Vice President, Marketing and Communications (remote)

With 1,100+ members, including 700+ utilities representing 72% of US electric consumers (and growing), the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) helps utilities, technology companies, state and federal energy regulators, and other energy stakeholders solve their unique clean energy challenges while ensuring equitable access for all. As Vice President of Marketing and Communications and an executive team member, you will report to the CEO and lead 6 direct reports with a total staff of 14 on our communications, marketing, and market intelligence teams.

You will develop and implement marketing and communications strategies for our portfolio of products and services (in-person and virtual events, online education, research deliverables, working groups, and peer engagements) to drive customer acquisition, grow revenue, deepen member engagement, and establish SEPA’s thought leadership across all platforms. You will also mentor junior staff and build out your department, creating tactical processes with clear metrics for accountability. Success in this position requires a track record in team development, deep knowledge of integrated marketing and multi-channel communications strategies, and a commitment to data-driven decision-making for all initiatives.

With rapid expansion in the clean energy sector and the Inflation Reduction Act’s landmark investment in renewable energy, SEPA’s strategic objective is to increase its impact tenfold by 2030. You will have the resources you need and the support of SEPA’s leadership to shape our marketing and communications functions for future growth.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Your work will enhance our market presence, positioning SEPA as the go-to source for clean energy research and analysis and a trusted facilitator supporting the nation’s most influential clean energy stakeholders. Key focus areas include:

• Serve as the chief brand steward and storyteller, overseeing the development of messaging that resonates with targeted audience segments, proactively engaging with media, and ensuring a unified user experience across all SEPA digital platforms.
• Increase visibility, engagement, and influence among existing and new audiences by strategically promoting our products and services, ensuring the content we provide aligns with the needs of key organizations and industry players in the electric sector (utilities, software companies, community organizations, etc.).
• Leverage market intelligence to forecast what’s next in the industry. Identify opportunities to establish SEPA as a forward-looking partner and expand our reach into new markets.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to increase the number of corporate memberships and utility memberships. Increase revenue by supporting membership, registration, sponsorship, executive experience, and online training goals.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits 

• This role offers a remote working environment with the option of a Washington, DC co-working space. Travel is required 6-8 times per year for SEPA events/meetings and meetings with external stakeholders.
• The budgeted salary range for this position is $200K - $220K. We offer an outstanding benefits package, including fully paid health, dental, vision, and HRA; Flexible Spending Account; fully paid short & long-term disability; life insurance; 24 days of PTO; travel assistance; 401(k) with 4% employer match; telecommuting reimbursement; professional development reimbursement; employee assistance program; health and wellness reimbursement; and pet insurance discounts.
• You will enjoy working in a collaborative and highly supportive work environment with a great team of trustworthy and approachable colleagues. You will experience a culture driven by adaptability, innovation, camaraderie, humility, ownership, and transparency.
• Creating diversity in the energy industry is just as important to SEPA as diversity in our workforce. We have aggressive recruitment targets for our Board of Directors (gender parity and 40% membership from underrepresented communities, including people of color, low-income, native populations, LGBTQ, etc.) as well as our employees (to match the ethnic composition of the US workforce). Our goal is to ensure our workforce reflects the organizations we serve and that our staff is engaged.

Responsibilities

Organizational Strategy and Leadership

• Participate in the executive team’s ongoing strategic planning process and contribute to the creation and revision of SEPA’s vision and mission. Translate strategy into short and long-term actionable planning for the team.
• Evaluate and improve existing resources, tools, and processes to streamline service delivery and create efficiencies. Secure additional resources where needed.
• Set annual organizational performance metrics. Accountable for significant portions of organizational annual revenue.
• Oversee department budgets, evaluating return on investment from staff time and expenses.
• Represent SEPA’s Executive Leadership at industry events.
• Participate in SEPA’s Board of Directors meetings.

Department Strategy and Leadership

• Oversee, direct, and organize the work of the marketing & communications, and market intelligence teams. Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach. Provide professional development opportunities.
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality.
• Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals. Set priorities, develop a culture of continuous feedback, measure results, and administer salary adjustments.

Marketing, Communications, and Market Intelligence

• Increase SEPA’s visibility in the industry, as demonstrated by the quantity of media mentions listing SEPA as a trusted source. Take advantage of opportunities to engage in media relations and speak on SEPA’s behalf.
• Leverage the work of researchers, working groups, and industry experts to advance SEPA’s mission.
• Lead and oversee the implementation of multimedia marketing strategies for SEPA’s portfolio, including product positioning and competitive differentiation, target audience definition and research, pricing, channel strategies, and sales tactics. Balance paid, earned, shared, and owned media for optimal results.
• Lead the effort to expand the audience and secure high-level participation in SEPA's executive programs and new annual energy leaders summit.
• Oversee the evolution of marketing and communications for all of SEPA's in-person and virtual educational programs.
• Lead target market and competitive benchmarking research. Leverage data analytics and market intelligence to make informed decisions, predict market trends and opportunities, and identify SEPA’s standing in the market.
• Make recommendations to product managers on the development of products that will meet the highest priority needs of SEPA’s current and future members and customers. Leverage member and audience survey results to prove ROI and viability of products.
• Lead efforts to improve the user experience (UI/UX) and customer journey in every SEPA interaction across all SEPA digital platforms, including website, emails, social, e-store, and community platforms.
• Oversee the development and distribution of high-quality content across multiple multimedia channels, including social media, blogs, webinars, videos, podcasts, and other digital platforms.
• Oversee the launch of new products or services, ensuring that all marketing materials, campaigns, and strategies align with the launch's goals and timelines.