Communications Operations Associate

The Environmental Protection Network (EPN) is composed of more than 800 EPA alumni from across the country who volunteer their time to protect the integrity of EPA and its mission. We harness the expertise of former EPA career staff and confirmation-level appointees from Democratic and Republican administrations to provide the unique perspective of former regulators with decades of historical knowledge and subject matter expertise.

EPN is currently focused on building, defending and reimagining the capacity of environmental health agencies and the communities they serve to truly address the most urgent health and environmental crises.

• We work to ensure that EPA advances policies, programs, budgets, and institutional changes to address climate and environmental injustices, as well as other pressing public health needs.
• We provide pro bono capacity‑building technical assistance and training to frontline communities, NGOs, and under‑resourced state/local/tribal government agencies.
• We offer pro bono support to civil servants.
• We educate Congress and serve as a critical resource for facts, objective analysis, and scientific rigor for reporters and NGOs.

Priority Deadline December 4th

About The Position:

Effective public communication is central to EPN's mission. Our Public Affairs team helps people understand how EPA's work affects their health, communities, and daily lives, while bringing independent expertise to discussions about how environmental protections can meet changing political, economic, and technological realities. Behind timely media responses, effective outreach, and clear public‑facing materials are dependable systems and careful coordination.

EPN is seeking a highly organized, detail‑oriented Communications Operations Associate to make that work possible. As a central coordinator and project manager for our growing Public Affairs team, this person will connect people, information, deadlines, and deliverables; anticipate needs; and keep important work moving. The role combines communications workflow management, reporter intake and follow‑up, managing contact and media‑tracking databases, publication and distribution of communications materials, proactive scheduling and administrative support.

Reporting to EPN's Senior Director of Public Affairs, the Associate works with communications and policy staff, volunteer experts, and outside partners to ensure accurate, timely execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Independently coordinate the Public Affairs team's day‑to‑day workflow, maintaining an up‑to‑date Asana task tracker and editorial/production calendar for releases, newsletters, campaigns, and other deliverables.
• Track assignments, owners, approvals, dependencies, and deadlines; anticipate competing demands, identify bottlenecks, and help resolve routine conflicts before they delay work.
• Coordinate handoffs among communications staff, policy colleagues, volunteers, and outside contractors; follow up proactively and close the loop on outstanding tasks.
• Document and improve repeatable workflows, checklists, templates, and team systems.

• Provide proactive administrative and scheduling support to Public Affairs leadership and the broader team, coordinating meetings and interviews across multiple calendars and participants.
• Manage invitations, meeting links, reminders, agendas, shared materials, notes, and action items as needed; follow through on next steps.
• Organize shared files, contacts, and distribution lists; prepare materials and handle routine logistical requests with accuracy and discretion.
• Anticipate routine needs, recognize when competing requests require a decision, and raise issues promptly…