Internal Communications Consultant (contract)

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since our founding in 2008, we have awarded over $2 billion in grants to more than 850 organizations working to advance climate solutions around the world. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.
Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world.
Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org.

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time – impacting our health, our safety and our livelihoods now and for generations to come. Despite growing awareness and increased public mobilization on this issue, we are not yet on track to contain this threat. But we can be. Humanity has the solutions and the pathways to end this crisis, and collectively we can make this decade be the one for climate action.

Sounds compelling? We think so too. The marketing and communications team at ClimateWorks Foundation plays a key role in building awareness, generating funder interest, and promoting philanthropic collaborations that can help end the climate crisis. We’re a quickly growing team, working to expand the organization’s impact, outreach, and engagement with funders, partners, and grantees. We believe that a well-informed, aligned, and motivated staff is critical to achieving our collective organizational objectives.

CONTRACT SUMMARY

ClimateWorks Foundation has experienced rapid growth in recent years and now comprises a staff of nearly 200 individuals, located in 15+ countries around the world. To meet our evolving needs, we are seeking to strengthen our internal communications strategy and practices to ensure staff receive consistent, proactive updates; stay aligned with our organizational goals and strategic direction; have greater visibility into work happening across teams and geographies; and feel more connected and engaged in our shared mission.

We are seeking an experienced internal communications contractor who excels at the magical mix of strategy, content development, stakeholder partnership, and execution to define and implement a formal internal communications function for the foundation. To do this, you’ll leverage an existing assessment that highlights key strategic opportunity areas for us to enhance our internal communications content, processes, and channels, work collaboratively with departmental communicators and channel owners to build on our current approaches, and develop clear, powerful communications to all staff in support of our executive team and organizational goals. This is a 12-month engagement.

KEY CONTRACT DELIVERABLES

Strategy and planning - 10%

In partnership with the Sr. Director, Marketing and Communications, assess, develop and execute a 12-month roadmap for strengthening internal communications content, processes, and channels, based on recent internal comms assessment and building on existing communications vehicles such as our internal newsletter and monthly all-staff meetings.

Develop internal communications structure and best practices - 60%

Build and maintain an internal communications master calendar that includes and sequences major communications for cross-team and organizational moments
Engage cross-team communicators to align and evolve our use of communications channels in partnership with current channel owners, spanning email, newsletters, events, intranet, learning management, etc.
Create and publish a regular, proactive digest of organizational news—sourced from across departments, the executive team, and geographies—that provide staff with frequent, short-form, timely, and relevant updates
Partner with channel owners to co-develop enhancements and content strategies that improve the staff experience, foster engagement, and ensure alignment with internal communications—such as evolving our intranet and encouraging broader staff contributions
Develop templates and tools to help communicators across the organization increase the effectiveness of their communications with a focus on brevity and clarity and best use of channels
In partnership with working groups defining two major all-staff events (annual In Town Week and Staff Retreat), support the goal-setting, creative theme, session design, and executive messaging in alignment with our organizational narratives; collaborate with the events team, which provides logistics support, and key departments for delivery
Define and report on metrics to guide the evolution of our internal communications for increased effectiveness, including both quantitative (monthly) and qualitative measures (quarterly)

Content development 30%

Develop 2-4 proactive internal communications per month from CEO, and other executive team members, to increase cadence, clarity, and engagement of executive leadership with staff
Create messaging, in alignment with the public affairs team, for proactive and reactive communications to staff regarding external issues and crisis situations, as needs arise
Work consultatively with departmental leaders and comms staff, as needed, to support the development of clear and concise messaging and campaigns for major organizational projects, such as brand messaging updates, strategic plan implementation, etc.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

10 years+ experience in marketing and communications, with a significant portion focused on internal communications—preferably in philanthropy or nonprofit organizations with a global footprint
Past experience working as a contractor/consultant with demonstrated ability to develop strong partnerships with in-house staff to achieve contract objectives
Experience developing and executing multi-channel, internal communication strategies that align with organizational goals and resonate with staff
Proven success fostering staff alignment and engagement during times of organizational growth through clear, thoughtful internal communication.
Experience supporting internal all-staff events and meetings, including strategic agenda building, session development, executive communications, and alignment with organizational narratives
Demonstrated expertise in executive communications, including writing in someone else’s voice (ghostwriting or speechwriting)
Exceptional writing and editing skills with a track record of producing clear, compelling, and accurate content on deadline.
Proficiency with internal communications platforms, tools, and analytics with preference for experience using Simplrr (intranet, email), Schoox (learning), Slack, Asana, Microsoft Office, Salesforce
Deep understanding of current best practices and trends in internal communications for global organizations
Strong project management skills for delivering projects through cross-functional team partnerships

COMPENSATION

This is a 12-month contract engagement.

LOCATION

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. We are seeking a contractor who is working within a 3-hour time zone.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at ClimateWorks Foundation and as such we are committed to creating a diverse and multi-cultural work environment. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to complying with all laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities, as well as employees’ religious beliefs and practices. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment. ClimateWorks Foundation will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual and/or employees’ religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

If you require an accommodation, please notify Human Resources. Once ClimateWorks Foundation is aware of the need for an accommodation, it will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.

APPLICATION PROCESS

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered for this contract position, interested candidates must submit a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will.

Internal Communications Consultant (contract)

ClimateWorks Foundation

Remote