Application Guide

How to Apply for Communications Specialist - (12-month contract)

at Greenpeace USA

🏢 About Greenpeace USA

Greenpeace USA is a globally recognized environmental activism organization that uses non-violent creative confrontation and strategic communication to expose environmental problems and promote solutions. Unlike traditional corporations, Greenpeace operates as a movement-driven organization where communications directly fuel campaigns that challenge corporate power and government policies. Working here means contributing to urgent climate action through protest and storytelling that has tangible impact on environmental policy.

About This Role

This 12-month contract Communications Specialist role serves as the operational engine for Greenpeace USA's media team, implementing communication strategies across climate campaigns during rapid response moments and daily operations. You'll be drafting press materials, tracking breaking environmental news, managing media relationships, and coordinating between campaign teams and social media—all while learning Greenpeace's specific climate messaging and branding. This role is impactful because your communications work directly supports campaigns that pressure decision-makers and shift public opinion on urgent environmental issues.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start by monitoring breaking environmental news and preparing rapid response materials for the media team, then shift to drafting a press release about a climate campaign launch while coordinating with social media colleagues on amplification. In the afternoon, you could be updating media lists with new environmental reporters, tracking coverage metrics from recent placements, and preparing for an interview between a campaigner and a podcast producer—all while staying responsive to incoming media inquiries.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Greenpeace USA Is Looking For

  • Has 2+ years of hands-on experience securing earned media placements in environmental, political, or advocacy journalism contexts (not just corporate PR)
  • Demonstrates AP-style writing proficiency with portfolio samples showing press releases, op-eds, or fact sheets on complex policy or scientific topics
  • Shows understanding of how social media amplification complements traditional media outreach in activist contexts
  • Can provide specific examples of working in rapid response or crisis communications situations with tight deadlines

📝 Tips for Applying to Greenpeace USA

1

Include 2-3 specific examples of earned media you've secured related to environmental, climate, or social justice issues—include outlet names and impact metrics

2

Tailor your writing samples to include at least one press release or op-ed draft about a climate policy issue Greenpeace campaigns on (plastics, fossil fuels, deforestation)

3

Demonstrate knowledge of Greenpeace's current campaigns by referencing 1-2 specific initiatives in your application materials

4

Highlight any experience working in distributed/remote activist teams and coordinating across time zones

5

Show how you've tracked media analytics and used data to improve communication strategies in past roles

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Explain your understanding of how strategic communications drive environmental activism and policy change', "Provide a concrete example of how you've managed media relations during a rapid response or breaking news scenario", "Demonstrate knowledge of Greenpeace's specific climate campaign priorities and how your skills align", 'Describe your experience coordinating between different teams (like campaigns and social media) to create unified messaging']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study Greenpeace USA's current priority campaigns (especially climate-focused ones) and recent media coverage they've generated
  • → Research Greenpeace's specific branding guidelines and messaging frameworks (how they talk about 'solutions' vs. just problems)
  • → Look into Greenpeace's recent rapid response moments and how they communicated during breaking environmental news
  • → Familiarize yourself with key reporters and outlets covering environmental issues in the US that Greenpeace regularly engages with

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your process for tracking breaking climate news and determining when to activate rapid response communications
2 How would you pitch a Greenpeace campaign story to different types of media outlets (national vs. local, print vs. podcast)?
3 Walk us through how you'd create a media list for a campaign targeting fossil fuel infrastructure
4 How do you balance urgent rapid response work with longer-term strategic communication planning?
5 What metrics would you track to measure the success of Greenpeace's media coverage, and how would you report them?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic corporate PR writing samples without any environmental or advocacy context
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of how communications function differently in an activist organization vs. corporate setting
  • Not showing specific examples of earned media results or how you've built media relationships

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Greenpeace USA!

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