Media Relations Manager

Clean power is positioned to help solve two of America’s biggest challenges: rebuilding our economy and addressing climate change. The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is a growing association leading the way forward on these solutions.

We are uniting companies across the clean power sector to support policies that will remove barriers and accelerate growth in America’s renewable energy industry. We help to provide cost-effective solutions to the climate crisis while creating jobs, spurring investment in the American economy, and driving high-tech innovation across the U.S.

ACP seeks a highly motivated, experienced media relations professional who is a persuasive storyteller with the ability to translate complex policy positions and industry data into compelling narratives that advance the clean energy industry’s agenda.

Under the Sr. Director of Communications, the Media Relations Manager will execute media and communications strategies aimed at influencing external audiences and stakeholders. The Manager is responsible for building and maintaining active press lists and relationships, pitching stories to the news media, responding to a high volume of incoming media inquiries, preparing talking points for ACP executives and policy experts and prepping them for media interviews and public appearances. The Manager is also responsible for drafting messages, statements, press releases, and crisis communication responses and working with executive staff and policy experts for review and approval of quotes, and drafting, posting, and distributing collateral including news releases, blog posts, executive summaries and other content as assigned. Additionally, maintaining good relationships with subject matter experts, member companies, partner organizations and the media is an essential part of this job. 

Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities

In this role, the Media Relations Manager will manage ACP’s proactive and responsive media relations activities to maximize the industry’s coverage from the news media; produce collateral material for public audiences; organize, promote, and staff press conferences and media briefings; oversee an effective measurement protocol and produce reports of activities and results to demonstrate effectiveness of media outreach efforts. As envisioned, this will include:

• Media Relations Management: Manage media monitoring and production of ACP’s daily clips including supervising any approved contractors, and regularly reviewing media platforms for critical industry news and competitor news daily; receive and track response to, and in some cases deliver responses, for incoming requests from the news media, and advise ACP experts and/or ACP members before and during interviews; build and manage press lists of reporters, bloggers, and other media who cover energy industries, inside the beltway influencers, and the ability to reach them via various distribution methods (For ex: Cision, Outbrain, PR Newswire, and Twitter); maintain a social media presence to represent ACP and develop relationships with reporters and influencers and use social media channels to help influence news coverage of ACP’s top issue priorities and policies; and manage distribution of ACP news releases including strategy and coordination with the Digital Communications Manager to effectively tailor organic and paid social media strategy as appropriate.

• Content Generation and Distribution: Write press releases, talking points, statements, blog articles, case studies, executive bylines and other collateral for the media that advance ACP’s strategic priorities; serve as ongoing liaison to communications officers and spokespersons for member companies and industry ally organizations; and provide media training for new Public Affairs staff and deliver trainings on an as-needed basis for spokespersons. 

• Events Management: Publicize and help staff ACP’s annual flagship event, CLEANPOWER, American Clean Power Week, and other ACP events as needed; organize press events and media briefing calls, panel discussions, and other outreach events; and manage co-branded or sponsored events with media platforms including developing event concepts, messaging, identifying potential speakers, and ensure events and topics are aligned with ACP’s brand reputational and policy priorities.

• Collaboration: Conduct regular outreach to ACP member companies and industry ally organizations to learn their needs and issues and obtain their participation in the aforementioned work; join department staff in carrying out administrative duties, such as: weekly board reports; vendor and intern supervision; timely invoice and expense reporting; and maintaining master calendars and checklists of standard operating procedures.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned to meet business needs. Travel to various cities within the U.S. is possible to support several conferences/meetings a year that last anywhere from 2 to 5 days, and travel and events during evening and weekend hours may be needed outside of normal business hours.

Education and/or Experience

Qualified applicants may possess any combination of education and experience enabling them to successfully perform the responsibilities of the position. Required qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in related field with 6-8 years of relevant communications experience. Preferred: Journalism, Public Relations and/or Public Affairs agency, or Political campaign and/or Capitol Hill experience. Energy industry experience a plus.

Skills and Abilities

• Self-starter with strong collaborative, communications counseling, and organizational skills
• Skilled writer, wordsmith, Associated Press-style advocate, and communicator
• A voracious consumer of all types of media capable of trend-spotting industry opportunities and identifying new reporters, media outlets, platforms, and tools to share our stories with.
• Flexibility and ability to juggle multiple competing priorities and know when to pivot.
• Proficient with MS Office

Interpersonal Contacts

A high level of interpersonal skills is important to interact effectively with a wide range of people including other ACP staff, ACP members, federal agency staff, and others.

Job Conditions

With ACP’s exciting and ambitious agenda, this job is likely to include challenging work that will sometimes need to be completed on a tight deadline. Our employee team is friendly, growing, and driven by a commitment to our mission. We provide a competitive benefits package, and we are both telework-friendly and easily accessible in person via public transit. ACP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information see www.cleanpower.org.

To Apply

Email your resume and cover letter to hrjobs@cleanpower.org with Media Relations Manager - [Your Last Name] in the Subject line. OR mail to American Clean Power, 1501 M Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 ATTN: HR.

Please include any salary expectations and your available start date in your cover letter.

Application deadline is May 7, 2021.