Request for Proposals: Communications Contractor

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is looking for a Communications Consultant to support the EDF Economics team.

Overview:

• Freelance position: 15 – 20 hours per week
• Language: English
• Location: US (Remote)
• Salary: not applicable
• Applications closing: 21st March

Project Description

Environmental Defense Fund is seeking a communications consultant to support the EDF Economics team in promoting its research, advancing thought leadership, and communicating its climate policy objectives.

Reporting to the Communications Director for Economics, the core objectives of the Scope of Work include developing messaging and a communications strategy to build the thought leadership of EDF’s new Chief Economist; continue to advance EDF’s leading research and policy expertise on the impacts of climate change on the U.S. insurance market; and organically building up the audience for EDF’s Economics ongoing communications products and platforms.

The term of this contract would run from March 31, 2025 to September 30, 2025, with an opportunity to extend through 2025.

Scope of Work

Thought Leadership

• In consultation with the Communications Director and the Chief Economist, develop key messaging and talking points to distill the perspective, expertise and thought leadership of the Chief Economist.
• Develop and execute a communications strategy to build and promote the Chief Economist to key audiences, leveraging media relations and EDF’s brand social media accounts.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for op-eds, face-to-camera videos, speaking engagements, and other communications strategies to promote and disseminate work products of the Economics team.
• Conduct media outreach to build strategic media relationships between the Chief Economist, other economists, and target reporters.
• Work with EDF’s social media team to develop and disseminate content promoting EDF Economics to target audiences.

Insurance Crisis Awareness and Advocacy Campaign

• In collaboration with the Communications Director and members of the Economics team, develop a communications strategy to raise awareness among target U.S. audiences around the links between climate change and the insurance crisis in key states (Louisiana, Florida, California).
• Working with the Communications Director and members of EDF’s communications team (Global Media Unit), +Business team, and other Mission teams, align on a protocol for rapid response media to leverage the expertise of the Economics team during relevant breaking insurance and disaster news moments in target media markets.
• Create a social media content kit and editorial calendar to advance the expertise and thought leadership of EDF’s insurance and economics experts, partners, and stakeholders with the aim of reaching target audiences with compelling content.
• Develop policy briefs, fact sheets, and other policy materials to educate policymaker audiences around the links between climate change and the insurance crisis in key states (Louisiana, Florida, California).

Audience-Building for Economics Products and Thought Leadership

• Draft and produce EDF’s quarterly Economics newsletter for Quarters 2 and 3, 2025.
• Create and execute a plan to organically grow the audience of EDF’s Quarterly Economics Newsletter, promoting the product among academic, NGO and policymaker audiences.
• Create and execute a plan to organically grow the audience of EDF’s Monthly Economics Seminar Series, promoting it among academic, NGO and policymaker audiences.
• Track and document the analytics of the Quarterly Newsletter and Seminar Series for the contract’s duration.
• Create a document of key recommendations to improve the quality and reach of the Quarterly Newsletter and Seminar Series.
• Liase and coordinate with other Mission communications staff across EDF to support the communications of EDF Economics.

Position Requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four to six years of experience in communications, preferably demonstrating knowledge and experience of climate communications, climate policy advocacy, academic communications, and/or environmental economics.
• Strong writing skills, especially for writing media and social media materials, opinion editorials, blog posts and other communications assets.
• Access to a wide network of relevant media contacts, or a record of accomplishment of effective experience in media relations.
• Experience leveraging social media, digital storytelling tools (video, infographics, etc.), and creative communications strategies to convey complex topics in effective and compelling ways.
• Up to 15-20 hours of availability per week.
• Background or familiarity with economic concepts preferred.

How to apply?

Please email the following materials to syesenofski@edf.org.

• One-page statement of qualifications of the consultant or consulting team.
• Resume
• Hourly Rate Quote
• Two references

Prices must be inclusive of all costs, including taxes and fees, in US Dollars. Quotes and prices should remain valid for one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days from the final submission due date.

Evaluation criteria

EDF is committed to a transparent selection process, including the selection of a vendor for this project, with the intention to secure the best possible partner for EDF’s ongoing needs while ensuring an optimal financial and operational outcome and the best value to our funders.

An evaluation team will review, in detail, all proposals that met the submission criteria to determine the selected vendor. Following the initial review and screening of written submissions, using the selection criteria described below, the leading bidder will be invited to participate in negotiation of a final agreement.

• Understanding of Objectives: Demonstrated comprehension of the project goals and deliverables.
• Technical Expertise: Proven experience in messaging, media relations, and strategic communications
• Cost Effectiveness: Alignment of the proposed budget with the scope of work.
• Experience with Content and Themes in the Scope of Work: Familiarity and experience with environmental economics, climate policy and advocacy, and/or crafting communications to academic and policymaker audiences.