Communications Manager - California

Communications Manager - California

Vision
 Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is the leading Producer Responsibility Organization advancing the circular economy through extended producer responsibility (EPR) for paper and packaging.

Mission
 CAA helps producers comply with EPR laws, provides harmonized best-in-class services, and partners with governments, businesses, and communities to reduce waste and increase recycling.

CAA ACTIvE Values 

• Accountability: We take ownership of our actions, holding ourselves and others to the highest standards. We ensure transparency and reliability in all that we do by fulfilling our commitments and embracing responsibility.
• Collaboration: We work together harmoniously, drawing on diverse perspectives and skills to achieve common goals. By sharing knowledge and supporting one another, we enhance our collective effectiveness to deliver exceptional services.
• Trust & Integrity: We act with honesty, ethics, and dependability, building relationships founded on mutual respect. Our actions are consistently aligned with our values, creating a trustworthy environment.
• Innovation: We drive continuous improvement by embracing creativity and change, aiming to reduce waste and advance the circular economy through experimentation and forward-thinking.
• Empowerment: We empower our team with the resources, autonomy, and support necessary for success, fostering growth and trust in one another’s abilities to achieve excellence.

Background

Circular Action Alliance (CAA), a 501(c)3, became the first U.S. Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for paper and packaging in 2022, and in less than a year was selected by California, Colorado and Maryland to represent producers and meet the requirements of their laws. The organization is poised to deliver best-in-class compliance services, scale innovation, and build systems that help both companies and consumers waste less and recycle more in these states, and in other states that have passed or will pass EPR laws in the future. 

Working with CAA presents an opportunity to be on the leading edge of recycling system innovations that will have a meaningful and lasting impact. As a member of the CAA team, you will support the organization’s work with our 20 Founding Member Companies that are leaders in the food, beverage, consumer goods, and retail industries; companies (“producers”) whose packaging will be managed under these new laws; and a diverse array of stakeholders whose collaboration will be critical to delivering on the requirements of U.S. EPR laws and creating a circular economy for paper and packaging. We are looking for passionate, mission-driven, big thinkers to help us realize the full potential of the nation’s first EPR laws. 

Purpose of this Position

The California Communications Manager is a strategic role responsible for advancing CAA’s goals within the state of California to ensure the successful execution of the California EPR program, while aligning with CAA’s national communication strategy. This role will oversee all aspects of internal and external communications in California, including the strategic planning and execution of the organization’s engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders.

This position will raise awareness of CAA’s work and EPR implementation in California, build relationships, and further collaboration with state and local governments, service providers, California producers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and media. This includes developing and implementing strategic communications strategies to support program development and implementation, supporting consumer education and outreach to drive participation in the statewide recycling program, and developing and elevating CAA California’s messaging, media relations, and communications to build reputation.

Additionally, the California Communications Manager serves as part of the national communications team, coordinating to engage national stakeholders in the California team’s work, providing updates on CAA California activities to support communication with all national stakeholders, and leveraging shared communications resources. The Communications Manager will create content and strategies for ensuring consistent messaging and branding across all communications channels, while responding to the unique needs and interests of stakeholders in California.

The Communications Manager will develop communications plans for a wide range of audiences and support the team with communication to stakeholders. This role will report to the SVP of Communications - National.

Key Deliverables for the Role:

Communications and Marketing:

• Support the development and implementation of CAA California’s consumer education & outreach strategy and efforts to inspire and enable consumers to participate in the statewide recycling program. 
• Develop communications and marketing campaigns to support implementation activities, major milestones, and engagement from key audiences. 
• Identify, prepare for and manage CAA’s presence at conferences and external events, overseeing strategic sponsorships and speaking engagements. 
• Develop presentations, talking points, reports and other materials for internal and external meetings. 
• Support the California team in preparing for speaking engagements and media opportunities. 
• Work in close coordination with the national communications team and resources to implement and harmonize key CAA messaging and media relations strategies, while ensuring all communications are relevant and culturally appropriate in California.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• With oversight from the SVP of Communications leverages national resources, develops and implements the state stakeholder engagement strategy, and builds relationships and reputation in California.
• Manage relationships and support the broader state team in identifying communications opportunities. 
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of stakeholder initiatives.
• Support the CAA California team with communications support to target audiences, including state and local governments, service providers, business associations, NGOs, and media

Experience and Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 5 years of experience in communications, ideally working in an agency or in-house role responsible for outreach to a broad stakeholder audience.  
• Exceptional writing skills and experience writing for a variety of formats, including email, presentations, reports, and media materials. 
• Copywriting skills required.
• Media relations experience and knowledge of the California media landscape required. Existing relationships with California reporters covering environment and policy strongly preferred. 
• Project management experience and highly organized.
• Stakeholder engagement, negotiating, convening, and facilitation skills.
• Working knowledge of solid waste management and California’s recycling/composting landscape. 
• Working knowledge of California’s legislative and regulatory processes and a general understanding of the political landscape.
• Understanding of environmental justice principles and their application in policy and community engagement.
• Strong presentation skills and comfort engaging with leaders in government, business, and civil society. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office. Experience with social media and email marketing strategies/platforms preferred.
• Resides in California.

Compensation and Other Information:

• Location: Must reside in State of California, initially work from home.
• Targeted base salary is based on a variety of factors in accordance with applicable law, including the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, knowledge, and work location. Additional Incentive Awards will be offered in addition to the base salary conditional upon meeting certain performance factors, as set forth more fully in any offer of employment made. In addition to base salary and an incentive opportunity, this role is eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance, retirement and paid time off.

• Circular Action Alliance is an equal employment opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.  If you require accommodation as part of the application process, please contact careers@circularaction.org.