Strategic Communications Lead

rockymountain; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

RMI is seeking a Strategic Communications Lead to develop and drive communications strategies that advance the clean energy transition in the built environment, influence key audiences, and support organizational impact.

We warmly welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and cultures. This role will collaborate across Buildings programs and related initiatives to elevate thought leadership and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Develop end-to-end communications strategies for projects and initiatives within the Buildings program.
• Define target audiences, key messages, desired outcomes, and high-level channel approaches.
• Align communications strategies with project objectives, program priorities, and organizational goals.
• Identify communications opportunities that support influence and impact, stakeholder engagement, thought leadership, fundraising, and program impact.
• Translate technical analysis, research, and programmatic work into audience-specific narratives and communications approaches.
• Identify key stakeholders, influence pathways, and communications opportunities for priority audiences.
• Develop messaging frameworks and narrative recommendations for projects and campaigns.
• Monitor relevant trends, stakeholder dynamics, and external developments to inform communications strategies.
• Serve as the primary communications partner for assigned projects and workstreams.
• Advise project teams on communications approaches that support desired outcomes and stakeholder engagement goals.
• Ensure communications considerations are integrated into project planning and implementation.
• Build trusted relationships with program staff, subject matter experts, and cross-functional partners.
• Advise project teams on communications timing, publication strategies, and opportunities to leverage external moments and news cycles.
• Develop communications plans that guide account team execution across media, digital, editorial, design, events, and other communications functions.
• Ensure communications activities remain aligned with strategic objectives throughout implementation.
• Coordinate across teams to support successful execution and delivery.
• Advise project teams on communications approaches during concept note, proposal, and project development processes.
• Contribute communications strategy recommendations and budget inputs for project-level fundraising and business development efforts.
• Identify opportunities where communications can strengthen stakeholder engagement, visibility, and proposal competitiveness.
• Align communications objectives and KPIs with project goals and desired outcomes.
• Monitor communications performance and identify trends, insights, and opportunities for improvement.
• Use data and audience feedback to refine communications approaches and recommendations.
• Contribute to reporting and evaluation efforts that demonstrate communications impact.
• Develop clear strategic direction for account teams responsible for communications execution.
• Ensure alignment among project teams, account teams, and stakeholders regarding objectives, audiences, messaging, and priorities.
• Facilitate productive collaboration across communications disciplines to support integrated campaigns and initiatives.
• Contribute strategic recommendations during account team planning and execution processes.
• Identify and recommend thought leadership opportunities that support project goals and audience engagement strategies.
• Support development of articles, op-eds, speaking materials, messaging frameworks, and other thought leadership products.
• Work with communications colleagues to increase visibility for project leaders and subject matter experts.

Job description

Position Overview

RMI is seeking a Strategic Communications Lead to develop and drive communications strategies that advance the clean energy transition in the built environment , influence key audiences, and support organizational impact.

We warmly welcome applications from individuals of all diverse backgrounds and cultures!

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Planning

• Develo p end-to-end communications strategies for projects and initiatives within the Buildings program, while collaborating closely with other key programs like Electricity and across RMI's global geographies.
• Define target audiences, key messages, desired outcomes, and high-level channel approaches.
• Align communications strategies with project objectives, program priorities, and organizational goals.
• Identify communications opportunities that support influence and impact , stakeholder engagement, thought leadership, fundraising, and program impact.

Audience Narrative & Insight Development

• Translate technical analysis, research, and programmatic work into audience-specific narratives and communications approaches.
• Identify key stakeholders, influence pathways, and communications opportunities for priority audiences.
• Develop messaging frameworks and narrative recommendations for projects and campaigns.
• Monitor relevant trends, stakeholder dynamics, and external developments to inform communications strategies.

Program Partnership & Advisory

• Serve as the primary communications partner for assigned projects and workstreams.
• Advise project teams on communications approaches that support desired outcomes and stakeholder engagement goals.
• Ensure communications considerations are integrated into project planning and implementation.
• Build trusted relationships with program staff, subject matter experts, and cross-functional partners.

Planning Integration and Delivery Oversight

• Advise project teams on communications timing, publication strategies, and opportunities to leverage external moments and news cycles.
• Develop communications plans that guide account team execution across media, digital, editorial, design, events, and other communications functions.
• Ensure communications activities remain aligned with strategic objectives throughout implementation.
• Coordinate across teams to support successful execution and delivery.

Business Development & Fundraising Integration

• Advise project teams on communications approaches during concept note , proposal , and project development processes.
• Contribute communications strategy recommendations and budget inputs for project-level fundraising and business development efforts.
• Identify opportunities where communications can strengthen stakeholder engagement, visibility, and proposal competitiveness.

Measurement & Performance

• Align communications objectives and KPIs with project goals and desired outcomes.
• Monitor communications performance and identify trends, insights, and opportunities for improvement.
• Use data and audience feedback to refine communications approaches and recommendations.
• Contribute to reporting and evaluation efforts that demonstrate communications impact.

Collaboration & Account Team Leadership

• Develop clear strategic direction for account teams responsible for communications execution.
• Ensure alignment among project teams, account teams, and stakeholders regarding objectives , audiences, messaging, and priorities.
• Facilitate productive collaboration across communications disciplines to support integrated campaigns and initiatives.
• Contribute strategic recommendations during account team planning and execution processes.

Thought Leadership & External Positioning

• Identify and recommend thought leadership opportunities that support project goals and audience engagement strategies.
• Support development of articles, op-eds, speaking materials, messaging frameworks, and other thought leadership products.
• Work with communications colleagues to increase visibility for project leaders and subject matter experts.