Program Director (California)

Location

Fully remote, some travel may be required.

Who We Are

Sunstone Strategies is a mission-driven climate campaigning firm that leverages strategic communications to shape, pass, and implement equitable climate policies.

Sunstone was established in 2018, but our roots run deep—with a staff that draws on decades of experience in issue communications, justice-oriented advocacy and climate policy. Sunstoners offer a rare mix of policy expertise, campaign strategy, digital communications and the best public relations skills in the business.

What You’ll Bring

The ideal candidate brings campaigning prowess with a wealth of experience and expertise pertaining to California’s climate policies and climate campaigning more generally. Familiarity with clean energy and climate policy and politics are a must with solid political acumen and strong, established relationships in the field.

Importantly, we’re looking for a self-starter and highly-strategic thinker who knows what it takes to win climate campaigns in California. Drawing from their experience, the ideal candidate is a do-er with exceptional judgement, able to make quick decisions and necessary pivots in real-time, and can successfully lead and collaborate with internal and external partners executing on tactics.

About the Role

Reporting to Sunstone Strategies senior leadership, this position is responsible for managing teams and successful campaign outcomes on behalf of diverse coalitions and stakeholders to advance climate policy in California. Under limited supervision and with periodic guidance, this position operates with a moderate degree of independence, judgment, and strategic influence.

Duties, Functions, and Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

1. Lead or co-lead issue area and moderately complex campaigns and maintain accountability to contract deliverables and budgets. Advise on, develop, and execute communications plans, strategies, and tactics for campaigns in partnership with coalition partners. Lead coalition communications.

2. Manage campaign teams, assign work, and ensure contract deliverables are met. Draft and edit reports and collateral content, including press releases, media advisories, talking points, op-eds, Letters to the Editor (LTEs), fact sheets, websites, social messaging, etc.

3. Partner with our digital and design team to produce shareable content (short- and long-form videos, animations, other shareable online assets) and execute online communications campaigns.

4. Build relationships and credibility with media partners and reporters. Successfully pitch stories and place op-eds in alignment with campaign strategies.

5. Participate in funding discussions and in developing scope for key programs.

6. Represent clients, partners, and Sunstone Strategies, as needed.

Supervisory and Leadership

This position has direct supervisory responsibilities, overseeing campaign teams. Full range of supervisory responsibilities include hiring, training, evaluation, coaching, and recommendation for dismissal.

Knowledge and Skills Required

• Deep understanding of federal and state climate policy, including key players in the California climate/political community

• Strong understanding of the media landscape

• Ability to train and lead others with empathy and clarity

• Ability to lead authentically and with diplomacy while elevating views of diverse communities and working across lines of race, class, gender, and geography

• Skilled in analyzing complex policy issues and communicating them in a compelling, digestible manner for diverse audiences to encourage and drive coalition support

• Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders

• Ability to manage multiple, changing, and competing priorities and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent writing skills and strong attention to detail

• Strong communication skills and skilled in navigating difficult conversations

Minimum Qualifications

• More than 8 years of experience focused in communications, public affairs, and electoral campaigning with increasing responsibility in a role related to climate change, including:

  • Experience and expertise in policies related to the climate and energy sectors

  • Experience building strong partner and media relationships and working in political landscapes related to climate change

  • Experience leading communications for climate coalitions

• At least 5 years of experience successfully managing and leading diverse teams including internal and external staff and consultants

Preferred Qualifications

• Remote position with preferred location in California

• At least 5 years of direct experience working in climate change or energy policy campaigning, with a focus on California for at least a portion of that time

Why Choose Sunstone Strategies?

Phasing out the nation's largest sources of fossil fuel pollution while building a clean energy system that works for all is difficult and rewarding. While we work on the edge of what most think is impossible, we take care of ourselves and each other. We hold a highly effective and distinctive work practice that is diligent and equitably centers care.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Highly collaborative and communicative work style as a peer, leader, and thought partner.

• Committed to learning, curiosity, and personal growth.

• Skilled in distilling complex issues into clear strategies and decisions.

• Excited by the unknown and eager to build.

• Committed to equity, transparency, and building positive team culture.

• Experienced working across lines of race, class, gender, and geography.

• Able to thrive within a dynamic, fast-paced environment and can move between solo efforts and teamwork.

• Open to giving and receiving direct, compassionate feedback.

• Highly reliable, organized, and self-motivated.

• Able to hold a high level of emotional intelligence and self-awareness, with ability to engage empathetically.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $119,544 to $140,464. Sunstone Strategies has a policy not to negotiate on salaries upon hire. Rather than rely on negotiation, we offer transparent pay aligned with experience, responsibilities, and organizational values.

This is a full-time salaried remote position with a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, which includes:

• Employer-sponsored health, vision, and dental coverage for employees

• Employer-sponsored life and AD&D insurance coverage

• 4 weeks of vacation leave

• 10 days of sick/personal time

• 13 paid holidays, including a personal holiday for your birthday

• Automatic 5% 401k employer contribution after 3 months of continual employment that is 100% vested

• Home office stipend to be used only within first three months of employment

• Monthly phone and internet reimbursement

• Annual professional development stipend

• Quarterly health and wellness stipend

• Year-end discretionary bonus

Our Commitment to Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Climate Justice

Sunstone Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

We are committed to transparent and equitable recruitment, hiring, and promotion processes that foster inclusion and belonging. The climate movement has long suffered from, and been less effective, due to the absence of partnership with impacted communities and racial and social justice movements.

We believe that diversity in our team is not just a value; it brings different lived experiences and perspectives that are essential to solving the climate crisis. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still apply. People with identities and from communities that have been underrepresented in this space are encouraged to apply for this position.

How To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter as a single file at sunstonestrategies.com/careers. Applicants who do not include a cover letter will not be considered.

Due to the anticipated volume of applications, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

If you need reasonable accommodation in order to complete the application, interview, or some other portion of the selection process, please contact us at peopleops@sunstonestrategies.com.

About Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage

Please take this opportunity to share your independent thoughts and authentic perspective with us without using artificial input or search tools. We want to understand how you perceive your experiences and how you think they may contribute to your success at Sunstone Strategies.

Your resume may have been developed with AI, but your resume should accurately represent your experience, skills, and qualifications. The use of AI in our hiring process, including writing the cover letter and responses to interview questions, thought exercises, or writing prompts, may disqualify your candidacy.

Our Hiring Process

This position will remain open until filled. Candidate review and phone screens will be conducted on a rolling basis throughout the recruitment period. The interview process will consist of an initial phone screening and two virtual interviews, all via Zoom and a potential writing assessment. Candidate finalists will be asked to provide professional references.

Applicants must be currently authorized to permanently work in the United States. At this time, we are unable to sponsor employment visas or provide relocation assistance for this role.