Communications Associate

Description

Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) is seeking a Communications Associate to support the organization’s narrative work. In this vital role, you’ll be helping to tell stories of environmental justice in the state through work that includes coordinating branding of campaigns, organizing press events, contributing to and managing social media content and calendars, and creating multimedia content and regular maintenance of MEJC websites.

You must be based in Detroit, but this is a hybrid-remote role with in-state travel expected to communities like West Michigan and to the capital in Lansing.. Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license are required, but MEJC will reimburse mileage.

Day to day, you can expect to drive:

Content Creation:

• Develop social media graphics, images, text, and other collateral for deployment in support of MEJC and partner campaigns and priorities
• Collaborate on press releases, op-eds, media advisories, and other earned media collateral
• Contribute to social media toolkits and messaging guides, including talking points, for distribution to coalitional partners
• Promote and develop upon existing narrative toolkits and branding strategy
• Contribute to and maintain a regular monthly newsletter
• Develop and maintain a regular social media calendar
• Produce short-form videos that help drive narrative strategy
• Edit and develop content for website, including blog posts, regular maintenance, and other duties

External relationships:

• Work with external vendors on special projects
• Develop relationships with communications professionals and journalists around Michigan
• Identify relationships and build up storytellers and community spokespersons on major issues
• Support communications capacity for coalition members, Event Planning and Support:
• Contribute to organizing and planning of MEJC major events
• Attend, document, and promote events across major channels

Rapid Response:

• Support Policy and Organizing teams on rapidly emergent issues to ensure MEJC perspective is visible on all available channels and platforms
• Ensure community perspectives are represented during major events (weather, political, etc.)

Requirements:

• 1-3 years of work experience in journalism or communications. Must be an enterprising individual who knows how to identify an opportunity, while also being a team player
• Must be familiar and comfortable with cold-calling/emailing, and talking to strangers
• Deadline-oriented, able to accommodate tight turnaround times
• Thrives on curiosity, feedback, and research
• Experience with major social media platforms, email blast platforms, video editing software (Final Cut, CapCut, and/or Final Cut Pro, etc.), graphic creation tools (like Canva or Adobe Photoshop), and website administration platforms (like Wix or WordPress)
• A fast learner and willingness to pick up new concepts and skills
• Must have strong writing and organizational skills
• Asks good questions and is solutions-oriented
• Has good follow through and knows how to follow-up
• Demonstrated commitment to working on racial and social justice issues
• Ability to effectively and respectfully communicate, collaborate and connect with people with various backgrounds, identities, and experiences
• Experience working in and with racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically marginalized communities
• Strong writing and research skills
• Ability to problem-solve and implement solutions to complex communications issues

Additional Preferences:

• Experience with a DSLR/mirrorless cameras and videography
• Experience directly implementing a communications campaign
• Familiarity with environmental justice, climate justice, and Michigan landscape
• SEO-writing experience
• On-camera experience
• at least 1 year of advocacy and/or campaign experience
• Experience working with policy coalitions and/or community-based partners

About us

The Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition (MEJC) is a statewide coalition working to achieve a clean, healthy, and safe environment for Michigan’s most vulnerable residents. The Jemez and EJ Principles through popular education, grassroots policy advocacy, and organizing our communities for systems change. MEJC convened in 2011 to grow the Environmental Justice movement in Michigan. We lead campaigns to fight for Energy Justice and Clean Air as well as engage in federal and state policy. MEJC hopes to define an ambitious Environmental Justice agenda for Michigan that centers Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities and is free of fossil fuels and false solutions.

What we offer you

• Salary Range: $50,000 - $65,000 per year
• 4-day work week
• Medical, dental, and vision (Individual coverage is 100% paid for by MEJC)
• 401k with employer match
• Disability insurance options
• Generous PTO including parental leave
• Professional development
• Community involvement

I’m interested. How do I get started?

To apply, please submit the following items to: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=oIWBwfwv&s=myHRpartner

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Link to a portfolio (or Instagram account) containing work and/or project examples

Hybrid position: The candidate must live in Detroit, Michigan.

Is this the job for you?
If not, feel free to share this link with someone who might be interested.

Our hiring management partner is myHR Partner. myHR Partner is not a staffing service or recruiter. All resumes/applications will be reviewed for this position and only for our organization. Thank you for considering us as a potential employer!

At MEJC, we continually celebrate the diverse community different individuals cultivate. As an equal-opportunity employer, we stay true to that by ensuring that our place can be anyone’s place.