Communications and Outreach Manager
Position Circumstances
- Career Category: Communications, Media, Exec. / Management
- Schedule:Full-time
- Salary: Negotiable
Report to: Energy Policy Director
Start Date: January 2027
The Communications and Outreach Manager reports to the Regional Director – Energy Policy and leads all of EnergyLab’s internal and external communications. The Manager will set and deliver EnergyLab’s communications strategy, run campaigns that move policy and public opinion, turn technical analysis into compelling stories for government, partners, media and the public, and use data and audience insight to decide where communications effort will have the most impact.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Communications Strategy and Campaigns
- Develop and implement EnergyLab’s communications strategy and annual communications plan, aligned with program and policy priorities, with clear target audiences, key messages and channels.
- Design and lead advocacy and public awareness campaigns that support EnergyLab’s policy objectives, from audience research and campaign strategy through to message testing, mobilisation, delivery and evaluation.
- Work closely with the policy and program teams to translate technical analysis into accessible, persuasive content in Khmer and English for government, development partners, industry, media and the public.
- Lead communications for EnergyLab’s events, webinars and report launches, including flagship events such as Clean Energy Week.
- Build and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, content creators and influencers; pitch stories, draft media releases and op-eds, and prepare EnergyLab spokespeople for interviews and speaking engagements.
- Coordinate with coalition partners and development partners on joint messaging and campaigns to amplify shared clean energy objectives across Cambodia, Lao PDR and the wider region.
- Content and Channels
- Manage EnergyLab’s website and digital channels (including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube and TikTok) to ensure consistent, high-quality and timely content.
- Lead content production for digital and printed materials, including graphics, video, photography, publications, banners and merchandise, either directly or by managing designers, videographers and agencies.
- Ensure all EnergyLab events are captured through quality photography and, where relevant, video.
- Manage production of EnergyLab’s bi-monthly newsletter.
- Maintain EnergyLab’s brand guidelines, templates and visual identity, and ensure consistency across all outputs and partner co-branding.
- Oversee translation and quality control of Khmer- and English-language content.
- Data, Insights and Evaluation
- Establish and maintain a communications measurement framework, with KPIs linked to EnergyLab’s policy and program outcomes rather than reach alone.
- Analyse data from social media, website, Mailchimp, Zoom and media monitoring to generate insights that inform decisions on content, channels, timing, targeting and resource allocation.
- Use audience research, surveys, social listening and A/B testing to understand how priority audiences in Cambodia and the region think about clean energy, and adjust strategy accordingly.
- Produce regular dashboards and insight reports for EnergyLab leadership, and contribute communications results to donor reporting and monitoring, evaluation and learning.
- Monitor media coverage and public discourse on energy and climate issues, and flag emerging issues, opportunities and risks to the Regional Director.
- Maintain and segment EnergyLab’s mailing list and contact database, with support from program teams, so outreach reaches the right audiences.
- Program Management and Reporting
- Plan and manage communications workplans, timelines and budgets, and manage external suppliers and consultants.
- Contribute to funding proposals and donor reporting, and ensure donor visibility and branding requirements are met.
- Develop and maintain sign-off, issues management and crisis communications protocols, and ensure consent and safeguarding standards are met for all photography, video and personal stories.
- Manage the filing of all EnergyLab digital content (photos, videos, texts, promotional materials and templates) on the EnergyLab Drive.
- Supervise and mentor communications staff and interns as required.
- Undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the Regional Director – Energy Policy.
Expected Profile of Candidates
Languages:
- Khmer - Fluent
- English - Fluent
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in communications, journalism, marketing, media, public policy or a related field
- Master's Degree is preferred
Work History:
- Communications, campaigns or advocacy, preferably in energy, climate, environment or sustainable development in Cambodia for 5 years as a minimum
Skills & Knowledge:
General & Technical Skills
- Demonstrated track record of designing and running at least one advocacy or public awareness campaign with measurable results.
- Strong data literacy, including experience setting KPIs, using analytics tools (such as Google Analytics, Meta Business Suite, Mailchimp and Looker Studio or similar) and Excel or Google Sheets, and using evidence to make communications decisions.
- Experience managing social media and digital channels for an organisation, with a strong understanding of Cambodia’s digital and media landscape.
- Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to make technical content clear and engaging for non-specialist audiences.
- Established media relationships in Cambodia and experience in media relations.
- Experience managing designers, videographers or agencies, and managing budgets.
- Graphic design and video editing skills (e.g. Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, CapCut) are an advantage.
- Fluency in Khmer and English, written and spoken.
Soft Skills
- Strong commitment to a rapid, fair and inclusive clean energy transition;
- Agile, creative and strategic, with a campaigner’s instinct for what will move an audience;
- Curious and evidence-driven, willing to test, measure and adjust;
- Sound judgement, high integrity and political awareness when communicating in a sensitive policy environment;
- Proactive and well organised, able to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines;
- Collaborative team player who responds positively to feedback.
