Communications and Engagement Lead, Anti-SLAPP Team

ABOUT GREENPEACE:

Greenpeace is a global, independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. For over fifty years, Greenpeace has fought to save the planet from the threat of global warming, destruction of ancient forests, deterioration of our oceans, and the threat of a nuclear disaster loom large. As an independent organization, Greenpeace does not accept funds from any corporations or government entities, safeguarding our independence and ability to speak the truth and act boldly. We recognize the importance of the moment: Ours is the first generation to experience the impacts of climate change and ecosystem destruction, and the last generation with a window of time to do something about it.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Greenpeace USA campaigns on democracy because we understand that a healthy democracy is a precondition to a healthy environment. This includes the right to peaceful protest, to voice dissent, and to engage in public education, campaigns, and advocacy. These rights are currently under attack, which means that our ability to fight for a green and just future is under threat as well. One of those attacks comes in the form of lawsuits filed by environmentally destructive companies with the express purpose of shutting down dissent. SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) can be filed against people simply for speaking out–in other words, they represent a fundamental attack on the First Amendment. If an organization or individual doesn’t have the resources to fight a multi million dollar lawsuit,  merely filing the lawsuit may force them into silence. If they do have the resources–like Greenpeace USA does–they may be mired in expensive legal proceedings for years. Greenpeace USA has already defeated one SLAPP suit, and along with Greenpeace International is fighting another filed by the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. Greenpeace is fighting this lawsuit not just for its own sake, but for everyone who depends on the right to free speech.

The Communications and Engagement Lead, Anti-SLAPP Team, will lead the planning and implementation of an international and U.S. communications strategy on SLAPPs,  guiding and weaving together the movement, legal, and narrative strategies required to fight back against our SLAPP suit–and win. The Lead  oversees communications to advance our goals around SLAPP suits and protecting the right to protest, including development of overarching narratives, messaging, positioning, and media content. The Lead will capitalize on audience analysis to adjust messaging for maximum impact. Through this work, the Lead plays a critical role in advancing the movement win around SLAPP suits, toxifying SLAPP use by corporations, and advancing federal anti-SLAPP legislation to protect the fundamental right to free speech for all Americans.

The Communications and Engagement Lead, Anti-SLAPP Team, is an exempt, full-time, benefits eligible role that can be based in any authorized Greenpeace state: CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, MD, ME, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OR, VA, WA (with preference given to candidates on the east coast), and reports to the Campaign Communications Director. 

The Communications and Engagement Lead, Anti-SLAPP Team will:

Lead Development of Global and U.S. Overarching Communication Strategies

• Advance campaign objectives around combatting SLAPP suits, including telling the story of how Greenpeace is fighting the SLAPPs not just for ourselves but for the entire movement and beyond. 
• Lead planning and coordination of global pushes for the campaign, including global spotlights and full power moments.
• Adapt key messages based on data-informed audience analysis to ensure maximum impact in the U.S. and other key geographies. 
• Work closely with Greenpeace's legal team to ensure alignment with legal strategy.
• Collaborate with Anti-SLAPP Strategic Director, Anti-SLAPP campaign director, Anti-SLAPP Digital Strategist, as well as DOT and Marketing staff to identify and act on strategic opportunities to mobilize Greenpeace's network of supporters and activists as well as engage new audiences to simultaneously grow our base while advancing campaign goals. 

Media Relations & Writing

• Manage media lists and proactively engage media on the Anti-SLAPP campaign, including to educate media and bridge corporate SLAPP strategies with the myriad fights the progressive movement is up against. 
• Oversee and implement all strategic communications work to advance SLAPP campaign objectives, including writing statements, op-eds, and other materials and rigorously edit all public statements, news releases, and other output as required in consultation with the Campaign Communications Director. 
• Co-produce and test outputs incorporating diverse voices and targeting a range of audiences. 

Coordination Across the Global Network and Within Greenpeace USA

• Actively develop the working relationships necessary to ensure offices around the world participate in the campaign and campaign activities, and work closely with Greenpeace International, which is also a defendant in the Greenpeace Standing Rock Lawsuit.
• Develop plans with GPI and key NROs–as well as the GPUS Development Department–when opportunities arise to secure funding to help deliver agreed tactics and strategy.
• Ensure Greenpeace USA staff and global Media Hubs have a clear understanding of our SLAPP  suit and strategy,  the theories of change behind it, and what they can do to change the narrative on this work externally.

