Sustainability Communications Manager

Prince-William-County-Government; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

VRS retirement

401a and 457 retirement plans

Paid annual leave

Paid personal leave

Paid sick leave

Paid holidays

Group health plans

Group life insurance

EAP

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Prince William County Government is seeking a Sustainability Communications and Outreach Manager to bridge technical sustainability work with public understanding. You will develop strategic communications, educational campaigns, and engagement initiatives to raise awareness and participation across residents, businesses, and decision-makers.

Under the Office of Sustainability, you will produce campaigns about renewable energy, energy conservation, and related topics, report on progress, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; translating technical information into accessible content for varied audiences.
• Experience building and delivering strategic engagement plans and communications programs.
• Ability to work with subject matter experts to craft compelling sustainability stories.

Responsibilities

• Develop public communications and outreach materials focused on renewable energy, energy conservation, and natural resource protection.
• Plan and execute public engagement campaigns to raise awareness and participation.
• Prepare reports and annual sustainability communications materials for leadership and the community.

Skills

Strategic communications

Public engagement

Content creation

Multi-channel outreach

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Data-informed messaging

Funding and grants

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Marketing/Environmental Sustainability

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Prince William County will hire its first-ever Sustainability Communications and Engagement Manager within the Office of Sustainability. The Sustainability Communications and Outreach Manager will serve as the bridge between technical expertise and public understanding. This position will develop strategic communications, educational campaigns, and engagement initiatives that increase awareness of environmental sustainability programs, encourage community participation, and help employees, residents, businesses, and decision-makers understand how sustainability initiatives improve quality of life in Prince William County.

About This Role

This full-time position will support the implementation of the County’s Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan (CESMP) to meet the county’s Climate Mitigation and Resiliency goals and Strategic Plan goals. The Sustainability Communications and Outreach Manager will be responsible for developing public communications and outreach materials focused on renewable energy, energy conservation, natural resource protection, and related topics. This will include developing campaigns about available incentives and programs for our residents and businesses to engage with that contribute to the achievement of the Climate Mitigation and Resiliency goals and Strategic Plan goals.

This position will also support the development of reports to keep the community informed about the county’s progress toward the Climate Mitigation and Resiliency goals and the implementation of the Strategic Plan, including the county’s Environmental Sustainability Annual Report.

Work will be conducted under the direct supervision of the Office of Sustainability Director.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• 7 years of professional experience developing, facilitating, and delivering strategic engagement plans and communication programs that support programmatic initiatives and activities, including the development of reports, office publications, and outreach materials for internal and public audiences.

Preferences

The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator with experience developing and implementing public outreach and engagement initiatives that educate, inform, and inspire action. They can translate complex technical information into clear, accessible messaging for a variety of audiences and are comfortable working with subject matter experts to tell compelling stories.

The ideal candidates should demonstrate the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Communications, Marketing, Environmental Sustainability, or a related area.
• Translating technical, scientific, or policy-related information into content that is easily understood by residents, employees, elected officials, and other stakeholders.
• Developing and executing strategic communications and outreach plans that support organizational goals.
• Creating clear, engaging content across multiple channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, presentations, reports, and other digital and print publications.
• Planning and implementing public engagement campaigns that build awareness, encourage participation, and strengthen community partnerships.
• Writing and editing a wide variety of communications products, including annual reports, media releases, feature stories, educational materials, presentations, and executive communications.
• Collaborating with communications professionals, technical staff, and organizational leadership to ensure consistent messaging and effective public engagement.
• Building relationships with community organizations, businesses, industry partners, and other stakeholders to advance strategic initiatives.
• Tracking legislative or policy developments, summarizing impacts, and preparing communications or briefing materials for leadership.
• Managing multiple communications projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Using analytics and audience feedback to evaluate communications efforts and improve future outreach strategies.
• Pursuing and securing funds or other resources to support the implementation of strategic plans.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, 37.5 hours weekly. May have to attend meetings or events outside of the set work hours a few times a quarter. This position would allow for telework two days a week, dependent upon business needs.

Hiring Salary Range

$95,000.00 - $111,000.00 Annually

We also offer great benefits, including:

• Retirement from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• 401a and 457 retirement savings and investment plans
• Paid Annual Leave
• Paid Personal Leave
• Paid Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Optional Group Medical and Dental Health Plans
• Optional Group Life Insurance
• An Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Career Development Opportunities

Full-time positions with Prince William County Government qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

NOTE

The above position description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibility; specific position assignments will vary depending on the department's business needs.

Prince William County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.