Public Relations Manager- 2026
1 day ago
Emeryville
Job DescriptionDescription: About GRID Alternatives GRID Alternatives is a national leader in making clean, affordable solar power and solar jobs accessible to low-income communities and communities of color. GRID is an entrepreneurial, high-growth non-profit organization that provides direct solar installation and project development; clean mobility options; workforce training and service-learning opportunities; and low-income solar policy advocacy. Our Vision: a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone. Our Mission: to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. What it's like to work at GRID… At GRID, we care about each other and know that each employee has a whole self that includes life outside of work. Our culture supports learning, growth and well-being of all of our team members. Summary of the role: We are seeking a dynamic and mission-driven Publicist and Public Relations Manager to lead our publicity and public relations strategy and elevate our organization's national profile. This individual will be responsible for shaping public perception, building media relationships, and ensuring our message reaches the communities, donors, and stakeholders we serve. Beyond traditional media relations, this position will drive proactive visibility strategies across digital platforms, including LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasts, webinars, and industry publications, to elevate GRID’s brand presence and influence public discourse. The Publicist and Public Relations Manager will serve as the architect of a modern earned media and thought leadership ecosystem that integrates press, digital storytelling, and executive voice. Key Responsibilities Strategic Communications, Media Relations & Outreach • Create and execute a comprehensive annual PR strategy that supports the organization's mission, fundraising goals, and advocacy initiatives, • Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, producers, and media outlets at the local, regional, and national levels, • Develop compelling narratives that translate the organization's impact into stories that resonate with diverse audiences, • Pitch compelling stories that align with organizational priorities and respond to media inquiries in a timely and strategic manner, and serve as a primary media contact and spokesperson when needed, • Write and distribute press releases, media advisories, op-eds, talking points, and executive speeches, • Design and launch a GRID-hosted webinar series that elevates organizational expertise and supports fundraising, policy, and partnership goals, • Partner with marketing and program teams to repurpose webinars into YouTube content, short-form clips, podcast pitches, and media assets, • Build a repeatable system for converting earned media into digital amplification across social platforms, • Partner closely with the Chief Philanthropy and Communications Officer and senior leadership team to build and maintain a strong public profile that advances the organization's mission, • Develop individualized visibility strategies for key executives, including proactive media placement, bylined article opportunities, podcast appearances, and broadcast interviews, • Prepare executives for media engagements through comprehensive briefings, talking points, and message training, • Identify and pursue opportunities for executives to be featured in national publications, leadership roundups, and "expert voice" segments, • Develop a thought leadership strategy that positions the organization as a leading voice in its field through speaking, contributed content, and media commentary, • Target high-impact national stages (e.g., major renewable energy conferences, climate summits, philanthropy convenings, policy forums), • Maintain a calendar of relevant speaking opportunities and manage the full submission process, including proposals, bios, abstracts, and supporting materials, • Work collaboratively with GRID’s program and policy staff to identify internal experts whose knowledge and experience can contribute to public discourse., • Track and report on speaking placements and their impact on brand awareness and stakeholder engagement, • Develop and maintain a crisis communications plan, • Serve as a lead advisor during sensitive or high-stakes situations, providing rapid response guidance that protects the organization's reputation and credibility, • Ensure consistency in tone, voice, and messaging across all public-facing materials, • Manage staff Events Coordinator and provide PR support for major fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and advocacy initiatives, • Track media coverage, measure campaign effectiveness, and report on PR metrics to senior leadership, • Use data to refine strategies and demonstrate ROI, • Develop visibility dashboards tracking earned media reach, executive engagement growth (LinkedIn, podcast placements, webinar attendance), speaking impact, and share of voice, • Provide quarterly executive visibility reports tied to fundraising and strategic initiatives Requirements: Your areas of knowledge and expertise... • Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field, • 5+ years of experience in public relations, media relations, or communications, • Proven track record of securing earned media coverage at the national level, • Demonstrated success building national thought leadership platforms for executives or mission-driven organizations, • Experience integrating earned media strategy with digital and social media amplification, • Experience identifying and securing speaking opportunities for organizational leaders and subject matter experts, • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, • Experience managing crisis communications, • Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment It would be great if you also had... • Experience launching webinar or owned-media series, • Familiarity with executive ghostwriting and personal brand positioning, • Prior experience working in or with non-profit organizations, • Established relationships with national media contacts and conference programming teams, • Familiarity with media monitoring tools such as Cision, Meltwater, or similar platforms, • Experience supporting executive-level spokespeople and board members, • Knowledge of the conference and events landscape relevant to the non-profit or social impact sector Compensation: The compensation range for this fulltime position is $75k-$100k annually. The base pay that will actually be offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, experience and take into account internal equity. Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision/Eye Care insurance, 5 weeks paid time off (PTO),13 paid holidays, Commuter Checks, 403b Retirement Plan, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), STD, LTD, and AD&D insurance Where you will sit & the places you may go… The ideal candidate will sit in the United States. This position may require up to 25% out-of-town travel to regional offices and special projects such as org-wide celebrations, team building exercises, etc. Availability to work nights and weekends may very rarely be required. GRID Alternatives may provide vehicles for work travel and/or travel reimbursement for personal vehicle use. In this instance, applicants must hold a valid driver’s license and have a good driving record. Important to note for California applicants: **Hired CA candidates must be able to pass a screening for drugs that are illegal in the state of California, including: amphetamine, cocaine metabolite, opiates, and PCP. Reasonable Accommodation for Job Seekers with a Disability: If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: Ready to Apply? Submit a resume describing your interest. Due to the high volume of inquiries, mailed and emailed applications are not accepted. GRID Alternatives provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetics. Because we value EID at GRID Alternatives, we encourage folks from all backgrounds to apply, even if you do not meet all of the preferred qualifications. Every member of GRID Alternatives must be dedicated to participating in the organization's equity, inclusion, and diversity (EID) work.