Manage Coordination with External Audiences and Allies 

• Cultivate and manage relationships with allies,  including the Protect the Protest Coalition
• Bridge the gap between climate and anti-SLAPP work by maintaining relationships with key climate spaces such as People v Fossil Fuels.
• Where possible, cultivate and collaborate with unconventional allies who are invested in the right to free speech. 

Review and Manage Sign Off for Key Campaign Outputs 

• Participate in and advise on communications and global project plans and outputs.
• Ensure all global output materials for the campaign are signed off by the campaign team, campaign communications director, and legal.
• Upon request from NROs, review regional engagement plans, pitches from creative agencies, communications outputs, and engagement materials.

Minimum requirements for the Communications and Engagement Lead, Anti-SLAPP Team include:

• At least 8  years of experience in strategic communications, with an advanced understanding of, and proven track record in, delivering traditional media output for campaigns; previous experience with international issue-based advocacy a plus.
• Exceptional English writing and analytical skills, from the ability to draft opinion pieces to translating political strategies into audience and engagement centric communications, strategies, and outputs.
• Strong time and priority management, high level of self-motivation, proactive and can-do mentality, ability to work effectively under stressful conditions and across different time zones. 
• Strong interpersonal relations and influencing skills, able to work effectively in a remote situation, and still build trust quickly with partners and colleagues in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. 
• Ability to lead and influence with a passion for excellence, to achieve agreed goals and to drive change without direct authority. 
• Expert knowledge of the climate crisis and the ways that free speech is critical for efforts to combat it. 
• Demonstrated experience in managing cross-cultural and geographically distributed teams. 
• Willingness to travel internationally and work across multiple time zones. 
• A demonstrated commitment to racial equity, gender justice, and to empowering low- and moderate-income communities through engagement activities. 

Additional qualifications for the Communications and Engagement Lead, Anti-SLAPP Team include, but are not limited to:

• Brings innovative ideas to the project, is able to think outside the box and has solid background in communications and media relations, storytelling, and messaging
• Showcases exceptional creativity, passion, proactivity and problem-solving skills
• Track record of developing creative campaign content that engages diverse communities, deepens relationships with existing supporters, and advances engagement goals and organizational capacity
• Strong project leadership and project planning skills to enable the delivery of projects to time, to budget and to deliver clear objectives
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams to enable the delivery of projects on time, to budget and to deliver clear objectives
• Ability to cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Clear understanding of the relationship between communications and campaigning and advocacy 
• Sound judgment and willingness to make tough and strategic decisions when confronted with difficult choices
• Ability to balance multiple projects at once, including both short-term responsive work and long-term capacity-building work
• Commitment to progressive values and peaceful direct action as a means to effect change

If you want to save the world from climate change and believe in environmental justice, please submit an application on our careers page. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will conclude once we have found the best candidate.

Greenpeace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, family/marital status, religion or other protected classes. We strongly encourage applications from marginalized communities. If you require assistance applying to this opportunity, please contact [email protected]. 

COVID - 19:

*As of Q1 2022, most Greenpeace employees are working from home due to COVID-19. In accordance with Greenpeace values to maintain a safe and healthy working environment, we have adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health of our employees, supporters, and the community at large from COVID-19. Current and future employees in need of an exemption from this policy for medical reasons, or because of sincerely held religious beliefs may request exemption. Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause Greenpeace undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

BENEFITS

Greenpeace USA values a healthy work-life balance and has flexible, family-friendly employment policies. Our competitive benefits package for full-time employees includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with low contributions from staff. We have options for pre-tax flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care costs. Greenpeace employees enjoy generous 401K matching and time-off for vacation, sick, personal, and parental leave. After five years, staff are eligible for a paid sabbatical. To encourage public transportation use and biking, we offer subsidies for staff who choose to bike or ride mass transit to work. Greenpeace is committed to the growth and development of staff and fostering a creative workplace culture. For more information, check out our benefits plan.

Only applicants eligible to work and live in the United States without any legal restrictions need apply for this opportunity.

The salary range for this position is anticipated to be $87,900 - $90,000 and is commensurate with experience.