External Relations & Marketing Manager/Sr. Manager

Position Description

The External Relations and Marketing Manager/Senior Manager (Mgr.) is responsible for leading the organization’s strategic communications, branding, messaging, outreach, and events to ensure that the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) reaches its target audiences with relevant, insightful information that points towards action. 

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Mgr. partners with the leadership team, staff, and key stakeholders to develop goals and strategies for effective communications across print, digital media, and events to include members, partners, sponsors, and event attendees. 

This position leads the design, planning, and tactical implementation of the Southeast Energy Summit and selected SEEA events and interacts regularly with all levels of the organization. The role requires the ability to address both high-level communications strategy, detailed tactics and hands-on execution. The role also drives membership engagement, fostering connections and participation while managing staff and contractors supporting marketing, communications, and events.

Core Responsibilities

The Senior Manager candidate will have more depth and breadth in both skills and experience across all the core responsibilities.

External Relations

• Perform end-to-end oversight of external communications campaigns and content, including writing/editing content, overseeing the design and print production, acquiring stakeholder approvals, and distribution.
• Partner with the ED, team, and stakeholders to align communications goals and strategies.
• Work collaboratively with others to guide the development of strategic communications plans and campaigns that detail key deliverables, events or fundraising goals, target audiences, channels, schedules, and roles and responsibilities.
• Engage external media outlets and others to promote SEEA’s work through an effective outreach strategy.
• Support development efforts to support SEEA events in collaboration with the ED.

Member Engagement

• Maintain regular contact and proactively connect members with SEEA’s staff, board of directors, and other organizations to build trusted and targeted business relationships.
• Support the SEEA membership journey from recruitment to invoicing, engagement and support/partnership opportunities.
• Coordinate and support all aspects of member event planning, including the Annual Member Meeting and Southeast Energy Efficiency Summit, including related financial development in collaboration with the Executive Director, leadership, team, and board planning committees and staff.
• Develop recruitment campaigns to recruit new members by compiling prospect lists, conducting research, developing campaigns, drafting solicitations, and creating new member/member communications strategy to ensure successful engagement.
• Assess and upgrade the member value proposition across membership classes to increase retention and new member solicitation.
• Serve as a consultative leader to translate member needs/participation goals into event engagement.

Marketing & Communications

• Develop and maintain the organization’s strategic communications framework, branding guidelines, and messaging that align with SEEA’s mission, vision, and values.
• Provide guidance, templates, and training to staff on how to serve as stewards of SEEA’s brand and ensure consistent application across all delivery methods and platforms. 
• Support staff with articulating the value, benefits, and return on events, products, or services to target audiences
• Support the execution of communication strategies and tactics, including the annual report, blogs, newsletters, press releases, website content, social media content, events, and printed material.
• Utilize data analytics, surveys, and stakeholder interviews to inform the efficacy and impact of SEEA’s communication initiatives and identify recommendations.
• Stay informed of current events, external trends, technologies, and platforms and adapt SEEA’s communications strategies and methods as needed.

Administration & Management

• Manage the organization-level communications work plan, editorial calendar, and budget.
• Oversee the organization and maintenance of SEEA’s communication platforms, contact lists, digital media assets (templates, collateral, stock photos), co-marketing agreements, and contractor agreements.
• Maintain all events, communications, and outreach budgets to optimize value and minimize expenses.

Team Supervision 

For the supervision of direct reports and contractors:

• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentoring to cross-functional teammates and collaborators across external relations, communications, membership, and development.
• Communicate consistently to ensure direct reports, contractors, and teammates understand their roles, responsibilities, work plans, goals, timelines, and performance metrics.
• Review and assess work performance to ensure compliance with standards for work scope, accuracy, completeness, and quality.
• Foster a trusting and supportive relationship through transparent communication, feedback, and guidance on professional development while maintaining a positive and productive team environment.
• Manage and support logistics and other contractors.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, preferably in English, communications, marketing, journalism, or business. Experience in a non-profit membership organization is a plus.
  • Manager: Minimum of five years of work experience in a similar functional role.
  • Senior Manager: Minimum of seven years of work experience in a similar functional role.
• Previous supervisory/management experience.
• A creative and collaborative communicator, event planner/strategist with the ability to support others to define intended audiences, messages, and communication methods.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a diplomatic approach to engaging stakeholders, building consensus, and bringing diverse groups together.
• Superior strategic planning, project management, prioritization, and time management skills.
• The ability to cultivate written and visual storytelling to highlight SEEA's work.
• Experience sourcing and managing relationships with communications and marketing vendors, such as news-distribution services, media, event planners, photographers, designers, etc.
• Experienced user of major communication and social media platforms and the ability to quickly learn and apply technologies and tools as needed.

Classification & Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Atlanta, Georgia. SEEA offers a hybrid work environment that requires a minimum of two days in the office (T & Th) per week and includes travel to SEEA events and conferences.

SEEA offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. The title/level will be determined based on experience. The salary for this position starts at: Manager Level: $68,800+ and Senior Manager Level: $82,900+.  SEEA is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building a workplace where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported.  SEEA considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter, through SEEA’s BambooHR portal: Apply Today: SEEA External Relations & Marketing Manager.

Please, no emails or calls.
Candidates considered for interviews will be asked to provide three professional or academic references and may be asked to provide writing samples and share their skills and creativity throughout the interview process.

Who We Are

SEEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, GA. Founded in 2007, SEEA promotes efficient energy as a catalyst for economic growth, workforce development, and energy security across 12 states and five U.S. territories. We provide research, consultation and education, stakeholder facilitation, program management, and financial services to a diverse set of stakeholders in the energy sector. We believe all in the Southeast should live & work in healthy, resilient buildings, utilize clean, affordable transportation & thrive in a robust economy. 

SEEA’s Culture & Benefits

SEEA offers a highly collaborative and supportive work environment to allow employees to be authentic, learn, grow, and demonstrate their leadership abilities. We are committed to fostering an environment of transparency and trust that enables us to learn from one another.

Full-time employees receive the following benefits: 

• 
  Fifteen (15) days of paid time off, four (4) floating holidays, and seven (7) paid holidays annually.
• End of year office closure (paid leave December 24 through January
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance benefits
• 401(k) retirement plans with organizational match and immediate vesting (up to 4%).
• Paid maternity and parental leave.
• Monthly mobile phone stipend and transit stipend ($35 each per month).
• Flexible work schedule and hybrid office setting with at least two in-office days weekly.
• Continuing education and professional development opportunities and funding.