campaigns, initiatives, and thought leadership efforts, identifying strong storytelling opportunities.
• Advise colleagues and subject matter experts on message development, narrative framing, content structure, and storytelling approaches.
• Translate technical research and policy insights into audience-centered stories that support influence and engagement goals.
• Identify emerging trends, conversations, and storytelling opportunities across energy, technology, finance, policy, and policy sectors.
• Contribute to the development of integrated content strategies that support communications, policy, market, and organizational objectives.

Audience Engagement & Content Performance

• Apply audience-centered communications principles to develop content for policymakers, business leaders, technical experts, funders, journalists, and broader public audiences.
• Use audience insights, engagement metrics, and content performance data to inform editorial decisions, improve storytelling effectiveness, and refine content approaches.
• Partner with colleagues across digital, marketing, and analytics functions to identify opportunities for greater audience reach and engagement.
• Ensure digital content meets editorial, accessibility, usability, and SEO standards.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Content Integration

• Collaborate closely with communications, marketing, design, web, development, events, social media, and program teams to deliver integrated content experiences ensuring consistency of narrative and audience experience.
• Work effectively with external partners, freelancers, vendors, and consultants to support content development and production.
• Support recurring content products, including newsletters and editorial series, while continuously improving audience engagement and performance.

Mentorship & Editorial Advisory

• Mentor and coach colleagues, communications professionals, and subject matter experts in writing, storytelling, editorial processes, and content development.
• Serve as a trusted editorial advisor to program teams and communications partners.
• Provide expertise, institutional knowledge, and editorial best practices to strengthen content quality and storytelling capabilities across the organization.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, English, public affairs, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of professional experience in journalism, editing, writing, communications, content strategy, publishing, or related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, reporting, and storytelling skills.
• Demonstrated experience translating complex technical, scientific, policy, or research-based content into compelling narratives.
• Experience developing thought leadership content and audience-centered communications strategies.
• Strong understanding of content strategy, audience engagement, and storytelling.
• Experience working with subject matter experts and senior leaders to develop high-quality communications products.
• Ability to use audience insights, engagement metrics, and content performance data to inform editorial decisions.
• Strong collaboration, stakeholder management, project management, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent judgment, curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for RMI's mission and commitment to accelerating climate and energy solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience covering or working in climate, clean energy, sustainability, policy, climate finance, industry, mobility, buildings, electricity, or related sectors.
• Experience at a newsroom, trade publication, nonprofit, research organization, content studio, or communications agency.
• Experience supporting executive communications and high-profile thought leadership initiatives.
• Familiarity with WordPress or other content management systems.
• Experience with multimedia and digital storytelling formats, including video, audio, social media, photography, and interactive content.
• Ability to interpret and communicate data through charts, graphics, and visual storytelling.
• Experience working with distributed teams, external partners, and freelance contributors.
• Familiarity with SEO principles and digital content optimization.

Location

We are a remote-ready organization with team members around the globe. We welcome candidates from across the US who can participate in meetings scheduled during US Eastern and European time zones. Our beautiful and welcoming offices are available for meetings or focused work, whether you are traveling through or living nearby. Our U.S. offices are in New York City; Washington DC; Oakland, California; Boulder, Colorado; and Basalt, Colorado. This role can be located from anywhere in the continental United States. We provide you with the essential IT equipment plus a one‑time home technology payment and a monthly work from home/commuter allowance to ensure you have a comfortable home office set up and necessary supplies. We love seeing each other in person! We occasionally gather for shared time together like retreats and learning experiences. Be ready to travel for occasional in‑person meetings (and of course, we cover travel costs). Some roles may require more travel, which will be discussed during the hiring process.

Compensation

Compensation RMI compensates based on the level and requirements of the role. Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. Typically, a new Senior Associate joins at the minimum to mid salary range of $73,567 - $90,683. You would also have an additional 5% bonus target!

Benefits

We offer an array of benefits including: Medical, dental, vision insurance 403b retirement match with immediate vesting Group life, AD&D, and short- and long-term disability Optional voluntary life, AD&D and accident plans Health savings or flexible spending accounts Fertility and hormonal health support Mental health and wellness support Comprehensive leaves of absence (including generous parental leave) Generous paid time off and sick leave Paid sabbatical leave Regional holidays with at least one extended break in each geography Work from home and home technology allowances Learning & development opportunities (LinkedIn Learning and an annual individual professional development budget) Potential for bonuses and merit increases Discount marketplace (gym memberships, pet insurance, etc.) Hybrid / remote work options Team retreats and geographic meetups Rewards and recognition programs

Diversity

We know that the diversity of our teams makes us stronger as an organization, and RMI is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity as outlined in U.S. federal law. We prohibit discrimination against applicants, interns, and employees on the basis of any legally recognized basis, including but not limited to: age (40 and over), race, color, sex, pregnancy (including lactation, childbirth, or related medical conditions), religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, uniformed service member status, veteran status, citizenship status, or any other applicable status protected by applicable law. RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. RMI is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

If you have any questions or issues with your application submission, please submit a ticket: Support Form RMI is an independent nonprofit, founded in 1982 as Rocky Mountain Institute, that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. We work in the world’s most critical geographies and engage businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale energy system interventions that will cut climate pollution at least 50 percent by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Oakland, California; Washington, D.C.; Abuja, Nigeria; and Beijing.