Director of Communications and Marketing

Director of Communications and Marketing

Organization: Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

Posted: June 29, 2026 \u2022 Deadline: July 19, 2026

WHO WE ARE: The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has been the leading legal and scientific voice for Minnesota's environment since 1974. To learn more about our history and programs, please visit mncenter.org. A nonprofit with offices in Saint Paul and Duluth, MCEA supports its employees through a commitment to a living wage, a good benefits package, and regular opportunities for professional growth and development. We value diversity, equity, an inclusive culture, and respect in the workplace.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Communications and Marketing is a creative, data-driven, and results-oriented leader who will drive MCEA's multitiered communications strategy. You will develop and execute the organization's communications plan, leverage our staff's deep legal and scientific expertise to reach broader audiences, and help define what MCEA's next chapter looks like publicly.

MCEA's communication work is at inflection point. Active legal battles over data centers, the threat of speculative sulfide mining, and nitrate contamination of rural drinking wells are generating strong public interest in MCEA and our work. The organization has 51 years of wins and the legal expertise to create an environmental future that all Minnesotans can thrive in. What it needs now is a communications leader who can match the scale of the work by building the infrastructure, the audience, and the narratives to reflect the power and importance of these campaigns. We are looking for an experienced communications professional who can move audiences from curiosity to action.

The Director of Communications and Marketing will manage and mentor a team of communications professionals and work closely with attorneys, scientists, and advocates on staff. This is a role for someone who is equally comfortable shaping strategy and being a spokesperson. A successful candidate is someone who can write a compelling op-ed and analyze an email campaign's open rate in the same week. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a commitment to environmental justice and possess strong initiative and drive, with a track record of success and impact.

The Director of Communications and Marketing will supervise the Director of Press and Public Engagement, the Communications and Marketing Manager, and external vendors and consultants. This position reports to the Deputy Director.

HOW WILL WE SUPPORT YOU? MCEA will provide the successful candidate with competitive wages and benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance, free parking and public transportation support, 401K with match, a hybrid work environment with a full-time option to work 32-hours per week, professional development opportunities, and a collaborative, flexible and supportive work environment.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Communications and Marketing

The ideal candidate has a successful track record of

• Serving as an organizational spokesperson

As well as leading

• Communications and marketing strategy
• Audience definition
• Metrics and KPI
• Communication teams and department building

Job Duties include but are not limited to:

• Develop and execute a communications strategy that translates MCEA's dynamic advocacy work into stories that reach beyond our existing audience
• Establish metrics and reporting that tie communications activity to organizational goals, including supporter acquisition, legislative influence, and public awareness
• Manage and mentor Communications staff
• Serve as an organizational spokesperson for the press and other audiences
• Define target audiences to design measurable engagement strategies and advance organizational goals
• Position MCEA staff as expert voices and thought leaders in the press, in public forums, and through owned channels
• Respond to crises or challenging situations quickly and professionally
• Measure, track, and analyze results to inform effective decision-making
• Integrate best practices and experiment with new strategies to increase reach and impact

EXPERIENCE:

Required

• At least 5 years of demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing and communications activities
• Supervising, mentoring, and coaching a team of marketing and communications specialists
• Skills at managing within a nimble organization, responsible for high level strategy, responding to dynamic events in advocacy work, and logistical implementation
• Project management
• Data fluency and experience using metrics to evaluate what's working and make the case for what to try next
• Track record as a solutions-oriented problem solver with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Ability to simplify complex legal, scientific, or policy concepts for broad audiences
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders and ability to work with coalition and community members
• Desire to work in an environment that is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion
• Capable of giving and receiving honest and open feedback

Preferred

• Experience in advocacy communications, understand the difference between communications that inform and communications that moves people to act
• Knowledge of legal and legislative processes
• Strong comprehension of environmental issues
• Experience building or significantly expanding an organization's email list and digital audience

SALARY & BENEFITS: The pay range for this position is $90,000 \u2013 $95,000 per year. This position is a full-time position, which at MCEA means a 32-hour work week in a hybrid work environment.

MCEA values a healthy work-life balance and has flexible, family-friendly employment policies which prioritize the well-being and success of employees. Our comprehensive and competitive benefits package includes medical insurance for employees and their dependents, paid family leave, monthly phone stipend, and 401k. Our hybrid work arrangement allows employees to work from home on a regular basis. This position will require at least 3 days in the office per month and more during onboarding.

MCEA is an equal opportunity employer and committed to ensure equal employment practices to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other factor that is not related to the position. MCEA\u202fis committed to being legally compliant with all equal employment opportunity obligations, including removing barriers to the workplace for all qualified applicants and employees.

REPORTS TO: Deputy Director

TO APPLY: Please send your resume and cover letter to\u202fhr@mncenter.org by July 19, 2026 for consideration. Please also indicate in your e-mail where\u202fyou located this job posting.\u202fIf you use AI to prepare any part of your application materials, please disclose that information. It will not harm or help your application to share this. Please submit all materials directly to this email address \u2013 no applications via third party website (such as Indeed) will be accepted.