Strategic Communications Manager, CNT | Foresight Design Initiative

The Center for Neighborhood Technology seeks an experienced, dynamic and creative professional to lead and grow its Strategic Communications programs. The position is available immediately.

The Organization:
Founded in 1978, CNT (www.cnt.org) is an award-winning urban sustainability innovations laboratory that develops, tests, and replicates programs and policies to make urban communities more livable, affordable, and sustainable, creating tangible community economic and environmental benefits. CNT?s work promotes the efficient use of energy, water, transportation, land, and infrastructure resources, aiming to simultaneously improve both the economy and the environment, while reducing the cost of living. CNT?s work combines cutting-edge research and analysis, public policy advocacy, the creation of web-based information tools for transparency and accountability, and the advancement of social ventures which speed adoption of these innovations.

CNT promotes fundamental paradigm shifts that move communities and regions toward long-term sustainability. CNT?s H+T? Affordability Index, for example, makes household transportation costs transparent at a very local scale, enabling policymakers and home seekers to consider transportation costs as a component of overall housing affordability. CNT also promotes policies, programs, and investments that can reduce combined Housing and Transportation costs and create more affordable and location efficient communities.

CNT?s two non-profit affiliates, I-GO Car Sharing and CNT Energy, develop and market energy efficiency and car-sharing services to consumers and building owners, providing direct economic and environmental benefits.? CNT and its affiliates have a full-time staff of over 100 and a 19-member board of directors.

In 2009 CNT received a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

Position Description:
CNT?s ideas and initiatives are gaining recognition nationally as promising approaches to urban sustainability and social equity.? Achieving the organization?s goals, however, requires that its work be more widely understood and adopted across a range of audiences. The core task of the strategic communications manager is to position CNT, both nationally and locally, as a leading source of strategies, tools, and policies to promote urban sustainability and equity, thereby enabling it to reach more audiences with its transformative ideas and achieve its policy and program objectives.

CNT seeks a strategic thinker adept at communicating with a range of key audiences, including policy makers, practitioners, local officials, industry leaders, and the media, at the local, regional and national level. The strategic communication manager is expected to help CNT shape key messages and position the organization and its strategies with target audiences.?? Working with the CEO and senior staff, the Strategic Communications Manager is responsible for raising the visibility of CNT as a thought leader and effective practitioner in its program areas, and assist program managers in achieving their communications objectives.? The person should be an excellent and experienced writer and have a broad understanding of methods of communication across the range of today?s media.

The Strategic Communications Manager reports to the CEO. He or she will work closely with CNT?s Development and Communications and program staff to implement communications strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Communications Strategy

• Work with Board and staff to frame CNT?s core messages and ensure their broad understanding and adoption.
• Ensure that CNT?s core messages are effectively and consistently conveyed and strengthen CNT?s credibility as a trustworthy source of information.
• Help program managers advance their specific programmatic goals through strategic communications planning and strategic guidance; identify target audiences for each program area; develop and implement a communications strategy for each major program initiative.
• Monitor and evaluate news, trends and events, with an eye toward opportunities to communicate CNT?s work.

Organizational Voice

• Provide editorial and messaging support to CNT program staff on all communications materials, as well as communications training/coaching for program staff to build skills and capacity.
• Edit and write speeches, talking points and presentations for senior leadership.

Strategic Partnerships

• Establish collaborations and strategic partnerships to support promotion and dissemination of specific projects.
• Cultivate working relationships with peer organizations around shared communications goals.

Qualifications:

• The ability to think strategically and to position issues and ideas within the public debate;
• Superb writing, editing, and verbal communications skills;
• Solid organizational and interpersonal skills;
• The ability to collaborate with others and work in diverse effective teams;
• Five or more years work experience in a senior communication and/or policy role, or related fields such as journalism and public relations;
• A working knowledge of urban, environmental, and economic policy, community development, urban planning, housing, energy and/or environmental studies;
• Success in planning and implementation of communication strategies aimed at policy change;
• Track record of communications products that are clear, persuasive and suitable for their target audience;
• Established Chicago-area or national media relationships desirable.

Personal Characteristics:
This position requires a person of intelligence and integrity who is highly motivated and team-oriented; enjoys organizing and coordinating projects and processes involving many people and issues; has demonstrated a commitment to CNT?s goals and mission; can work under deadlines and maintain a cooperative spirit in a demanding work environment; and has a sense of humor.

Anti-Discrimination Policy:
The Center for Neighborhood Technology is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination, promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

How to Apply:
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Human Resources/Center for Neighborhood Technology
2125 W. North Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
Fax to 773-278-4877 or email to careers@cnt.org

No phone calls please.?

?

?

?

?

Source: http://foresightdesign.org/blog/2012/09/strategic-communications-manger-cnt/

blagojevich new mexico state kevin rose sessions march madness scores doonesbury padma lakshmi