Senior Editor, Energy & Climate Thought Leadership

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

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.