Regional Communications Director

Our energy system is on the brink of a major transformation, and we're looking for someone to help us ensure this new system puts rooftop solar energy at the cornerstone!

About Us!

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit that started more than 15 years ago with a simple question. "Mom, can we go solar?" Since then, we've helped tens of thousands of people benefit from solar energy. We are dedicated to creating a clean, equitable, resilient energy system that benefits everyone - by helping people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.

About the Position

The Regional Communications Director heads a team of 3 regional managers and 3 regional fellows that support 14 states and territories in their day-to-day communication, campaign, and marketing activities. The team’s responsibilities range from promotion of bulk purchasing solar programs to local advocacy campaigns and media relations. Serving as a key member of departmental leadership as well as the Senior Management team, the Director will provide structure and systems to guide the efficacy of SUN’s regional MarComms portfolios. And, they will be part of a best-in-class team of communications and marketing professionals who guide the work of communicating SUN’s mission to build a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone.

The ideal candidate will be an exemplary people manager who knows how to troubleshoot solutions with diplomacy. If you have 5 years of experience managing marketing or communications staff and a passion for ensuring timely, clear, and efficient processes – this position is for you. Reporting to the Vice President of Communications and Marketing, the Director should have an understanding of, and commitment to SUN’s mission and vision.

How to Apply: If you think this job might be for you, please apply on our job board! Be sure to include a cover letter, resume, and answers to these three questions, as prompted: How would you describe yourself as a manager? What do you like most about managing people? What is your approach to conflict resolution?

Job responsibilities include:

Leadership and People Management (40%)

• Directly supervise 3 regional managers who oversee communications and marketing activities in Atlantic South East (D.C, Maryland, Florida, Puerto Rico, Virginia); Heartland (Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia); and West (Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas)
• Oversee department fellows and staff, including supporting recruitment, onboarding, assignment of tasks, and timecard approvals
• Provide guidance, mentorship, and constructive feedback to junior staff, fostering a supportive culture and ensuring their contributions align with program goals and team objectives
• Provoke introspection, critical thinking, and interdependence
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and welcoming team culture that fosters well being, retention, and high performance
• Run training sessions for staff on Marketing and Communications systems and software
• Participate in Departmental Leadership and Senior Management Team meetings
• Serve as a recognized leader and subject matter expert in key areas such as campaign management and inclusive storytelling

Cohesive National Operations (30%)

• Ensure each state has a clear communications and marketing strategy, goal(s), and work plan that is ambitious but achievable
• Meet regularly with state and regional directors to troubleshoot issues and identify solutions that will keep communications activities running smoothly
• Develop and implement systems to cultivate effective and consistent MarComms operations within and among each of the regional portfolios
• Provide backup and swing coverage for regional managers during high-volume moments and whenever capacity is constrained
• Monitor and assist team members in managing workflows, proactively addressing performance issues as they arise
• Analyze data, metrics, and performance of regional outputs, identifying trends, and advocating for any needed additional resources

Cross-Cutting Project Management (20%)

• Oversee integrated Asana calendar to ensure deadlines are being met, promotion plans include all relevant team members, and platforms are publishing synchronously
• Guide local and national campaign coordination to ensure alignment and integration from states, regions, and cross-cutting teams
• Establish quantitative goals and key performance indicators for each region to assess MarComms’ efficacy, adjusting as necessary to keep work on track
• Proactively identify areas of concern, bottlenecks, and challenges as they arise and address them in a timely manner, making continuous improvements
• Generate monthly reports on each region’s communication and marketing activities
• Manage regional budgets; assess new funding proposals to evaluate time and capacity needs
• Implement process and tool improvements to increase efficiency, reduce error, and reduce cost
• Partner with marketing, digital, and cross-cutting teams to enhance story presentation and engagement

Organization-wide administration (10%)

• Show up fully for learning and planning and activities, including all-staff meetings, retreats, and strategy sessions
• Supervise staff and external consultants as needed to ensure departmental goals are clearly communicated and consistently managed
• Facilitate meetings, prepare agendas, and take notes
• As a key member of the team, contribute to brainstorming, developing, and executing new ideas
• Manage your own regular administration, including timely submission of timesheets, receipts, reimbursements, scheduling, traveling planning, and HR paperwork

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in communications, marketing, or campaigns, with a demonstrated record of strong leadership
• Minimum 5 years of supervisory experience managing remote teams, including supervising consultants and working with cross-functional teams
• Proven experience working across multiple departments with competing priorities to achieve goals
• Exemplary project management skills in a fast-paced organization, balancing long-term strategy with rapid response and day-to-day operations
• Proficiency with systems/process design and implementation
• Highly organized strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to problem solve in a matrix managed environment
• Ability to coach, train, and support staff and stakeholders in content development, campaign strategy, and message discipline
• Demonstrated experience with inclusive storytelling, ensuring content is representative and accessible to diverse audiences
• Outstanding written, verbal communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work remotely in a dynamic, action-oriented setting, with up to 10% travel, including twice-yearly team retreats in the United States or Puerto Rico
• Comfort with a remote distributed office, including tools like Asana, Slack, and Google office

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of clean energy, climate, or environmental issues, with the ability to translate complex policy into compelling narratives for general audiences
• Campaign experience that drives audiences across the political spectrum from awareness to action
• Demonstrated ability to analyze campaign performance and translate insights into strategic adjustments
• Experience with narrative strategy, principles, or practices
• Familiarity with any of these platforms: Wordpress, Every Action, Mobilize, Impactive, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and all major social media platforms
• Experience with advocacy campaigns
• Adaptable and versatile understanding of best digital practices and trends.
• Analytic abilities, creativity, and attention to detail
• Spanish fluency

We anticipate accepting applications until the third week of June, with the first review of candidates next week. However, we encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible, as we may begin interviews on a rolling basis.

SUN welcomes candidates of diverse backgrounds and experience to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with a non-traditional education. We're an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every preferred qualification, we still encourage you to apply.