Market Engagement & Communications Lead

ABOUT NEW ENERGY NEXUS 

New Energy Nexus (NEX) is a not-for-profit organization that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, services, and networks. Our vision is a 100% clean energy economy where innovation and communities thrive.

As part of NEX’s global network, the New Energy Nexus California Chapter (NEX CA) is accelerating California’s clean energy transition by championing entrepreneurs, commercializing technologies, and co-designing strategies that scale innovation, build trust, and grow industries. With 20+ years of experience guiding entrepreneurs through the early stages of technology development into validation and scale-up, the NEX CA team focuses on the full lifecycle of entrepreneur support and technology commercialization.

ABOUT THE ROLE & OPPORTUNITY 

NEX CA is seeking an experienced marketing leader and storyteller to help create new channels for startups across our long-standing portfolio of programs. These programs include CalSEED, which provides grant funding and wraparound services for the earliest-stage entrepreneurs; CalTestBed, which pairs startups with experts within universities and national labs to validate technologies; and PowerForward, which awards large grants to scale up battery manufacturing with partnerships for workforce development and community benefit. In total, these programs have supported 200 entrepreneurs across California over the past decade.

This is a pivotal point in the evolution of NEX CA programs as regulatory, market, and funding landscapes shift rapidly in the clean energy space. To respond to the needs of clean energy entrepreneurs today, we are developing new program offerings that will connect startups directly with the customers and partners that will allow them to commercialize at scale through corporate matchmaking, curated events, and commercial deployment support for our portfolio.

The Market Engagement & Communications Lead will design, launch, and execute campaign messaging across three distinct audiences: startups in our portfolio, corporate enterprise buyers, and external funding partners. This role will drive both the market positioning and campaign execution for our new customer-connection service. The Lead will market these offerings to startups to maximize participation, pitching corporate decision-makers to secure their involvement in matchmaking events, and crafting the overarching impact narrative to highlight program success to funders and prospective sponsors.

POSITION DETAILS

Term: This is a limited-term position through June 2028, with an opportunity for extension pending funding availability and programmatic need. 

Reporting Relationship: This role will initially report to the Head of Programs but may later report to the Director of Commercialization & Corporate Partnerships.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Startup Marketing and Program Adoption

• Design targeted campaigns to educate portfolio startups on the value of new commercialization offerings
• Drive high startup enrollment and participation in customer mapping exercises, corporate adoption clinics, reverse pitches, and workshops
• Develop messaging toolkits and guides to help founders translate technical milestones into customer-centric value propositions for enterprise buyers 

Corporate and Customer Engagement

• Develop messaging campaigns tailored to utilities, OEMs, developers, and procurement agencies
• Market program event offerings to secure decision-maker attendance and participation from off-takers
• Frame program value propositions around corporate risk reduction, pilot readiness, and access to pre-vetted tech solutions
• Conduct structured outreach and interviews with corporates and customers to assess need and interest in working with portfolio startups

Macro Narrative and Funder/Sponsor Storytelling

• Craft the core narrative for the commercialization initiative, positioning the program as a critical bridge between early-stage innovation and market adoption
• Package findings from market landscape research, commercial matches, and joint development agreements into high-impact case studies, reports, and presentations
• Author storytelling assets for funding partners and prospective sponsors to demonstrate program impact and attract future support

QUALIFICATIONS

Relevant Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in market engagement marketing, communications, or multi-stakeholder storytelling within climate tech, open innovation, venture capital, or tech accelerator
• Track record of tailoring communications for distinct groups: entrepreneurs, corporates, and institutional funders/sponsors
• Prior experience working within California clean energy or policy ecosystems

Required Skills & Abilities

• Strong dedication to New Energy Nexus's mission, with a demonstrated understanding of and alignment with organizational goals 
• Excellent copywriting, campaign architecture, and visual narrative skills
• Ability to story-tell and produce content that simplifies complex narratives for broader accessibility and understanding
• The ability to develop and execute a strategic communication plan that aligns with the organization's mission and objectives
• Proficiency in using digital platforms, social media, and email marketing tools to reach and engage target audiences
• Proficiency in website content management systems (CMS) and website design principles to increase website traffic and improve user experience 
• Knowledge of event planning and management, including logistics, promotion, and audience engagement strategies for virtual events
• Strong project management skills, with experience setting project scope and timelines, collaborating with people with different backgrounds, and tracking progress against goals
• Strong understanding of communication analytics tools to track and assess the impact of communication efforts
• Strong ability to adapt tone and voice when communicating the organization's mission to different audiences

WORKING AT NEW ENERGY NEXUS

Working at New Energy Nexus California is an opportunity to make a positive impact in the clean energy industry and be part of a supportive and forward-thinking community. It offers an innovative and collaborative work environment, fostering networking opportunities and providing diverse roles that allow for personal and professional growth.

This is a hybrid position based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an expectation to work out of our Berkeley office a minimum of two designated days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Relocation assistance is not available for this role.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION

Competitive compensation of $125-140K annually plus benefits including, medical, dental, vision, flexible paid time off, paid holidays and 401(k) with employer contribution.

TO APPLY, TIMELINE, AND PROCESS

Submit your resume and a cover letter describing your interest in the role and relevant experience that would lead to your success. Please treat the cover letter as an opportunity to demonstrate your writing skills.

Applications will be reviewed and screened on a rolling basis starting October 1, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

Qualified applicants will participate in 3-4 rounds of interviews. If you require accommodations during the interview process, please contact us with your request.

New Energy Nexus is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, citizenship status, disability status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression of an otherwise qualified individual, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. New Energy Nexus hires and promotes individuals on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. We strongly encourage diverse applicants to apply.