Job Announcement: NCEJN Communications Fellow

North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN) is seeking a one-year communications fellow position to start this year, for their North Carolina office. This position comes with a unique opportunity to benefit from training and mentoring from Resource Media, a national communications agency that exclusively specializes in social change. The position has a potential to extend beyond one year, contingent on fundraising opportunities.

NCEJN is a coalition of community organizations and their supporters who work with low income communities and people of color to promote health and environmental equality for all people of North Carolina through community action for clean industry, safe workplaces and fair access to all human and natural resources. We seek to accomplish these goals through organizing, advocacy, research, and education based on principles of economic equity and political equity.

Our ideal candidate is a collaborative self-starter, with first-hand experience working with digital and social media tools. We are looking for someone with a strong interest in political, social and environmental issues, and how they are influenced by digital and earned media. This position offers a clear path to advance their career in communications.

NCEJN values an equitable and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer with a deep and proven commitment to engaging the skills and leadership of people of color, LGBTQ persons, and other individuals from diverse backgrounds. People from these and other historically marginalized backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Job Responsibilities

An ideal communications fellow would be a multi-tasking, creative problem solver. Your job is to execute work that helps organize, educate, inspire and mobilize, all while carefully stewarding our limited resources. We are looking for someone with a strong interests in social change and environmental justice with great communications instincts; we are willing to mentor the right candidate. The communications fellow will have the following responsibilities:

Communications Strategy

  • Help execute internal communications and campaign plans for NCEJN, including base-building and awareness-generating educational campaigns, advocacy for stronger local policies and civil engagement and involvement by impacted community members.  
  • Research media stories and social media activity and analyze based on audiences, markets, messages, spokespeople, etc.
  • Track and evaluate media values and social media activity, pulling out the most relevant information in reports for clients
  • Assist team members with quality control for materials and deliverables for presentations and meetings, including handouts, slide decks, graphics, reports, etc.

Event Planning & Execution

  • Help plan and manage event logistics for small and large-scale events (such as the EJ Summit), including signage, communication to and recognition of attendees, documenting through social media, photography and/or video, print materials, etc.

Media Relations

  • Use an online reporter database and release distribution service to create media lists and send and track press campaigns
  • Feel comfortable reaching out to reporters, conducting media outreach and creating new relationships with journalists through a wide range of tools, including pitches, media advisories, news releases, op-eds, and social media
  • Staff media events to support event logistics and serve as social media arm

Digital Media

  • At the direction of management, find and manage vendors and volunteers for website editing and maintenance, graphic design, SEO, etc.
  • Advise team on social and digital strategy, leveraging a variety of tools including paid and promoted budgets, influencers, content channels, online calls to action and online media placements
  • Help conceive of and produce content for digital media, including social videos, memes, slideshows, story maps, web, newsletter and social media copy and online calls to action (petitions, direct email, social shares, etc.)
  • Manage, track and/or start social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and hashtags for research on issue areas and communities
  • Help edit and maintain NCEJN’s website and other communications channels, including email newsletter, social media and blog.

Relationship and Project Management

  • Build relationships and trust with members and team members and represent NCEJN at events and in meetings
  • Facilitate regular and fluid internal communications between your manager, mentor and other team members to reduce delays and misunderstanding
  • Support the business side of work, by adhering to timelines, quality and style standards in order to deliver outstanding results.

Required Qualifications

  • Ability to work in many different environments and locations, including satellite offices, on-site, in the field and co-working spaces with various partners.
  • A starting background (at least two years experience) in communications or public relations, in-the-field community work or academic study.
  • Fluency in digital media platforms and strategy, from email to Instagram.
  • Basic understanding of public policy and the role of communications in building support for social change.
  • A commitment to social and racial equity and justice with experience executing those values through your work.
  • Curiosity and creativity, and a willingness to try things out, listen, learn and continually grow and improve.
  • Excellent writing skills for both the news media and digital media.
  • Excellent working knowledge of MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience in a complementary field, such organizing and community outreach, advertising and other creative fields, event management or public affairs.
  • Visual storytelling technical skills and background, such as graphic design, video production.
  • Experience with multicultural communications, ethnic media and second-language proficiency.

Salary, benefits:

NCEJN offers health benefits for all its employees, which would be available to the fellow during their time of employment. This position offers a salary of $35-40k, dependent on experience.

This position also comes with an intensive professional development and mentoring program, as well as a potential to extend beyond one year, contingent on fundraising potential.

This position assumes 30 hours/week, with minimal out-of-state travel.

Application deadline:

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and 3 references to Ayo Wilson at ncejnetwork@gmail.com by Tuesday July 31, close of business EST.