With world attention focused on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. This leading green group, with programs from Boston to Beijing, has tripled in size over the past decade by focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches. You can be part of a vibrant workplace that welcomes diverse perspectives, talents and contributions, where innovation and a focus on results are a way of life.

Overall Function
The Director of Marketing Communications for the Corporate Partnerships Program acts as the chief communications strategist for EDF’s work with business around environmental innovation and sustainability. The Director develops, manages and helps implement EDF’s marketing communications strategy with corporate partners in an effort to amplify the impact of this work, demonstrating how “green” business is good for the environment and the bottom line.

EDF is creating a fast track to environmental gains by partnering strategically with companies that have the power to rapidly leverage real environmental improvements across entire sectors. In some cases, these companies are large or influential enough to be more powerful than many national governments. Our communications strategy supports our program goals by pushing out new innovations, creating networks of green business innovators, and challenging businesses to think outside the box and see that protecting the environment works to their benefit – allowing them to reap the rewards while challenging others to do the same.

The Director is an integral part of the EDF Corporate Partnerships team, which engages with business on multiple projects around environmental sustainability. At the same time, the Director is a key component of the EDF Marketing team, helping promote the work of EDF while supporting the specific activities and goals of corporate partnerships. The Director reports to the head of Communications for EDF, coordinates closely with the Vice President for Corporate Partnerships and manages a team of professionals who support communications strategy and activity around our work with business.
The Director oversees media strategy and outreach, online engagement, website and blog strategy, speaking engagements, thought leadership activities, events and collateral development as related to EDF’s work with business. This position requires an understanding of and keen interest in the business sustainability space, as well as an ability to manage multiple projects at once. This is an unparalleled opportunity to lead a very effective and dedicated team at the dynamic intersection of business and the environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, manage and implement the overall marketing and communications strategy for EDF’s work with corporate partners
• Provide strategic direction to the Corporate Partnerships team on how marketing and communications can magnify the impact of EDF’s work with business
• Manage a team to help achieve strong communications results through various channels (media, online, blog, speaking engagements, etc.)
• Develop, manage and implement specific marketing and communications plans for multiple projects with corporate partners, working closely with the partners’ marketing and communications teams
• Oversee online and traditional media relations as well as blogger relations around EDF’s work with business and expertise in the sustainability space
• Oversee the EDF + Business blog, including content creation, cross-posting opportunities and other outreach efforts to grow the blog’s visibility and influence
• Develop and implement a content and network strategy for the EDF + Business website that appeals to a core business audience while working well in parallel with the EDF website
• Oversee all social media elements of the EDF + Business platform and related projects, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Manage development of collateral and design elements related to EDF’s work with business
• Develop and manage thought leadership strategy for EDF within the business sustainability space
• Manage PR/communications agency support, including developing RFPs, assessing agency expertise, and managing agency teams for excellent results
• Coordinate with other senior MarComm staff at EDF to leverage the communications assets of the organization, helping promote EDF’s work around environmental innovation in the private sector
• Develop and manage relationships with other NGOs and firms engaged in the business sustainability space to ensure cross-pollination of ideas and strategies
• Track and share metrics around the communications traction of EDF’s work in the business sustainability space

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years marketing communications experience, preferably in a corporate and/or an issue advocacy context
• Strong team management and mentoring skills
• Superb marketing strategy, writing, editing and communications skills
• Experience pitching and developing strong relationships with top tier business media; familiarity with environmental media a plus
• Experience managing a blog, including blog promotion strategy and implementation and/or online community-building
• Experience providing creative communications support and strategy to multiple internal project teams simultaneously
• Ability to strategize and implement communications projects across multiple platforms for maximum impact in the environmental and business space
• Experience building a public platform for leaders within a company or organization
• Experience hiring and managing communications consultants/agency support
• Strong presentation skills
• Budgeting and strategic planning skills

Please send cover letter, resume, short writing sample and salary requirements to:

Cheryl Pickard
Human Resources Generalist
1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20009
Email: 

Environmental Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Women, minorities and the physically challenged are encouraged to apply.

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