About the Position
The Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF), IEC’s 501c3 sister organization, is looking for a Sr. Digital Communications Manager who will be responsible for managing IEC’s public brand through traditional and digital channels, developing and executing digital communication strategies that drive engagement with IEC’s policy priorities, and growing membership in partnership with IEC’s development team.
This full-time, hybrid position reports to the Chief Communications Officer and will be located in Chicago, IL or Springfield, IL. Candidates must reside in Illinois or be willing to relocate.
About You
We are seeking someone with a strong track record of responsibility for organic and paid digital marketing campaigns, brand management, website management, video production, graphic design, social media management, and content strategy. That means we’re looking for someone extremely well-rounded who is excited to lead our digital team and its their wide range of digital communications responsibilities. While nonprofit, advocacy, or campaign experience is a big plus, it is most important that this candidate be ready to apply their applicable experience and passion for our environment in this role. Are you especially good at communicating complex concepts in bite-sized, compelling packages? Are you used to implementing messaging guidance and public opinion data to mobilize would-be supporters? Great. We need you.
We strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new hire is an opportunity for us to bring a different perspective, and we are always eager to further diversify our organization. IEC/IECEF is committed to building an inclusive, supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Sr. Digital Communications Manager will work to identify opportunities to turn IEC’s legislative and policy leadership into compelling stories across IEC’s print, website, and social media channels. This role aims to solidify IEC’s organizational narrative, drive IEC’s reputation as the voice of Illinois’ collective environmental movement and leader of our shared policy priorities agenda, and mobilize our audiences to take action.
Brand Management
- Owns the implementation and evolution of IEC visual brand across all digital platforms for efficacy, authenticity, and consistency, including guidance and resources for staff
- Graphic design as needed, oversight of all organizational design
Content Development and Strategy
- Owns the development and implementation of IEC’s comprehensive digital media strategy, in collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer
- Social Media Management
- Develop IEC’s social media strategy in alignment with communications and organizational goals, including identifying goals, objectives, creative direction, and key metrics
- Oversee the IEC social media content calendar for all IEC social media platforms
- Supervise Communications Associate
- Develop and manage a comprehensive IEC paid digital ads plan and budget
- Analyze social media performance trends, report key metrics, and develop monitoring dashboards for tracking, reporting, and strategy adjustment
- Publications: Lead or execute IEC publications design and layout, maintaining IEC brand integrity
- Video: Develop IEC’s video strategy, execute in-house video production, and manage external video production contractors
- Website Management
- Oversee the development, maintenance, cybersecurity, and performance of IEC’s website in collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer
- Lead web content development to ensure that the website is well-structured, easy to find, and meets the needs of its users
- Increase traffic to the website by applying SEO and SEM best practices
- Stay up to date with the latest web design and development trends and technologies
- Blog: Develop and execute IEC blog strategy in collaboration with IEC’s staff
- Performance: Monitor and assess site analytics to identify opportunities for website improvement based on user feedback and performance metrics
Qualifications
- Knowledge of social media platforms, features, algorithms, and updates, required
- Previous responsibility for social media content generation, strategy, and execution, both organic and paid, required
- Ability to incorporate a brand strategy and guidelines into every aspect of communication work, required
- Strong writing, graphic design, and video editing skills, required
- Knowledge of Search Engine Optimization and website best practices
- Effective storytelling and advocate mobilization through technically accurate content and creative digital media tactics
- Comfortable with highly externally visible work product
- Ability to quickly turn around rapid response requests with precious
Enthusiasm for on-location content collection - Employee management
- Budget management, a plus
- Photography skills, a plus
- Knowledge of environmental issues, advocacy campaigns, policy-making process, and political landscapes, a plus
- Excellent project management skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong time management skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with diverse groups and people
- Commitment to and knowledge of equity, diversity, inclusion, and allyship work
- Proficiency using the Microsoft and Google software suites,
- WordPress, Meta Business suite, Google Ads, Adobe Creative Cloud tools, Canva, and Sprout Social (or equivalent)
- Ability to coordinate multiple tasks and work independently
Physical Requirements — Have the ability to:
- Operate a computer.
- Work at a desk for extended periods.
- Stand, walk, and be on your feet outdoors for extended periods.
- Communicate and exchange information.
Equal Opportunity Employer
IEC/IECEF is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, gender expression or identity, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, protective order status, veteran status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, genetic information, ancestry, religion, pregnancy, certain arrest or criminal history records, homelessness and use of lawful products outside of work during non-working hours or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Equity, Allyship, and Powerbuilding Values
IEC/IECEF is always working to ensure that everyone on our team feels engaged and supported in all areas of the organization’s operations as we work to become a fully inclusive, multicultural, and anti-racist organization.
We are only as powerful as the people in our movement and those we serve. Building power for people and our environment in Illinois requires us to actively combat social and political power dynamics that disenfranchise marginalized communities across a broad range of issues beyond those that fall squarely within traditional environmental policy. When marginalized communities are empowered, environmental protections become more possible. Thus we are called to stand in solidarity as allies with those fighting for justice and to strengthen our democratic institutions where power drives policy change.
About Our Pay and Benefits
Benefits include health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k) plan, life insurance, and vacation. The salary range is $70-95K, commensurate with experience. A cover letter MUST include salary requirements. Candidates with salary requirements above the listed salary range will not be considered.
How to Apply
Introduce yourself to us as a colleague in your cover letter. Show us your future here! We value great writers, so be yourself and take your time with the application. Stock cover letters won’t do. Tell us why you want this job.
Applications must be received by February 18, 2026.
To apply, please send a cover letter with salary requirements and resume to:
Tucker Barry, Chief Communications Officer, tucker@ilenviro.org.
About IEC
Since 1975, the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) and Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF) have worked to safeguard Illinois—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends by building power for people and the environment. Representing over 130 environmental organizations and over 600 individuals in the state, IEC carries out its mission to advance equitable public policies that ensure a healthy environment across Illinois through collaboration, building power, and advocacy.
IEC advances sound environmental laws and policies at all levels of government by bringing together the Illinois environmental community to influence decision-makers and ensure clean air, clean water and healthy communities. From lobbying at the State Capitol to building consensus around an annual environmental agenda, IEC takes pride in leading our environmental movement in Illinois. We coordinate our affiliate member organizations to share resources, mobilize supporters and respond quickly to the most pressing issues facing the environment in Illinois.
IEC also supports environmental activists across the state, building programs and resources to cultivate the next generation of environmental leadership, such as our Young Professionals Board, Community Council, annual environmental scorecards, and other educational programs like our Civics for Environmentalists and Lunch & Learn series.