Public Affairs Manager

About the Organization

ClimateWorks Foundation is a global organization committed to our mission: to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees in over 50 countries. We helped grow the field of climate philanthropy to where it stands today, establishing infrastructure, global networks, and momentum for continued growth. Through our Global Programs and Services, we equip philanthropy with global knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress.

• Scaling solutions: Our collaborative Global Programs — focused on solution areas including carbon dioxide removal, cooling, industry, transportation, and more — produce results that are bending the greenhouse gas emissions curve. From the U.S. to Europe, China, Brazil, and beyond, we collaborate with a diverse community of funders, NGOs, and climate leaders to accelerate just and equitable climate solutions.

• Guiding and supporting funders: Our Global Services provide funders with comprehensive resources to assess, build, evolve, and execute high-impact climate-giving strategies. Our Global Intelligence service equips funders and the climate community with climate insights to pinpoint opportunities for impact and philanthropic insights to help identify investment priorities. We facilitate Global Collaborations that enable funders to increase individual and collective impact. Our Global Grantmaking services enable funders to invest in climate solutions around the world. 

• Fostering collaboration, exploration, and growth: Our collaborative approach and commitment to learning ensures that we continuously explore innovative ideas and emerging opportunities — all with the aim of scaling philanthropy-supported initiatives to help end the climate crisis.

As experts in climate science, public policy, economic and social analysis, and strategic philanthropy, ClimateWorks’ staff understands the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of climate change. We are researchers, strategists, collaborators, and grantmakers who care passionately about our mission. For more information, please visit www.climateworks.org. 

About our team

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time – impacting our health, our safety and our livelihoods now and for generations to come. Despite growing awareness and increased public mobilization on this issue, we are not yet on track to contain this threat. But we can be. Humanity has the solutions and the pathways to end this crisis, and collectively we can make this decade be the one for climate action. 

Sounds compelling? We think so too. The Marketing and Communications team at ClimateWorks Foundation has a key role to play in building awareness, generating funder interest, and promoting philanthropic collaborations that can help end the climate crisis. We’re a small but mighty team, working to expand the organization’s impact, outreach, and engagement to funders, partners, and grantees globally. 

Job Summary

The Public Affairs Manager will play a pivotal role in crafting and delivering executive communications and thought leadership content that amplifies ClimateWorks Foundation’s mission and impact. This experienced communicator will collaborate closely with leadership, program teams, and external partners to develop high-quality speeches, op-eds, and priority thought leadership materials that position ClimateWorks as a global champion for climate action.

The ideal candidate is an exceptional writer and proactive communicator with 7–10 years of PR or communications experience, including time at a PR agency. They bring the curiosity and rigor of a seasoned journalist and can distill complex, technical information into clear, compelling, and accessible narratives tailored to a range of audiences. With proven experience working directly with senior executives, they are a trusted partner who provides strategic communications counsel and delivers polished, researched-backed content on time and with excellence. 

The individual will report to the Director of Public Affairs, Content Strategy, and Events.

Essential Tasks 

• Executive Communications Development: Research, draft, and edit speeches, talking points, and presentation materials for leadership engagements, ensuring messaging is impactful, aligned, and mission-driven.
• Thought Leadership Content Creation: Develop op-eds, blogs, and other written materials that establish ClimateWorks leadership as key voices in the climate philanthropy space.
• Strategic Messaging Support: Create messaging resources for staff, and work closely with the Public Affairs and Programs teams to maintain consistent and cohesive messaging across all external engagements.
• Act as a trusted communications advisor to leadership, supporting their participation in events, panels, and interviews with prepared materials and strategic guidance.
• Research and synthesis: Gather and rapidly analyze information from subject matter experts, reports, and data to inform content development and ensure factual accuracy.
• Project Management: Manage multiple, concurrent communications projects and competing deadlines while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work with internal and external stakeholders to align thought leadership outputs with organizational goals and external opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in public relations, journalism, or a related field, ideally including time in a fast-paced agency, newsroom, or global nonprofit setting.
• Proven expertise in executive communications, including thought leadership content development and writing in someone else’s voice (ghostwriting and speechwriting)
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a track record of producing clear, compelling, and accurate content on deadline. 
• Strong research skills and the ability to translate complex climate, policy, and scientific information into accessible narratives for diverse global audiences.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Experience collaborating with senior leadership and stakeholders, including excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to incorporate diverse feedback while ensuring a cohesive final product.
• A commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Experience in the climate or nonprofit sectors.
• Familiarity with global media landscapes and best practices for engaging diverse audiences.
• Background in supporting communications for high-level events or public speaking engagements.

Compensation

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience (geographic differential applied based on location).

For US-based position the salary range is as follows:

Tier 1: $110,000 - $115,000

Tier 2: $105,000 - $110,000

***ClimateWorks strives to create an equitable culture of transparency and fairness.

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as US Flexible. If US Flexible: Exceptional candidates can work from the SF office or from other locations, geographic differential applied to compensation based on local cost of labor.

Commitment to Racial and Social Justice

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental principles at ClimateWorks Foundation and as such we are committed to creating a diverse and multi-cultural work environment. We strongly encourage and seek applications from women, people of color, and bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race), ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment.

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to complying with all laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities, as well as employees’ religious beliefs and practices. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, termination, promotions, transfers, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms and conditions of employment. ClimateWorks Foundation will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual and/or employees’ religious beliefs and practices, as required by law.

If you require an accommodation, please notify Human Resources. Once ClimateWorks Foundation is aware of the need for an accommodation, it will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.

Application Process

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. To be considered for this position, interested candidates must submit a resume, cover letter, and two writing samples (opinion editorial, speech, or messaging document). This position will remain open until filled.

Employment at the ClimateWorks Foundation is at-will.

Benefits

Benefits

ClimateWorks offers an excellent benefits package:

Healthcare Plans:

Multiple options available through Kaiser & UHC

• HMO - 100% coverage for employee and dependents
• POS - Employee pays difference beyond HMO coverage (3 out of 4 POS options are at 100% coverage for employee and dependents)
• Dental –100% coverage for employee and dependents
• Vision – 100% coverage for employee and dependents

Fertility Benefit

• Fertility care through Carrot Fertility. Access to on-demand doctor-approved content, pregnancy support, and virtual chats with medical, legal, and regulatory experts.

Disability Benefit (long and short-term)

Life Insurance (3x base salary up to $750k for employee only)

PTO

• 20 days (1st year)
• 25 days (2nd - 8th year)
• 30 days (9th year)

Holidays

• 11 Observed and 2 floating

401k Plan

• After 6 months of service, CWF automatically contributes 9% of gross earnings per pay period to retirement fund*
• After 6 months of service, CWF matches 100% of employee contributions up to a max of 6% of gross earnings per pay period*