Communications Associate

The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of over 150 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and in particular the women within these groups. RRI’s members capitalize on each other’s strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. RRI leverages the power of its global coalition to amplify the voices of local peoples and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights.

If you are passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples in the Global South to strengthen their rights, development, and environmental efforts, this could be the place for you. For more information, check out our current openings.

People of color, people from Indigenous and local communities, women, and LGBTQ+ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Communications Associate

The Communications Associate is responsible for working with RRI’s regional and global teams to advance the advocacy efforts of our coalition across its priority countries. Their goal is to support the development and distribution of RRI’s country, regional, and national level impact stories for international audiences, including Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and community leaders; policymakers; donors; and the private sector. To achieve this, they will contribute to a range of deliverables for the Strategic Communications Program, including social media content, e-blasts, blog posts, videos, newsletters, and press materials.

The ideal candidate has experience effectively supporting various communications projects including publication production, events, and social media campaigns. We are looking for a talented and detail-oriented writer, editor, and social media enthusiast who is interested in working across cultures and improving their project management skills. The ideal candidate has deep familiarity with multi-cultural environments, and preferably has lived working experience in a developing country.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC, USA or Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the country they apply for and be located in either the DC or Montreal metro areas prior to the start date.

Applicants for the Washington, DC location should apply to this offer. To apply for the Montreal location, please visit: https://apply.workable.com/j/F2B58A0A78

Applications will be accepted immediately and interviews conducted on a rolling basis.

Under the supervision of the Director, Strategic Communications and in close coordination with two other team members, the Communications Associate will:

1. Contribute to messaging, production, and dissemination of deliverables for RRI’s Strategic Communications Program (35%)

• Support development and promotion of blog posts, e-blasts, social media, and video to highlight RRI’s research and accomplishments.
• Lead content management and metrics analysis of RRI and its networks’ websites and act as primary liaison between RRI and web consultants for improvements, troubleshooting, and content updates.
• Develop systems and strategies to maximize and promote the use of RRI’s social media platforms.
• Coordinate with RRI’s Tenure Tracking Team by participating in strategy discussions and assisting in the review and production of its digital research tools in accessible formats.

2. Provide routine communications support for RRI’s programmatic work (35%)

• Support contract management for the Strategic Communications Program, ensuring effective liaison with consultants and vendors and adherence to RRI’s financial requirements.
• Monitor and lead RRI’s social media outreach, and support development and execution of social media campaigns to promote new research and events.
• Support the development of the RRI newsletter by liaising regularly with RRI’s programs to capture and distribute impacts emerging from their efforts.

3. Serve as one of RRI’s institutional writers and editors (20%)

• Author and ghostwrite articles, impact stories, opinion pieces, blogs, newsletters, and materials for traditional and digital media outreach.
• Write, edit, and proofread digital content including blog posts and social media copy.
• Support production of RRI’s annual report and editing and proofreading of other impact reporting, as needed.

4. Share information and build creative partnerships with RRI coalition members and allies (10%)

• Manage and strengthen a network of communications focal points across the RRI coalition, encourage information sharing, and respond to members’ requests for information.
• Maintain and drive digital content partnerships with coalition members and external organizations for increased impact.
• Support internal information management and sharing across various program teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, or relevant field required.
• Minimum two years of experience working in communications for human rights or environmental justice issues.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with ability to multitask in a fast-paced work environment and prioritize competing short- and long-term demands.
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills in English are required, with professional fluency in French, Spanish, and/or Portuguese highly preferred.
• Working knowledge of multimedia, design, and communications software, such as WordPress, WebFlow, Mailchimp, Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Canva, and Hootsuite.
• Experience developing communications content for press, digital, video, and social media platforms highly desired.
• Ability to work well in a team environment with the flexibility to work independently in a highly dynamic environment.
• Experience working in developing countries and in multicultural environments.
• A passion for social justice, equity, and human rights.

Salary: Starting at 55,000 USD, based on experience

Benefits

Rights and Resources recognizes the value of benefits to employees and their families. We take great pride in offering our dedicated and committed employees a competitive benefits package. Our comprehensive benefit programs provide you with a reliable, effective, and affordable array of choices that will meet your needs and those of your family.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 100% coverage of employee premiums for the following: short-term/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, travel insurance, and the employee assistant program
• If eligible, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• 25 days of PTO, in addition to paid holidays
• Flextime and teleworking options
• Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year after 1 full year of employment
• Dynamic growth opportunities with merit-based promotion philosophy

Rights and Resources is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Rights and Resources makes all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, political affiliation or belief, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other category protected by applicable law.