Director of Communications Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability

Cambridge, MA, USA
Posted on  

Job Description


Job Summary

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability develops and promotes durable, effective, and equitable solutions to the climate change challenges confronting humanity. The Institute pursues its mission by strengthening the Harvard-wide community of scholars, students, practitioners, and staff working towards climate solutions by providing a home for research, teaching, and engagement in climate and the environment. With the Institute’s support, Harvard scholars tackle the climate challenge in their classrooms and their laboratories. The Institute also leverages Harvard’s convening power to engage and influence government, business, civil society, and communities in ways that lead to a sustainable future.


Communicating the work of the Institute fosters and advances to internal and external stakeholders accounts for a crucial function in the pursuit of meeting the climate challenge. For this reason, the Salata Institute is seeking a talented, creative, and energetic Director of Communications, to help advance its mission. The person selected for this position will have an in-depth understanding of climate change and sustainability issues, and will have the skills, experience, and media connections to communicate the knowledge that Harvard is producing on these issues in ways that inform and influence the Institute’s varied audiences.


The Director will deploy a variety of channels in implementing the communications strategy, including print and broadcast media, social media, digital platforms, such as YouTube, the Institute’s website, speeches, policy briefs and white papers, as well as convenings. In performing this work, the Director will supervise a small staff, including colleagues with responsibility for events, and web and digital design.


As part of the Institute’s leadership team and one of the Institute’s first employees, the Director will also be expected to contribute to the development of this new organization by helping to establish efficient work processes, as well as to cultivate a mission-driven organizational culture of collaboration, creativity, respect, diversity, and inclusivity. It is essential that the person in this position have a strong work ethic, be flexible and adaptive to change, and demonstrate professionalism and enthusiasm for the endeavor.


The Director will report to both the Executive Director of the Salata Institute and the Director of Media Relations and Communication (HPAC) and work closely with the Institute’s senior staff, and in coordination with HPAC and other communications colleagues across the University. The Director will develop and implement a communications strategy that strengthens Harvard University’s position as one of the world’s leading institutions in addressing the climate crisis.


Position Description

  • Lead, develop, and steward the Institute’s communications priorities through media, digital platforms, publications, and additional public relations strategies.
  • Cultivate support for climate action through influential communications, such as prominent opinion-editorial placements written by faculty or University leaders.
  • Work with Harvard faculty to amplify their voices in the public sphere through public presentation/speaking, media and related communication training.
  • Lead the creation of a comprehensive communications strategy to advance climate-environment research and activities at Harvard, may include, but not limited to blogs, social media, case studies, traditional media, podcasts, and new formats in the evolving media landscape, establishing a reputation for information and analysis that is both credible and useful.
  • In coordination with HPAC and other communications colleagues across the University, develop news and feature content for deployment across various digital and other channels aimed at furthering Harvard’s pursuit of making a real-world difference on climate change.
  • Foster and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and producers with an interest in climate and sustainability.
  • Lead, collaborate and advise on communications planning and issues management related to Harvard’s role and work to address climate and sustainability priorities, coordinating with HPAC and other communications colleagues across the University.
  • Produce messages, briefings and talking points, as well as recommendations related public outreach and press strategy, for the Institute’s senior leadership.
  • Guide Institute’s event strategy and oversee its execution, including high-visibility public events.
  • Assess the effectiveness of different communications strategies and mechanisms both existing and proposed.
  • Other duties as assigned and relevant to executing work within the general scope of the role.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years of experience in public relations, communications, or journalism with increasing job responsibilities and with a significant portion of that time dedicated to climate and sustainability.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Additional Qualifications

  • Experience with both internal and external communications, managing press relations and developing communications strategies.
  • Demonstrated excellence in writing and editing.
  • Strong connections with major media outlets, in particular in the climate & sustainability area.
  • Strong connections with specialized climate, energy, & sustainability media outlets (including podcasts and other social media channels).
  • Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, provide sound strategic communications advice, and demonstrate excellent judgment on complex issues.
  • Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines, as well as the ability to work successfully both independently and as part of a team.
  • Must have the ability to innovate, think strategically and conceptually, listen carefully as well as to influence and persuade others. The position requires an extremely high level of professionalism, sound and mature judgment, and collegiality.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated experience building and leading communications teams and managing staff.
  • Advanced degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field, and/or relevant work experience strongly preferred.

Job Function

Communications

Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

321059 Media/Communica Manager

Sub-Unit

Harvard Public Affairs and Communications

Department

Harvard Public Affairs and Communications

Time Status

Full-time

Salary Grade

059

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Education, Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.