Director, Communications, Climate & Energy Program

Third Way is a national think tank and advocacy organization that champions moderate policy and political ideas. Since our founding in 2005, we have served as a critical bulwark against political extremism by advancing values-driven, reform-oriented solutions on the defining issues of our time. Our work is grounded in the mainstream American values of opportunity, freedom, security, and democratic capitalism, and we advocate for the vital center across seven major areas: climate and energy, economy, education, health care, national security, politics, and social policy.

The Climate and Energy Program (CEP) at Third Way works to develop and galvanize support for deploying every technology needed to make energy affordable, reliable, secure, and clean.

Leading a talented team of communication staffers, the Director of Communications for Third Way’s Climate and Energy Program will build and implement the program’s communication strategy to advance an ambitious clean energy policy agenda and narrative in the United States. This position will oversee all earned, social, and paid media efforts, lead public opinion research, and manage the production and publication of position papers and research. The Director of Communications is responsible for shaping CEP messaging and ensuring all published products are strategic, message-aligned, and effective.

This position also partners closely with the Senior Vice President for Climate and Energy, Vice President for Policy, and the Senior Director for Philanthropy on program strategy, staffing, and program management.

We are looking for a talented communicator and manager with a passion for finding new and creative ways to stand out in a crowded media ecosystem. Some familiarity with the energy sector, climate mitigation, and US politics is preferred.

As the Director of Communications (CEP), a typical day might include…

• Crafting strong messaging designed to increase the popularity of clean energy technologies with key stakeholders, especially working class, rural, and other diverse communities;
• Developing and managing a quarterly and annual communications strategy and content calendar for the design, execution, and release of high-impact products, public opinion polling, earned and social media outreach, and other public-facing content that advances CEP’s goals.
• Educating internal and external stakeholders, including national and statewide campaigns, NGO and labor union partners, policymakers, and institutional and individual philanthropy, on Third Way messaging;
• Marketing our ideas to the traditional media outlets, podcasts, and emerging media voices, including on highly sensitive issues with complex political cross pressures;
• Leading, coaching, and developing the CEP communications team, including shepherding products from start to finish, reviewing and refining drafts, and ensuring consistent messaging across our work;
• Spearheading strategic partnerships to advance our goals and managing relationships with the media and complex networks of partners on and off the Hill;
• Overseeing special projects that communicate our policy objectives in new and creative ways, including measuring and communicating our impact to key audiences, creation of interactive maps and microsites, spearheading state-level communications efforts to test messaging on the ground, and researching and writing long-form research projects on effective communication in the energy space;
• Developing and managing the CEP communications budget, including paid media, polling, consultants, vendors, and special communications initiatives.

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• Salary Range : $125,000 - $140,000, annually
• At Third Way, we are committed to non-discrimination and fair pay practices. The final starting salary offer will be determined based on your experience and qualifications.